Bank hammered my credit rating for a card I didn’t know I had

Beaglesabout

I took out a credit card 20 years ago as a student. It had a £250 limit. I checked my credit report for the first time about a year ago. It turns out that I owed a small amount of money on this card and although I hadn’t been phoned, written to, or emailed about it the bank had been quietly racking up unpaid notices against my credit file every single month for years and years. The debt wasn’t accruing interest and I paid it off in full instantly. My issue is that my credit is now not great and I want to know how to fix that. My understanding is that these missed payments will stay on my account for 6 years since last January (when I paid it in full). Can I do anything about this? Surely it’s not fair or legal for a company to pile up unpaid notices month after month for decades without once writing to or communicating with the person who owes the money? This was also my main current account bank, so it’s not like they don’t have my contact details. I’ve called the bank to discuss it and while they seem sympathetic they seem confused by it and unsure how to handle it. It’s such a strange situation. Is there anything I can do?

Beaglesabout

P.s my payment history is otherwise perfect. I never ever miss payments and I have a decent income.

Precog

Shouldn’t have paid the balance, if you hadn’t acknowledged the debt for over 20 years it would have been stature barred and unenforceable. 

Beaglesabout

It was very little money - less than £200. Do you think it’s hurt my credit more because I’ve paid it? 

Precog

Beaglesabout said:

It was very little money - less than £200. Do you think it’s hurt my credit more because I’ve paid it? 

In paying it you’ve now acknowledged the debt, I’m not 100% clued up on this stuff (others will be along to help no doubt), but I believe in acknowledging the debt you reset the clock on things.

Beaglesabout

Well that’s infuriating. Is there anything I can do to argue my case given that they didn’t send me any letters or communicate in any way?

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob

You can write a complaint letter and include a FOI request for all copies of letters, call records, call data relating to you and this debt specifically. You could also ask for their terms and conditions and specific clarity on the banks position of long term low value debts, where clearly there is something wrong. I'd also ask in the same FOI request for records of when and how you changed your contact details and in addition a copy of all other correspondence relating to you with any other account you may have with them.

In a nutshell, they may answer your question for you.

BTW - british gas once made an error on my credit file, they instantly corrected it, and removed the unpaid markers. The bank will be able to correct this, if they really want to. 

Beaglesabout

Thanks. I have communicated with them quite a bit. I think the issue is that a different company (JaJa finance) took over responsibility for their historical debts a few years ago so the bank don’t really know what to do. They wrote to JaJa on my behalf but I haven’t heard a peep back.

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob

Follow the same, freedom of information request is a good place to start. If you start by obtaining information, you can make an informed decision. 

[Deleted User]

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob said:

Follow the same, freedom of information request is a good place to start. If you start by obtaining information, you can make an informed decision. 

A FOI request will get nowhere as isn't relevant here. 

Beaglesabout

Deleted User said:

The_Real_Cheddar_Bob said:

Follow the same, freedom of information request is a good place to start. If you start by obtaining information, you can make an informed decision. 

A FOI request will get nowhere as isn't relevant here. 

Do you have any other advice?