Have Barclays ruined my credit file?

indierocker85

Hey

Just to give you a bit of background information, I had a CDL loan with Barclays, which I defaulted on back in March 2009, when I lost my job.

Last year, I was in a position to pay off my loan, I had £1300 outstanding and I had been paying it off monthly as per the agreement. I rang them in May 2013, and asked for a settlement figure, they offered to settle for £1000. I paid it, and luckily for me, I asked for confirmation of the agreement and settlement by letter.

A few months ago, Barclays wrote to me saying I owed them £300 and had done for over a year, and that they were going to take legal action against me, and it could lead to another default etc. I raised this as a complaint, and after two months, they told me they had corrected my credit file, and backdated the problem, but didn't elaborate on what was changed, and also gave me a cheque for £500. It seemed a large gesture really, which made me think, are they worried of what may come of this? Have they ruined my credit rating (WHICH IS SHOCKING BTW)? Would I be as well going to the ombudsman to see what they think of it? As Barclays say they have provided their final response now!

indierocker85

Had I not requested written confirmation, i would of had no proof of the settlement figure at all, and would of been liable for the remaining £300

indierocker85

I do know Barclays put a "gone away" marker on my credit file, as I personally saw it, this was entirely false too. I now think they have trashed my credit file, so I am wondering where I stand really.

michael1983l

Barclays can only display factual information on your credit file and anything that is not can be challenged and removed.

CKhalvashi

I'd say that this could easily been disputed.

I'd get all three files on paper (£2 each, so £6), write a complaint to Barclays asking them to sort the offending markers, and see what they offer.

indierocker85

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I'd say that this could easily been disputed.

I'd get all three files on paper (£2 each, so £6), write a complaint to Barclays asking them to sort the offending markers, and see what they offer.

What file my friend? I am assuming you mean credit files, but which three?

indierocker85

michael1983l wrote: »

Barclays can only display factual information on your credit file and anything that is not can be challenged and removed.

The gone away marker was incorrect as it implied I had left an address, without telling them of a new one, which was a lie, as I have a Barclaycard, and they have my new address via that. Furthermore, I didn't see why I needed to update my address r.e the Career development loan, as as far as I was concerned, it was settled!

Eonel

By your admission, you defaulted on a loan back in 2009. Defaulting on a loan will damage (/trash/ruin, if you prefer) your credit record for 6 years until 2015.

You should check with the CRAs that none of the mistakes Barclays have made since have changed that the original 2009 default date.

If their mistakes have changed the original default date then they should set it back. If not, all other noise will drop off your credit record next year when the CRAs stop reporting the defaulted account after 6 years.

CKhalvashi

Eonel wrote: »

By your admission, you defaulted on a loan back in 2009. Defaulting on a loan will damage (/trash/ruin, if you prefer) your credit record for 6 years until 2015.

You should check with the CRAs that none of the mistakes Barclays have made since have changed that the original 2009 default date.

If their mistakes have changed the original default date then they should set it back. If not, all other noise will drop off your credit record next year when the CRAs stop reporting the defaulted account after 6 years.

I may have read this wrong, but I see a £1000 settlement figure on the CDL, which was paid as requested, with no bargaining at all.

Therefore, there should be no default on the file IMO.

indierocker85 wrote: »

What file my friend? I am assuming you mean credit files, but which three?

Experian, Call Credit and Equifax.

Eonel

CKhalvashi wrote: »

I may have read this wrong, but I see a £1000 settlement figure on the CDL, which was paid as requested, with no bargaining at all.

Therefore, there should be no default on the file IMO.

Settling a defaulted loan (partially or completely) does not remove the default. From OP's initial post, the loan defaulted in 2009 and was settled in 2013

Usually the only way to get the default removed is to prove that it was wrongly issued in the first place.

CKhalvashi

Eonel wrote: »

Settling a defaulted loan (partially or completely) does not remove the default. From OP's initial post, the loan defaulted in 2009 and was settled in 2013

Usually the only way to get the default removed is to prove that it was wrongly issued in the first place.

Ah, yes, sorry, English is not my first language and I'd misinterpreted the OP.

The above advice is correct, and the default will remove in 2015.