Tips for Getting Defaults Removed

Trickey270

Hi All

I thought I would share my success story in getting defaults removed from my credit file... so unfortunate people know there is always hope. Beforehand. I was in a difficult financial position back in 2014/15 due to divorce and Change of Job... The one thing I did at the time was communicate with my creditors, and kept a record via email.
To-date I've had 4 defaults removed and the final one pending removal in the next update to the CRA's

I let them stay on file for a couple of years because I had no need for credit, and also, when you pull yourself out of financial hardship, you do need a little time out to breath.. having regained the energy to tackle this I started the following process.
Write to the lender explaining that you communicated your situation (Do not request removal at this point) just ask for confirmation that they received the communication
They will come back stating policy and T&C's etc... Leave it a week...
Hit them up with another email asking if they would consider reviewing your credit history (may quote T&C's again and ask you to go away quietly)

Leave it another week, hit them up with another request for them to put into writing the process they undertook at the time to determine that the relationship had broken down to the point where they felt defaulting was the right way to go.. (they will start to get annoyed and suspect you are digging) If you communicate the relationship has not broken down..

One last time, repeat your situation at the time, at this point I sent them bank statements and maxed out credit card statements showing that I had no way to pay them. And also confirm again that they received your correspondence back when the default occurred.

At this point you have given the lender sufficient chances to review.. I logged a dispute with the relevant CRA. For smaller lenders this triggered a flurry of responses and offers of help and reviews... The larger lenders.. still didn't offer much..

2 defaults were removed by the smaller lenders just by raising the dispute via CRA's, Disputes via the CRA's can impact smaller lenders more so than larger..

Finally, roll up all of the above and put in a Subject Access request under the new Data Protection Act 2018 requesting all Data, Phone Call recordings (training and monitoring :-) ) - correspondence, - SMS - Online Account messages...
Every single one of the large lenders baulked at this and not only removed defaults but so far, believe it or not I have received £7K compensation from a very well know Credit Card provider. I wasn't expecting that part..

If you have struggled through hard times, cleaning up your credit file is possible.. NEVER bury your head in the sand.. there are those that wont pay and those that can't.. If you're the latter then it can be done for sure..
Just keep hitting them up with email after email... use the official complaints contact address because by law this has to be monitored effectively.

ME 1 - The Fat Cats 0

Good Luck all..

[Deleted User]

Not sure why they would remove defaults from someone!!!8217;s file and then compensate them for it when it!!!8217;s an accurate representation of what happened to you financially.

Seems off to me...

Trickey270

PM me an email address, I'll send you proof... The majority of the refund was down to incorrect charges being applied and an arrangement to pay that was incorrect. Which meant I was never going to get back on track. I should have stipulated that the compensation was not a direct result of request for default to me removed.

Trickey270

At the end of the day some people have a genuine reason for not being able to meet financial commitments. If it can be evidenced clearly then my experience is that eventually lenders will listen.

[Deleted User]

No sorry - I won’t be PM’ing anything to anyone.

But my point still stands.