Debt collector closed account but won't update file

[Deleted User]

Hello

I have tried searching to see if this had been answered elsewhere but couldn't find anything so sorry in advance if I'm repeating a question.


I had some old debts worth about £340 passed to a debt collector. On my credit file the original default is from 2013 but it keeps updating every month as an outstanding default.
I contacted the debt collector last year to advise I was suffering from severe depression and anxiety and was getting increasingly unwell due to their harassment. They offered me a payment plan on a reduced amount but I wasn't able to pay it so kind of buried my head in the sand about it all.


I have since moved house and I am in much better health and wanted to try to get it sorted, so I emailed them to offer them a reduced settlement and got the following reply:


I would like to advise you that we have decided to close accounts xxx and xxx as a gesture of goodwill, accepting no liability.

Please be aware that the respective defaults on your credit file which relate to these accounts will not be updated to show that the accounts have been closed. This is because we have closed the accounts on compassionate grounds.

If you would like to continue making payments towards these accounts, resulting in the default balances of the accounts being updated on your credit file, please notify us of this and we will arrange for the accounts to be re-opened.


I was just wondering if this is normal practice? I understand the original default can't be wiped from my file but should it not at least be updated as closed? Or do I have no choice but to pay it?


Many thanks in advance

fermi

It will stay until 2019, then be removed, irrespective of being marked as settled or not.

A D/8 every month is normal in the meantime, and they will all drop off the same time the account and original default does.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for your reply. I spoke to CAB who suggested I made a complaint to them and they have agreed to mark it as partially settled instead. Thanks for your help