Default put on credit file for 5 years that shouldn't have been on there

vickiveyron

Hi all

I received a letter from the Halifax yesterday saying that a default they put on my credit file in 2017 due to a missed payment was done so in error, and the payment in question was not missed by myself. They apologised and stated the default would be removed from my credit file but I have logged a complaint as I think that after 5 years, this is worthy of some sort of compensation. 

Does anyone have any experience of this happening to them and what is classed as a sensible amount in terms of a goodwill gesture, had this been sent a few months after the default in 2017 I don't think I would kick up much fuss but for 5 years, having this on the credit file has meant refusal of decent credit card options and some mortgage applications were declined due to this. 

I know that the default being removed will help my "score" but to be honest, I am absolutely furious that it is nearer the end of the default being on the report and this is only now being investigated. Any advice? 

(For those who will ask, no, I didn't check at the time if the default was correct or not as was experiencing financial meltdown due to mental health difficulties and was just trying to get back on my feet financially as best I could.)

[Deleted User]

Was it actually a default, or a missed payment, as your post implies?

If a default, can you reasonably evidence that it was the reason for your declined credit applications?

vickiveyron

Thanks for your reply, zx81, it was a default, yes. The letter says that I was contacted to make a payment and if not, a default would be put on my file if missed. I *did* make the payment, but it seems now this has only recently been discovered as a default was put on my CR in 2017 anyway. 

I do have evidence from mortgage applications last year too that states the default as the reason why for certain banks we were not accepted. 

[Deleted User]

You'll likely get some go away money, probably in the higher end of £100-£250, maybe a bit more depending on the bank.

You will have no way to prove you lost out on better deals or a mortgage etc as a basis of this i.e. you can't prove that you would have been given a much better deal without the default in any way that you could quantify it - so you won't be getting tens of thousands of pounds for extra interest etc, FOS will not force the bank to give you that, nor is it likely to be a negotiation