Cleaning up my credit score

frizzerk

Hi
Apologies if there is already a thread for this - but wasn't sure where to find it!


I went through bankruptcy in January 2009 and was discharged early in November the same year. I have not really bothered to do anything about my credit file or anything else as I didn't want credit at that time. However, certain things are now cropping up and I would like to sort out my credit file.


I have logged onto Experian and I am showing one account in default which was with Lloyds Bank so I assume I need to contact Lloyds to update this - is this correct? There is also a closed account with Santander - do I need to do anything with this one?


The report shows a credit score of 999 but I can't get credit - is this because of the bankruptcy showing on there or just the default with Lloyds?


The information from the court of when I went bankrupt is obviously on there - showing 27/01/09. When will this disappear completely?


Apologies for the amount of questions - any help would be much appreciated. My husband and I would have a view to buying a house in a couple of years time so I want to get everything cleaned up for a mortgage!


Thanks
Frizzer

DCFC79

The report could show a score of 99999 and it still wont be any good.

The score is meaningless and your situation is an example of this, as to why you cant get credit I have no idea, maybe you should apply for 1 of the credit cards for building your history, have a look on the credit card forum for these.

What matters to lenders is the history and not the score, lenders will most likely decide if your worth lending to/accepting you as a credit card customer by using an in house system.

Is 27/01/09 the date you went bankrupt ?

Experian_company_representative

Hi Frizzerk, good to hear you are looking to start cleaning up your report.

Experian hold discharged bankruptcy information on your report for six years from the date of the bankruptcy. After this time they come off automatically.

If you bankruptcy order is still showing then it may not have been updated to show as discharged. This information normally comes to us from the insolvency service, if your bankruptcy hasn't been updated we would ask you send us a copy of the confirmation of discharge so that we can make sure it is.

Any accounts that were included in the bankruptcy should also be marked as satisfied, and the default date should be the same or earlier than the date of the bankruptcy.

If any accounts that were included in the bankruptcy are not yet updated we can contact the company on your behalf, you may find it useful to contact them directly as well with proof of the bankruptcy and discharge as they will often ask for this directly from their customer.

While there is bankruptcy information on your report some lenders will be likely to decline, but this is always up to the lender.

Our Ask James page covers rebuilding your credit rating after a bankruptcy here.

Hope you find this useful.
Kind Regards
Neil

tigerfeet2006

Follow the details in the CRF clean up sticky. It explains what you need to do with all 3 of your CRF's.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/677875

frizzerk

Thanks for your responses.
27 January 2009 is the day I went bankrupt and I got an early discharge in November of 2009. I have applied for an Aqua credit card which I have got and will look at a mobile phone contract as I believe this will help. Does anyone else have any ideas of how to start to improve my rating?


Neil - thank for your information about Experian. Just to clarify is it 6 years from the date you went bankrupt or 6 years from the date you were discharged? I always thought it was from the discharge date.


Thanks again for all your help

luvchocolate

its 6 years from your br date