Credit rating issue due to missed mortgage payment

Cbiz

Hi,

I wonder if you can help identify whether I have a case against Halifax. I have had my credit rating screwed up because of a missed mortgage payment, which I concede was my fault. (I had set up the direct debit from a different bank account which didn't have sufficient funds in it). As soon as they wrote to me to inform me of the missed payment a month later, I called and arranged for it to be immediately paid. They claim that that was the second notification of the missed payment, but I never received the first one. When I called them to make the missed payment, I specifically asked whether this would impact my credit rating. They specifically said that it would not, and I needn't worry.
Months later, when attempting to secure a new mortgage, I became aware that I had this black mark on my credit file and therefore very few lenders would accept me and I had to take an expensive mortgage at a high interest rate. I called Halifax to ask why they had needed to inform the credit agency despite telling me that they wouldn't. They then revealed that because the payment wasn't made within the calendar month that it was due, they were obliged to report it and that there was nothing they could do. I complained about the incorrect advice, as I made some very different financial decisions on the basis of it (selling a buy to let property that I wouldn't otherwise have done had I known I would struggle to get good mortgages in the future). They couldn't track down the recording of the phone call in which I was told that it wouldn't go on my credit score, and therefore offered me £500 in compensation, which at the time I accepted. I still appealed their decision to inform the credit agency but after considering the appeal they said that there was nothing that they could do. Do you think that I have a case? Or am I being unrealistic regarding the possibility of rectifying my credit score? What options do I have? Does the ombudsman hear cases such as this? I feel that the lack of a timely notification of the missed payment causing the delay in me making it good, plus the incorrect advice meaning I made different financial decisions, might give me cause to be aggrieved. Halifax clearly accept some sort of wrongdoing, otherwise why would they offer me compensation at all?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

David_White

I feel for you if this is literally the only stain on your credit report in the past 6 years however at the end of the day you were late on your mortgage and therefore the credit report data is correct.

What is your ideal scenario here if you were to make a complaint?

ashp_2

They are obliged to report data accurately and have done so. The issue here is they told you they would not report it and they did (As they should), You have been compensated for this error.

Unfortunately, I don't believe you have a case for getting the late payment marker removed.