£2.54 credit card balance not paid for 10 years

joecampbelluk

Hi everyone,

I am just starting to look into taking steps to improve my credit rating when I got a letter from debenhams to inform me of details of my credit card account which I had forgotten about!

I opened this account 10 years ago and had been under the assumption that it was both paid off and closed. I have received no communication until now, so was very surprised to see that there is an outstanding balance of £2.54.

I have paid this off immediately and closed the account, however I am very concerned that this is going to affect my credit rating.

Can anyone confirm if this is an issue and if there is anything I can do? How long will this last on my record?!

Thanks in advance,

Joe

National_Debtline

Hello there,

I think it's best checking your credit reports to see if there is anything showing. It may well be that all information about the card no longer shows on the file. Credit information falls off after six years. The only concern I have is that the provider may have just kept reporting it as a late/missed payment rather than taking it further through the default process due to the small amount outstanding. Please do consider getting a copy of your report as we can let you know what options you have to rectify the situation. My gut feeling is that there will be nothing showing, but please do check.

We've a useful guide to credit referencing which you can find by clicking on this link.

Best wishes,

David @ National Debtline.

happy_bunny_2

When did you think it was closed?

Check your credit file as advised above.

You can complain to try and get any adverse data removed if its there.

joecampbelluk

Thanks both for the replies.

I have moved house this weekend so I have been updating all of my addresses (electoral roll etc) so I am going to need to wait a few weeks (I think) to make sure that all of my details are updated before getting my credit file. Once I see my credit file I will assess the situation!

David, I will look at your link later today.

If there is any adverse data I may well complain to try and get it removed, as I genuinely feel that there has been a severe lack of communication!

Thanks again, your feedback is much appreciated.

National_Debtline

Kepp us all posted. If you do need to raise a complaint we can certainly help with that.

- David.