Help! Brilliant rating wrecked by mistake

VickiLou

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help please. Myself and my husband have always had good credit history, no issues getting loans/cards etc, we have a mortgage and have never been behind. Recently we were getting emails from Barclaycard saying we had an outstanding amount to pay. (approx £50). Thinking these were fake as we had not used the card for a long time, I ignored them. My husband called them one day to check and it was apparently genuine so he paid the outstanding amount.

We still have no idea what that was from and my husband didn't ask!! (I was at work). My husband then closed the account. We are due to go on holiday soon and realised yesterday that he doesn't have a valid credit card,so he applied for 2 cards and was turned down. He was accepted for one from Capital One but only with a credit limit of £500. (we need a higher allowance than this as we are hiring a car and it is needed as the insurance guarantee).

We are devastated that almost 30 years of credit history has been destroyed by this one mistake, and are just wondering if there is any way we can appeal. All the advice I have read says you can't do anything except wait and slowly build up your history again but that seems really unfair.

Help!

[Deleted User]

No. You credit file is a record of ow you have managed your credit.

On the positive side, you're being melodramatic in claiming that your credit history has been destroyed.

Sit down calmly and look through your three credit files, so that you can understand exactly what is showing.

VickiLou

Not sure how I'm being melodramatic?? I've just explained the situation I'm in...

Which three credit files do you mean?

[Deleted User]

Your credit files.

Experian (via MSE), Equifax (Clearscore), Call Credit (Noddle).

daveyjp

From the OP I gather the Barclaycard was not used for a long time and there is no other live credit card.

These are both reasons why a new card may be refused, rather than the £50 issue.

If you have a card and don't use it how do the credit companies get a credit card payment history?

glentoran99

you don't have 30 years of credit history, you only have 6

MABLE

VickiLou wrote: »

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help please. Myself and my husband have always had good credit history, no issues getting loans/cards etc, we have a mortgage and have never been behind. Recently we were getting emails from Barclaycard saying we had an outstanding amount to pay. (approx £50). Thinking these were fake as we had not used the card for a long time, I ignored them. My husband called them one day to check and it was apparently genuine so he paid the outstanding amount.

We still have no idea what that was from and my husband didn't ask!! (I was at work). My husband then closed the account. We are due to go on holiday soon and realised yesterday that he doesn't have a valid credit card,so he applied for 2 cards and was turned down. He was accepted for one from Capital One but only with a credit limit of £500. (we need a higher allowance than this as we are hiring a car and it is needed as the insurance guarantee).

We are devastated that almost 30 years of credit history has been destroyed by this one mistake, and are just wondering if there is any way we can appeal. All the advice I have read says you can't do anything except wait and slowly build up your history again but that seems really unfair.

Help!

This is why its important to have a DD in place. With me I have DD's set up on most of my credit card accounts but usually pay manually. However if it do not I have the assurance the DD will kick in.

Also I view Barclaycards accounts online so I know exactly what the situation is.

Pixie5740

Credit cards are only reported to the principal card holder's credit file(s). Whilst I appreciate that as a married couple it is likely you will have joint financial products I can't imagine that both your credit files have been "destroyed" by a £50 late payment.

If your husband is having issues getting another credit card why don't you try applying for one? The bank or building society where you have your main current account is probably the best bet. Do both of you check all 3 credit reference agencies before applying for any more credit though.

[Deleted User]

Have you thought about getting a pre-paid card for your issues with car hire ? They usually let you put up to #5000 on them so are ideal for car hire and things like that.

VickiLou

Thanks for the replies. I actually have 2 cards already even though my income is fairly low, and I have requested a card for him but it's not going to be here before we go away. I'm concerned the car hire company will need an insurance guarantee credit card in his name as it's him doing the driving.

Pixie5740

VickiLou wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I actually have 2 cards already evwn though my income is fairly low, and I have requested a card for him but it's not going to be here before we go away. I'm concerned the car hire company will need an insurance guarantee credit card in his name as it's him doing the driving.

I don't think care hire companies care as long as they have details of a credit card. I know that when I was out in Norway with work my colleague gave her credit card details but I was the named driver because she had conveniently didn't have a driving licence due to a recent change of name. Just as well for her I didn't get caught speeding.