Unrecognised Default on Credit Report

Edmond_2

So I logged into my ClearScore today to check my latest credit report and a new account has appeared on there that I don't recognise. It's a loan from Admiral with a £75 balance, which apparently defaulted in July 2014. It says 3 payments were made and 3 were missed, which suggests the overall amount was £150. This has never appeared in ClearScore before now. I have a saved Equifax (which ClearScore uses) credit report from May 2014, as well as Experian and Call Credit, and this account isnt on any of them.

I was paying to debt collectors during this time, and I could tell you every single default I had and the amounts by heart. I paid all of them off, and have kept the letters from all of them, so I absolutely do not recognise this £75 default, and don't understand why it's suddenly appeared now. I've never had any business with Admiral. The only thing I can think of is if there was debt attached to the address I was living in at the time, and someone has been trying to trace who it belonged to all that time. They've then incorrectly attributed it to me. 

Here's the thing - if the default was in July 2014, this will disappear off my report this July anyway. So is it really worth even querying it? I'm a little p****d off that I've suddenly got a default on my otherwise spotless report, but I can't imagine it's worth the effort at this point, right?

[Deleted User]

Wrong.

It's very much worth the effort, just in case it becomes a CCJ in the next couple of months.

Then you'll be p*****d off for a further 6 years.

Willing2Learn

And don't forget to check your current credit files with both Experian and TransUnion too, as the account may also be recorded with them.

Edmond_2

Deleted_User said:

Wrong.

It's very much worth the effort, just in case it becomes a CCJ in the next couple of months.

Then you'll be p*****d off for a further 6 years.

Are they really likely to pursue a debt that old that they haven't been able to attribute to me in 6 years? That they haven't even contacted me about? 

[Deleted User]

They may. Or they may not.

It's up to you if you want to take the risk and how much of a problem a CCJ would be for you.

Edmond_2

Is it reasonable to assume that if they were to go down the court route, they would inform me first at my current address? Either Admiral or the court? The court in particular wouldn't issue the CCJ if they didn't have my current address, right? I'm not even in the same council area as the address listed in the dodgy account.

[Deleted User]

Again, wrong.

They'll issue the CCJ papers at the last known address.

So perhaps make sure they have your current address, so at least you can respond in time.

Edmond_2

Who should I contact? Admiral or Equifax?

[Deleted User]

Both. 

Normally you would just go to Equifax, but given the urgency, you want to make sure Admiral aren't planning to enforce the debt while Equifax faff around.

PaulW922

I reckon that it almost certainly relates to an insurance product you were paying monthly, and was provided by part of the 'Admiral Group'. Lots of insurance brands are really the same businesses. As to why it has appeared now, it is quite possible that the company in question has just started reporting historic data. I would suggest you revisit your history and try to recall if there were any insurance products this could relate to but which you do not necessarily relate to Admiral?

cymruchris

Well if you don't recognise it - have never had business with them - and you didn't spend the money/create the debt - why wouldn't you challenge it? Someone out there did - and it's on your file. And yes - it can still become a CCJ. Go into your reports and click on the 'dispute this data' type of link and begin the process of challenging it.