Credit Damaged While Abroad

Jon79

Hi. I am repatriating back to the UK after living abroad (USA) for about 2.5 years.

A combination of negative factors occurred. Being remote from my banking and having post redirected, a divorce and not least my own negligence during a turbulent time meant I unknowingly missed 5 months' worth of payments on two UK credit cards. I was moving funds around between accounts and two consecutive direct debits were missed. I was told that cancelled the direct debit. As soon as I discovered the error I made payments over the phone to bring them up-to-date.

Both cards are now blocked, this is a nuisance as I would like the security of having access to them in the transition of moving back home. However, that is secondary as it was my own fault I understand the lenders' caution.

My main concern is how this would have impacted my previously excellent (according to Experian in 2013) credit rating. I am yet to discover from Experian what my new rating is as I am still abroad.

Can anything to be done to mitigate this as I was abroad and didn't have the swiftest & easiest access to my UK correspondence? I fully intend to pay everything owed, which amounts to about six thousand or so. I would hate a lapse of judgement with no ill intent to impact me for years to come. I worry it will even impede me from renting a house. The anxiety is hopefully more than the problem really amounts to.

Any help is hugely appreciated.

DomRavioli

No.

You took on the commitments, you didn't fulfil them.

They are not responsible for your own negligence as you have stated above.

[Deleted User]

No. I'm surprised they let you keep the card when you moved abroad. Did you tell them?

Check your files when you return to see what is there, but ignore the rating they give you.

Ben8282

You will of course have adverse entries on your credit report both from the credit cards and the bank account with the failed direct debits.
You say that you were 'remote from your banking' but you also say that you were moving funds around between accounts. That sounds somewhat contradictory.
The worrying part here is that you say the cards remain blocked after being 'brought up to date'.

Thrugelmir

Jon79 wrote: »

Can anything to be done to mitigate this as I was abroad and didn't have the swiftest & easiest access to my UK correspondence?

That's something you should have considered before moving abroad. The lender fulfilled it's obligations by writing to you.

MEM62

Jon79 wrote: »

I would hate a lapse of judgement with no ill intent to impact me for years to come.

Unfortunately, your credit history records just that - the history. Whilst circumstances may be a factor in some cases and good intent are all well and good it is only the basic information that is recorded. An agreement was made and not honoured. The good thing is that these defaults will be two and a half maybe even three years old by the time you get back and the impact will be diminishing.

Hope it all works out for you.