How to clear credit file

JossM

I defaulted on a barclaycard debt 5 years ago. Debt is still outstanding. I have no income due to serious ill health and not working. Live with support of my partner currently. I rang them to see if they would accept partial settlement ( with help of family, friends)as heard stories of this. They said they don’t do that?  How can I get this off my credit file as it’s stopping my partner getting good credit score. I understand default will disappear in a years time but what about debt record? Will it stay in forever as debt is still outstanding? Free Debt advice did suggest I make a settlement offer so not sure what else to do now.  Also once barclaycard told me on phone that if I reactivate debt they will resume interest. Can this be right? Totally stuck as what to do. If I did pay money does that reactivate another 6 year record cycle? Help! Shall I just try and ring Barclaycard again and get a different person who might be more helpful? 

JossM

P.S. I know settlement offers have to be in writing but there is never an address anywhere for where to write to. How do I know they’ll get the letter if I just send it off to a generic Barclaycard address? I’m terrified they’ll put a ccj on me too. 

CliveOfIndia

JossM said:

How can I get this off my credit file as it’s stopping my partner getting good credit score.

Aside from the fact that your partner's "score" is irrelevant, are you financially linked to your parter - do you have a joint current account, a joint mortgage, any financial products that are in both your names?  If not, then your credit record has no effect on your partner's (simply living at the same address does not, in itself, create a financial association).

JossM

If anyone has experience of clearing up their credit file with a default please let me know how to go about this. As you can see the free debt advice and Barclaycard are saying different things. Thanks

flipflopflo

Well six years after the default went on then the whole entry drops off of your credit file. So if you do nothing ie: don’t acknowledge it in writing or pay it, then the entry will drop off and the debt becomes statute barred. 

As Clive says what credit do you have jointly with your partner?

sourcrates

The default stays on file for 6 years regardless of what you do, the whole entry will drop off automatically next year, and it will no longer be visible to anyone.

Once a debt defaults no further interest or charges can be added.

If you can`t afford to pay anything write and explain that to them and ask them to write off the debt due to your circumstances.

Info here -

How long does a default stay on your credit file? | You Can Ask Questions & Find Answers Here (talkaboutdebt.co.uk)