Does checking your credit report alert creditors to chase you?

dobbie82

I am trying to persuade my sister to get a copy of her credit report so that she can see what is against her name and make a plan to get back on her feet. Debt of approx £25k has come down to about £12k (albeit a lot written off rather than paid off by her switching addresses so many times and the 6 year clause coming into force)

She has had advice from the CAB and is paying half her wage the most important creditors.

I was refused a loan due to a CCJ against her on our address that we had shared (was assumed to be me?) I was able to get this removed from my credit file and get my loan as I have a good credit rating, but she claims she didnt even know it had happened.

She has had about 6 addresses in 6 years so could have CCJ's, court orders all over the place.

She says if she asks for a copy of the report the creditors will see that she has checked it?? And she is scared that bailiffs will turn up at the door of her new place.

I assume you just get a print out and thats it, equifax etc dont add your current address to it do they?


Sorry if I am wafflling a bit, I will edit to try tidy it up if I can!

CLAPTON

she will need to provide proof of who she is and her address... which will be undated on her record .. so yes potentially she is awaking the dead.

dobbie82

ah ok then, didnt know that, so assume its a bad idea?

I just thought it would have been good for her to know what was still outstanding etc. She had only 2 major debts (bank loan and car loan and rent arrears total about £15-18k), but rest of the debts were £500 here, £100 there etc on store cards, catalogues (buy now pay next year.. oh dear) mobile phones, so many that she can't remember them all.

Snaggles

I believe after 6 years of having not acknowledged the debt, it becomes statute barred, which makes it unenforceable (someone else may know more about this though) - so I suppose it depends how long ago the defaults were. But yes, the creditors could trace her if she applies for her file.