Removing a small default (£500)

efreeman79

Hi there,

I have recently checked my credit file via checkmyfile.com because my wife and I are on the hunt for a house and are looking to get a mortgage. Time is of the essence as the in-laws would like to sell the house we are currently living in sooner rather than later.

I have a single default on my credit file but it is for a low amount, I have seen references abound online that for small amounts you may occasionally be able to sweet talk the lenders into removing the default notice if the default was satisfied. The problem I have is that the default is listed as 'satisfied' under Callcredit, but under equifax it is still listed as a default.

The callcredit details listed the debt collection agency the debt was passed on to. The Equifax details have no contact details for the lender?... would the debt collection agency be able to remove the default or does that job lie with the original lender? (I think it was Vodafone) - and why would the Equifax listing not have it as satisfied when the Callcredit entry does?

The default is set to expire November 2015 but if there's anything I can do to get it removed in the mean time then it's got to be worth a try.

(I know that being 'satisfied' has no bearing on it being a default in the first place... the only positive I can draw from it is that it was 5 years ago, my credit rating is squeaky clean from then and now though)

Additionally, I have an entry on my credit file under a different surname that has me marked as in arrears for 5 months, no idea how that happened but all the other details match up, DOB, address, etc.. - what's the odds that I can get that removed? It expires in December this year anyway so no biggy if it's still there for a while yet but there are no lender details. Is that not a big no-no? Surely I should be able to see who the lender is?

Many thanks in advance!

Tixy

Did you pay the debt? and are you saying that on your equifax report it does not show that it as satisfied?

Have you also checked your experian report to see how it shows on there? If you are thinking of getting a mortgage it is always worth checking all 3 credit reference agency reports.

Unfortunately you are unlikely to get the default removed. But nothing to lose by trying. The entry can only be removed by the company that is reporting it. So if the account on your file is in the name of the debt collector then they are the people who could in theory remove it.

The other account with the wrong surname - is it an account your recognise or nothing to do with you. If the latter then yes absolutely you should be able to get it removed.

efreeman79

Yes I made an agreed payment with the debt agency to close the account, it wasn't the full amount but they accepted it as a 'this is all I can afford, sorry' kind of payment and agreed to close the matter with that payment.

The problem is, under Callcredit, the debt colletion agency is listed as the lender, under Equifax, there is no lender details listed at all, so presumably the DCA don't submit info to Equifax and wouldn't be able to remove the entry with Equifax? Would that be the right assumption to make? Assuming the *original* lender was the one who made the entry to Equifax?

(ok, done some googling.. it looks like only one company can 'own' a debt at any one time, so presumably both entries can be affected by the DCA?)

Worst case scenario, I just have to wait for the default to drop off my record which it will do in 14 months but I'd like to try at the very least.

For the other one, it is unfortunately one I recognise (although again, there is no lender details listed so unsure how I could go about contacting them anyway) however as it's so close to dropping off I'm tempted to not tamper with it at all and leave it to drop off of its own accord.

Thrugelmir

efreeman79 wrote: »

For the other one, it is unfortunately one I recognise (although again, there is no lender details listed so unsure how I could go about contacting them anyway) however as it's so close to dropping off I'm tempted to not tamper with it at all and leave it to drop off of its own accord.

No lender is going to waste any valuable time dealing with such a request in any event. To negate the issue get saving. As a larger deposit and a smaller mortgage will tilt the balance in your favour.

Tixy

Have you actually got your statutory file from equifax? or are you just looking at checkmyfile?

If you got the report from equifax it would give you the contact details of the company reporting each entry on your credit file.

efreeman79

Just looking at checkmyfile at the moment, it was the quickest way of getting to see everything at once

Vodafone

Hi efreeman79,

If you'd like me to take a closer look at this, email me with your details via the link in our profile here.

All you need to do is copy and paste the link into your web browser and it'll take you to the Contact us form on our website. To make sure it reaches me, quote the code WRT135 - MSE in the subject line.

Once sent, you'll receive an automated reply with a reference number. Post back with this and I’ll check I've received it.

Kind regards,

Lee

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