Debt collection agency affect on Credit score

wescottdebt

Hello I have an issue that has been going on for well over a year now.

I had a bank account with Santader and it was almost never used by me if ever as I was not in the country(studying) for until 2012(August). Now Since I returned I had a letter(around August 2012) from some debt agency claiming I owed around £250~ to Santander which I knew nothing about as I had not been in the country so I asked them for proof of transications and what not and they never replied.

Fast forward to around March 2013 and I started recievieng letters from wescot claiming I owe £482.06, firstly it strikes me odd that two debt companies have such different numbers but you know. I have asked them for proof twice now! and they never send it and keep sending me letters telling me final notice and that I need to pay, they keep ringing my house and mobile phone bugging me about it when all I want is proof.

Now I have had other debt companies contact me about it but I have been studying abroad most of the time and every time I have sent the letter saying not to contact me.

Now I have been back in the UK for about 4months and I have not heard anything from any debt collection agency which is strange, I have always contacted santander and told them something fraudlent happened with my account whilst I was away but they never did anything.

Now the card I have with Santader has expired obviously and whenever I go to ask for a new one they say they have sent one but a card never arrives and I am not sure why that is.

Also how will this effect my credit score? I have finished studying now and I am looking to work

fermi

Impossible to say, apart from the general fact that a default or other negative info "may" have been recorded.

Important thing is to check your files at all 3 CRAs then dispute anything that is wrong.

wescottdebt

fermi wrote: »

Impossible to say, apart from the general fact that a default or other negative info "may" have been recorded.

Important thing is to check your files at all 3 CRAs then dispute anything that is wrong.

How can I check if my previous card has just expired and they won't send me any new cards?

fermi

if all else fails you can apply for statutory £2 credit reports via post, paying by cheque or even postal order if required.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report

Take a bit of hunting around on each site to find them, but there are forms to download and apply with.

wescottdebt

fermi wrote: »

if all else fails you can apply for statutory £2 credit reports via post, paying by cheque or even postal order if required.


Take a bit of hunting around on each site to find them, but there are forms to download and apply with.

Ok thank you, I am also about to hopefully get a job which will be an issue if I can't get a card from Santander.

Are there any cards out there that are good for people who might have bad credit? if so which ones would you recomend?

wescottdebt

fermi wrote: »

if all else fails you can apply for statutory £2 credit reports via post, paying by cheque or even postal order if required.


Take a bit of hunting around on each site to find them, but there are forms to download and apply with.

Also the current account I have open with them is an instant plus account which I believe was for people with low credit score or no history?

I will go to the branch tommorow I think and ask them why I have not received ac and and maybe try other banks as many people seem to have issues with santander

richx45

The instant plus account was withdrawn in Decemeber, I know as I tried to apply for one in Jan! they prob.haven't sent you a card as that account doesn't exsist any longer, they might have to downgrade to basic or upgrade to everyday account!

wescottdebt

richx45 wrote: »

The instant plus account was withdrawn in Decemeber, I know as I tried to apply for one in Jan! they prob.haven't sent you a card as that account doesn't exsist any longer, they might have to downgrade to basic or upgrade to everyday account!

I still get account summary's every month from them so they must have changed my account without telling me? It still has money in the account.

Is there a way to tell what account it is just via the sort code or account number etc

MrSilk

wescottdebt wrote: »

I still get account summary's every month from them so they must have changed my account without telling me? It still has money in the account.

Is there a way to tell what account it is just via the sort code or account number etc

Eh? If you still have money in it, how can you potentially owe Santander £400+?

wescottdebt

MrSilk wrote: »

Eh? If you still have money in it, how can you potentially owe Santander £400+?

Two different accounts

I had a 123 account and they closed it and opened an instant plus account, all whilstI was out of the country