how long does an overdue account stay open?

anubias

Hi, my wife and I rented a property from 2004 - 2007. In 2007 we had a problem with British gas over the electric in the property and they claimed in one month alone we used £900 of electric of course we disputed this and thought we had sorted it.
In December 2007 we left this property and bought our own taking British gas with us as energy suppliers for both gas and electric as we had always been with them.
Last month my wife checked both our credit files with check my file as we are thinking of moving and it was a free trial and thought it would be useful. My file is fine but my wife has an open account from British gas that started in 2007 and it says more than 6 months in arrears . she phoned check my file and they said she would have to settle the account and it would still be on her file for another 6 years.


This seems unfair as the 2 account numbers on these accounts are not the same as the ones for our property now which we have never missed a payment on but they keep updating we are in areas for the last 7 years.


so do we have any other options than to pay the account and wait 6 years to clear?


Thanks for any help.

[Deleted User]

The account will be closed once paid, but it will remain on your credit file for 6 years.