First Direct missed payment markers for bounced DDs

gilliweed

I only just discovered that FD are one of the few banks to do this. I had 10 bounced DDs over the course of 3 years (2016-2018) with First Direct. Despite all these DDs being paid in a timely fashion (within hours or a few days) I have 10 "missed payment" markers on my credit file. 

I think these markers are going to stop me being able to get a mortgage, and they seem necessarily harsh. 

I've appealed to FD on the grounds that they have marked my credit file for missed payments though my account never remained in arrears and had a flow of money through it constantly during this period, but I feel it's probably not going to go anywhere as I guess they are within their rights to interpret the rules very harshly, but I thought I'd ask anyway whether anyone has had any success.

[Deleted User]

It's fairly standard.  It tells lenders what to expect in terms of reliability of payments from a customer.

Work on making sure you have enough funds in your account so that payments are made on time and that will help to build some positive payment history.

gilliweed

Yeah, this is all in the past now as the last time this occurred was 2018 and I've not had a missed payment since. But I feel that it's unlikely for me to get a mortgage with with 10 missed payments so it's really devastating and will completely put my life on hold. I'm aware you say it's fairly standard, who else does it? So far I've only come across FD/HSBC within the same group. No other banks, lenders, telecoms mark this as missed AFAIK?

[Deleted User]

It's good that it's in the past.  It means you're not demonstrating that sort of high risk behaviour any more an the older it gets, the less impact.

A decent broker would still place you with a mortgage so it's entirely up to you if you want to put your life on hold.

Fighter1986

This is standard reporting practice for banks I'm afraid; the data FD reported against your account conduct is legitimate.

Were the payment status indicators all just a "1"?

If that's the only derogatory information on your credit file, and it was years in the past, it won't preclude your obtaining a mortgage.

Speak to a good, experienced all of market broker like London & Country about the situation and they'll find the most suitable lender for you.