HELP! Defaults on credit file despite contacting the lender to pay, they have ignored all letters.

pinkoctober

Hi all,

New poster. I am at my wits end and really need help.

I discovered two defaults on my credit file 6 months ago - one from Santander and one for 20 pound from Virgin Media. They were both from 5 years ago - when I was younger, irresponsible and moving multiple times a year due to being a student.

I have contacted both Santander and Virgin Media multiple times by email and letter [using the address on file on my credit report] to state I would like to repay the debt and have given them my address. I have had zero responses aside from generic "we will get back to you" emails.

I am trying to buy a house and these two defaults are not going to be great for getting a mortgage. What on earth can I do? I am trying my best to contact them and have said i will pay in full.....what am I supposed to do if they are not responding?!

PLEASE HELP!

sourcrates

Paying off a debt does not remove the default, its also likely the companies you contacted no longer even own the accounts you mention.

If they defaulted 5 years ago, they will drop off your file automatically at the 6 year point, not much point chasing this now.

If you are intent on a mortgage before then, just use a good broker.

pinkoctober

Thanks so much. My concern is that just before the 6 year mark, I am going to be landed with a CCJ then have to pay even more to get this set aside. 

I have not paid off the debt and would rather just pay the 20 pound than live in fear of a CCJ arriving any day now! 

To help myself in case I get landed with a CCJ, is there anything I can do at this stage? I have heard that people sometimes contact the credit file companies such as experian to ask if they can add a note.

Even if I could add some kind of note that would be very helpful to show I have tried to get in touch and resolve things.

fatbelly

No-one's going to take court action for a £20 debt.

Most debts don't see court action anyway.

If someone wants to start a claim against you  on the larger debt they have to send a formal pre-action letter first. If they do that, you'll know who to pay.

pinkoctober

my concern is that they are going to send the formal pre action letter to an old address given that the debt is from 5 years ago. I've moved three times since then.

I have sent letters with an updated address but since I haven't heard anything from them I am guessing they are still sending letters to my old address.

Do i have a case if they issue a CCJ for the big debt and I show all the multiple letters I sent to them with my up to date address? 

sourcrates

Debt collectors use a tracing agent or company to find you, not many people today can claim to be "off the grid", if your paying bills, updated on electoral role, etc etc they can usually find you.

You cannot do anything to speed up this process, debt collection moves at a very slow pace normally, if a debt has been sold, not even the original creditor`s call handlers will be able to tell you anything, the first you will know of it will be a letter/email informing you.

You will just have to deal with matters as and when they arise.

fatbelly

Most people have their bank account registered at their main address. That goes on to your credit file. You can live 'off the grid' but it's not easy to do.