Issue with cahoot credit card and my credit file

ischemic

Back in 2010 I entered a debt management plan with 3 credit cards and one loan. I was irresponsible at the time and accept that I did wrong. I have dutifully paid into my debt management plan for 7 years and am now all paid off.

Two of the accounts defaulted pretty soon after I entered the DMP and they've now fallen off my credit file. Another defaulted 9 months after and that should be falling off now. The last account was a cahoot credit card which they "settled" in 2015. This is now marked as settled in 2015 and won't come off my credit file until 2021! When I look at my credit file it's marked as being 4 months in arrears from August 2011 through to 3 months before it was settled.

I would have hoped this would be have been defaulted like the rest and would have dropped off my file - now I discover I'll need to live with this until 2021. I've phoned Cahoot and they say there is nothing I can do. Is there anything I can do?

National_Debtline

Hi ischemic and welcome to MSE,


You can make a written formal complaint to Cahoot about this and ask them to amend the entry to a default and backdate this. You may be able to argue that if they never marked the account as having an 'arrangement in place' during the DMP then it was in default and should be shown as such. You can reference the Information Commissioners Officer (ICO) Guidelines about this to try and help you - http://www.scoronline.co.uk/sites/default/files/high_level_prinicples_document_final.pdf


If they continue to refuse to amend your account then you can escalate the matter to the Financial Ombudsman and the ICO. Please be aware that only inaccurate information can be removed/ amended on your file, so you will need to be able to show/ argue that the information is incorrect to get it changed. If they did mark the file as 'arrangement in place' during the DMP, then I am afraid this may be harder to get changed, however, your best chance is to complain. Best of luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

ischemic

For the first 4 months it looks to be marked as "Debt Management" and then every month after that as 4 months in arrears. What situation does that put me in regarding my rights?

National_Debtline

Hello again,


You have the right to complain if you believe what is recorded on your credit file is not an accurate reflection of the situation. This is a discretionary situation and an interpretation of the ICO guidelines, so the best thing I can suggest is a complaint. Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline