Natwest closed account but credit file says default and open?

FluffyFlow

I am very new to posting, I always stay behind the computer but I have a query and I see how many helpful and knowledgeable people there actually are on here I am hoping someone could shed some light on my problem. So bare with me...
A bit of a back story, we have a lot of debt and are trying to  improve our credit ratings. 
So I had a Joint Natwest current account with my now (to be) ex husband. It went into an un arranged overdraft and I was un aware for some time as I was suffering with my health. By the time I noticed and wanted to sort it out we had a large amount of other debts and was paying them a small amount each month which was working. By now Natwest was overdrawn £200+. I wrote to them offering to pay an amount every month. I explained my situation and included a Income/Outgoing sheet that a debt help company advised me to do. As advised I also asked if they could stop interest and charges for me while I pay back the debt.  They could see I only had a small amount left over and was trying my hardest to pay my debts. 
They refused my offer and refused to stop the interest and charges that were very quickly going up. After various phone calls and letters I finally had a letter back from a manager who advised me they were closing the account and the debt would be wiped as it was mostly made up of charges. By now it was £325.15. Obviously I was grateful and went about my business forgetting about the account. This happened in February 2018.

Fast forward 1 and a half years I start looking at credit scores and credit reports as our debts are slowly going down, I wanted to make sure everything was as it should be. 
I come across a Natwest account on my credit record, that's been defaulting since 2017 and is still currently defaulting and showing as open. 
I then went on my husbands credit report and the same account is in his 'closed account' as paid of and closed. 
So I was very annoyed and confused that on his it says one thing and on mine another. I disputed the account on the credit report but heard back that I need to speak to Natwest directly about this. 
Annoyingly I got rid of all correspondence when I hadn't heard about the account for 6 months.
 Trying to speak to Natwest has been IMPOSSIBLE! Calling them and they cannot help as I do not have my account number and sort code. Going in the branch they cannot do anything, online they say I should phone a number. In the end I got so annoyed that I finally managed to get a address from one of the online advisors. I sent them a letter and I have received the response. 
I do not know how to take it. Obviously on my husbands file it still says closed. Yet on the letter they say it is closed yet on the file it says open and defaulting. I am hoping this isn't correct and I can fight this as I cannot afford the £325.15 outright. It'll just be another debt to put a small amount of money on until its paid off. 
I have attached the response letter. I hope this makes sense to anyone willing to read it! 

I look forward too hearing your responses! 

Willing2Learn

Hi FluffyFlow and welcome to the forum 

Unfortunately the account is marked correctly on your credit file.  A default means the contractual agreement between yourself and the bank has irreconcilably broken down.

The default will remain on your credit files for six years, from the date of default (2023).

Incidentally, when I look at the letter, it appears they have included your sort code and account number at the top of the letter.


For advice, support and guidance on how best to repay your debts, I suggest you post your Statement of Affairs (SOA) on the Debt-Free Wannabe board. 

FluffyFlow

Hi Willing2Learn, thanks for your reply! 
Yes they have included said account number and sort code so further communication shall be a lot easier! 
As the letter says it will remain in default until it is paid off, does that mean it will be on there forever more or will it go after the six years? 
The way I read the letter it basically says to me I have to pay the money or have the default on my credit file forever. 
Sorry for sounding ditzy! 
Thanks 

[Deleted User]

It will be there for six years, from the initial default.

Willing2Learn

The account was defaulted in MM/2017 (the exact month will be recorded on your credit files).  The defaulted account will be automatically removed from your credit file on MM/2023 (exactly six years from the default date).  If you were to pay the outstanding amount, the default would still remain on your credit file, although the account would be marked as 'satisfied'.


How much total debt are you in?

How many creditors do you have?

FluffyFlow

I think roughly around £35,000. 
I think its 25 creditors. A lot of them are debt recovery agencies. 
Shameful I know    

Willing2Learn

It is not shameful.  

Like I said in my earlier post, we are more than happy to give guidance on reducing your debt.  You just need to start a new thread in the Debt-Free Wannabe board, posting up your completed SOA.

FluffyFlow

Thank you so much. I will do that tonight when I get home. Do you have the link for the SOA handy please? 

Willing2Learn

https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php 

When you complete the online form, please remember to click on the 'format for MSE' button near the bottom of the form.  Then you can copy and paste it up into a new thread on the Debt-Free Wannabe board.

FluffyFlow

Great thanks I shall get onto that when I have a minute. 

Sorry just bringing the Natwest up again as I have been on my credit file again and on previous accounts when I have defaulted it says like last default 09/13 then it closed 03/14 all information on that stops being added and I understand it stays there for 6 years. 

With this Natwest one I am still a little concerned as it still says I am currently defaulting as the last default is recorded as 02/20. But on the letter Natwest have stated it is closed. So won’t that just keep on defaulting month after month, obviously previous years disappearing after there time but the defaults being shown to date? 

I have print screened the Natwest credit file. It looks like I defaulted 30/06/16. 

Sorry for all the questions I just want to make sure I 100% understand fully. 

Thanks. 

Willing2Learn

Yes, the default date is 30/06/16.  This means the account (and its 'toxic data') will be automatically removed from your three credit files 30/06/22.  It is removed on that date regardless of whether or not you satisfy the account.  Every month, when the account is updated, and until June 2022, it will be continually marked as defaulted.  The CreditKarma screenshot of your NatWest account conduct is correct.