Argos Card Services - Default Removal Advice

Irishdave

Hi,

I was hoping that someone could help. I just found out that I have a default on my my credit record from a purchase I made on an Argos Card for circa £300 with 0% and nothing to pay for 6 months.

I took the credit out in March of last year. I moved house in June and rang Argos to give them my new address but it didn't get updated on their system. Now (and this is completely my fault) due to some family issues during the summer I totally forgot about the debt and as they didn't have my current address I didn't get any correspondence to prompt me to think about. It defaulted on the 13th of January and they passed it over to Moorcroft for collection.

On realising my error today (through a totally random look at my credit report) I have rang and settled the debt but it still will show as a default. I have read various things on the internet from drafting a letter to throw myself on their mercy to doing something around sending a CCA letter (although not quite sure exactly what that is or how it helps).

I am desperately worried that a £300 default will affect my credit rating (which is otherwise spotless) and myself and my partner were looking to buy a house later in the year and if this affects that it would be awful.

Any assistance/advice around the best course of action would be greatly appreciated.

Tixy

A recent default will affect your ability to get a mortgage (or the rate you may be accepted for).

Worth a chance to write to ask them to remove it as a goodwill gesture. Maybe pointing out that you had attempted to change your address last year by phone. And that you settled it quickly and as soon as you became aware of it.

The CCA thing - it won't help, the creditor is not obliged to send you a copy of the default notice letter that was sent to you (despite what some templates online suggest). All they have to keep is a record that a letter was sent to you. They are obliged to send you a copy of your consumer credit agreement if you request it - which they will certainly be able to do for an account opened recently (and even if they couldn't wouldn't get the default removed).

Irishdave

Thanks Tixy,

That is the essence of the letter that I have drafted. I also have attached a copy of my credit report for them to see that I don't go around doing this all the time and that it was really just an oversight.

happy_bunny_2

If it's settled, they are not obliged to send a CCA anyhow. From what I remember.

If you want all the info they have on you, send a subject access request.

Probably after the ask nicely approach.

The SAR ought to list when the DN was sent etc and in theory, any calls made. Dates, times etc.

Once you gave this, you can complain.

Good luck

HB

Irishdave

After writing a polite letter to Argos explaining the situation they have responded today saying that as they are governed by the Financial Services Auth and Consumer Credit Act 1974 and are required by law to record all factual information on my credit file. I thought it was within their remit to be able to remove the default. Should I keep pursuing with them? Any advice greatly received

happy_bunny_2

I would send the SAR and see what comes back regarding sending a default notice and changing your address.

Thrugelmir

Irishdave wrote: »

After writing a polite letter to Argos explaining the situation they have responded today saying that as they are governed by the Financial Services Auth and Consumer Credit Act 1974 and are required by law to record all factual information on my credit file. I thought it was within their remit to be able to remove the default. Should I keep pursuing with them? Any advice greatly received

There's no grounds for special treatment. You failed to settle a debt on the due date. Take it on the chin. Learn a valuable lesson and move on.

McBozo

ignore captain happy above.

it's worth pursuing as it's going to affect you for a few years, nothing may change but nothing with definitely change if you do nothing.

Thrugelmir

McBozo wrote: »

ignore captain happy above.

I ignore people that are ignorant.

Blondieandmouse

Don't give up. I got told I'd no chance to have a default removed from my credit file.
They stated they would remove it if the rest of my file was clean but unfortunately I had a old ccj, but if it hadn't been for that it would have been removed

rizla_king

Irishdave wrote: »

After writing a polite letter to Argos explaining the situation they have responded today saying that as they are governed by the Financial Services Auth and Consumer Credit Act 1974 and are required by law to record all factual information on my credit file. I thought it was within their remit to be able to remove the default. Should I keep pursuing with them? Any advice greatly received

Argos are full of bull. It is at their discretion.