How much do I owe?

Janners8

I have buried my head in the sand regarding my debts for several years but am now in a position to clear them. The only issue I have is I don't know how much I owe or who to.

What's the best way of finding this out?

National_Debtline

Hello there,

A good starting point is to check the data on your credit files. There are three that you can apply to, the largest of which are Experian and Equifax.

A word of warning, though, is that such an application can alert your creditors as to your whereabouts. This means that they could start to chase for payment if they are not currently doing so.

How many years have you been burying your head in the sand?

Here's a link to our credit referencing fact sheet: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/05%20EW%20Credit%20reference%20agencies%20and%20credit%20reports/Default.aspx

Best wishes,

David @ NDL.

Janners8

Quite a long time, a good few years at least.

Thanks for your reply.

Janners8

I went online and got a credit report through Experian but it isn't showing up any debts of mine at all! I know I have several so what should be my next step?

sourcrates

Basically unless you feel compelled to find out, I would wait until someone writes to you, and then deal with it, if you've "buried your head in the sand" for long enough, they may all be statute barred anyway, 6 years or more without acknowledgment or payment and they cant get a judgement against you in court.

fatbelly

sourcrates wrote: »

Basically unless you feel compelled to find out, I would wait until someone writes to you, and then deal with it, if you've "buried your head in the sand" for long enough, they may all be statute barred anyway, 6 years or more without acknowledgment or payment and they cant get a judgement against you in court.

Absolutely correct.

You may find that you now do get some letters as this often seems to happen after you get a credit report - probably because you confirm your address history in getting the report.

If letters relate to something that would have at some time in the past appeared on the credit report then it's probably been more than six years since defaulted and is probably also statute barred. Post again if you get into an argument on this (may never happen though)

savingmummy

Do you have no paperwork hidden in a box somewhere?
Any ideas at all what debt it is and who with?


Your lucky your not receiving anything at all in the post, have you moved?

RAS

Janners8 wrote: »

I went online and got a credit report through Experian but it isn't showing up any debts of mine at all! I know I have several so what should be my next step?

Hi

Asuming England and Wales

1. If the debt was defaulted more than 6 years ago, it falls off your credit record. This also means that the debt may be statute barred - you are no longer obliged to pay as the debt will have been sold for peanuts to a debt collector.

2. You need to check equifax and call credit as well.