CCJ and Defaults

Zenden566

I just wanted to get some advice in regards to my credit file.

I have two defaults valued at £660. I am just in the process of organising having these both paid and removed from my file.

My real problem is the fact i have a CCJ at just under £5000. This has just over 18 months till this drops off and was from a private loan. since this has been on my file i cannot get any credit of any nature and I cant even open a bank account. And when i do they close it within a day of opening it. In regards to the CCJ, i am no longer in contact with the person i owed the amount to so organising a payment structure has been difficult.

With such a short time left should i just wait until the CCJ drops off? Will my ability to apply for credit improve once i clear the defaults? Any advice would be helpful.

Keezing

Generally defaults don't get removed even after you pay them off.

There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to open a basic bank account.

National_Debtline

Hi Zenden566 and welcome to MSE,


I would advise you to be very careful with regard to your defaults. Only incorrect data can be removed from your credit file, so unless the defaults are wrong, they will remain on your file for 6 years from the date of default (despite what may have been promised over the phone). The status should change from 'outstanding' to 'satisfied' and that should start to help improve your rating, but unfortunately, there is no way to know by how much.


I agree with Keezing that you should be able to get a basic account, even with the CCJ and defaults on your file. If you do not specify to a bank that you want a basic account you will normally be assessed for a current account, so make sure you are clear about what you want.


And with regard to the CCJ, that can still be chased even after it comes off your file. Granted, the creditor would have to prove they have a CCJ and (if it has been more than 6 years since the CCJ was granted) they will need special permission from the court to enforce it (with things like bailiffs). But that debt has 18months to still take action reasonably easily. You can apply to vary the CCJ and pay instalments, using an N245 form, and the court will forward the application to the claimant.


Laura
@natdebtline