Help Understanding My Credit File

SM1234_2

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read this...

I have a number of unpaid debts reaching back as far as 16 years. I am now financially in a fairly good position as in I’m employed in a stable and reasonably paid job. Having been an ostrich in the past I now want to face up to the debts I’ve accrued and look at paying them off. However having previously ignored the situation I have no idea how much I owe or who to.
So I signed up to Noddle. This told me I have a ‘fair’ credit score but apart from my bank account, an insurance policy that I pay monthly, a satisfied loan and a satisfied CCJ it didn’t show any credit accounts. Not anything current such as my utility and phone/broadband accounts or anything historic that I know is outstanding. So I got a further 3 credit reports - Equifax, Experian and one that claims to search 4 credit reference agencies and they all showed pretty much the same as far as credit accounts - some rated my credit as ‘fair’ some as ‘poor’.
Looking at the status of my accounts on all 4 reports I look on paper like a good re-payer apart from the blip with the CCJ (that I wasn’t actually aware of until
It was passed to bailiffs), yet on the front page the credit score is low.
Over the past 3 years as I’ve reveived letters from debt collecting agencies I’ve set up repayment plans as I’ve wanted to clean up my previous mess - not a single one of these show up either as owing to the debt collectors or the original creditor.

So my question is what has happened to the debts?
My other half has been very understanding and is trying to help me and he mentioned debts becoming statute barred. I am aware of debts being statute barred and my understanding is that if no contact has been established with me in the past 6 years regarding the debt it becomes statute barred and is no longer enforceable? Please feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on this. And secondly, what actually happens so statute barred debt? Does it disappear from the debtors credit file?
My credit score is low so I’m looking for ways to boost this as eventually I would like to borrow and/or buy a property as I’m now in a much better financial position and also older and wiser and more responsible when it comes to making payment.

Many thanks in advance for your advice and not being judgemental

[Deleted User]

The first thing to understand is that all of your credit scores are simply made up numbers.

They're not credit scores, as they don't reflect your credit worthiness, are only seen by you and are ignored by lenders. It's just the financial equivalent of horoscopes - fun if you like that sort of thing, but of no practical use. So forget about trying to change them.

Debts are statute barred after 6 years without acknowlegement.

Debts fall of your credit reports 6 years from default (if they did default) or from settlement (if they didn't).
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The best way to rebuild a good history to get a credit card - any one will do - use it for your regular shopping and clear in full each month when you get the statement.

Make sure you're on the ER, pay your bills on time and let time do the rest.
Make sure you;re on the

SM1234_2

Thank you. This was pretty much what my other half said about them being statue barred and about getting a credit card - he suggested I just buy my fuel on it each month and pay each bill in full.
I will have a look online at credit cards.
Many thanks.