Too late to stop late payment marker?

smub99

Hi All,

So I have got myself into a slight pickle when closing an energy account. I switched provider from sainsbury's energy back in October last year and received a final bill in November. I stupidly assumed that the final direct debit had gone out of my account and all was settled. Little to my knowledge there had been some sort of dispute with the readings and they hadn't charged my bank account.
In the mean time I moved address and also changed bank account. The previous estate agents had been given my new forwarding address, however I did not update my address directly with Sainsbury's as I had simply forgotten about it. They have then finalised my account and sent a final bill in March which I did not receive, as I had moved address and the estate agents hadn't forwarded the mail. They then tried to debit my old bank account in Mid-March, which obviously didn't go through.
Sainsburys have then passed on my details to 'Moorcroft group' who are a debut recovery company who emailed me today. I called Sainsburys promptly and settled the account. I asked the adviser whether a late payment marker would have been put on my account and she says she doesn't know and I will have to check my credit report.
It appears that British Gas don't report to equifax however they definitely report to experian. Unfortunately their statutory report takes a few days and so I will have to wait.

My question is if they have not yet updated my file and there is no late payment marker yet, can I prevent a late payment marker going on my file now that the account has been settled?

National_Debtline

Hi Smub99,


The creditor can report any accurate data to your credit file, so even if they haven't put a late payment marker on at this stage they could apply one retrospectively to the relevant time when you did pay late. It will then come off your file 6 years from the late payment date. However, whether or not they will do this is another issue - especially because the debt is now paid.


I would suggest that you send a copy of the proof of payment to Moorcroft to confirm the debt has been settled and ask them to stop contacting you. You can consider adding a request that no negative information is added to your file but realistically, the creditor is obligated to record accurate data and you can't really negotiate the terms of the payment after the payment is made. Try not to worry, even if this is added to your file, you can add a notice of correction and the debt is settled so that is positive.


Laura
@natdebtline