Is there a way of removing CCJ and Bankruptcy from your credit file?

daniel-2412

hello, looking for help,

long story short, I had to go bankrupt in 2022, citizens advice helped me with this, was discharged may 2023, I was told the ccjs would be included, but were not, so currently have 3 ccjs equalling around £8k on my credit file and an old water bill of around £900 which they tell me is satisfied and closed but will stay on my credit file for 6 years also. I was told that anything like water would not be on there and if it is satisfied i don't understand why it is. please don't be too harsh with me, i find things like this hard to understand, I was told that there is a form you can fill in and ask the judge to "set aside" the debt which would have it all removed I was wondering if anyone knew what or if this can be done. I have had a really rough 8 years or so, losing 18 years of memory and struggling in many ways including with mental health and physical. thank you all for any help, I'm just trying to start a fresh but I cant get anywhere with all this around my neck seemingly till 2026 as most of the debt was 2020. thanks again.

cymruchris

It sounds like you've had quite a rough time of it. First things first - the bankruptcy has happened - and as time moves forwards, and your financial history improves, it will diminish in importance - but it does take time. 

All the debts you had at the time of the bankruptcy (aside from some very specifics) would have been included, but they will still show on your credit report for 6 years from the date of default (or judgement in terms of the CCJ's). Nothing will remove them, as they are a true record of your history. Things generally only get removed/changed if they are factually incorrect.The bankruptcy itself will also dissapear on it's 6th anniversary.

Don't dwell on the fact that these records will show for a number of years (they will, and you can't change it) - but focus on what you can do to build up a positive credit history, so that  you work towards a better future.

You're through the toughest first year - the discharge has happened - it's now a waiting game of allowing the 'bad history' to get progressively older, and to ensure that your current and future decisions help make a more positive history to replace them.

Have you got yourself a regular bank account now?

Are you on the electoral roll?

Do you have a sim-only mobile phone contract in place?

At the stage you're at, it's small steps forwards that count. You're not going to be having £10k overdraft limits and £50k of available credit cards overnight - but  you probably don't want that anyway after all you've been through. After my discharge year, I got my first credit card from Vanquis with a £400 limit. I spent on it each month, and paid in full for quite some time. I now have an available credit limit of over £40k (but don't use it). It is a long journey - but you'll get there - many of us that have been through bankruptcy have been exactly where you are now.

Have you had a good look at all of your credit reference reports to make sure that all financial accounts are either marked as 'settled' or 'part-settled'? None of your old accounts from before bankruptcy should now be showing an outstanding balance being rolled forward every month.

What are you trying to achieve - or what do you want that you don't think you can get now? What are your plans for the future? Are you looking to get a mortgage?

sourcrates

There is no way to mark CCJ`s extinguished by bankruptcy, so they just appear as per normal until they drop off your file due to limitation.

daniel-2412

im on the only account that it seems any bank will let me have, no cards except a debit card with no overdraft. as i can no longer work i would really like to be able to get a normal account with a small overdraft in case of emergency. im not after massive loans or any such things. i am on the electoral register and i have a pay as you go phone. i look on clear score for my report etc. just doing my best to get back on top. thank you for your help 

Grumpelstiltskin

Wasn't it explained to you when you went bankrupt that the debts would show on your credit file for 6 years?

If you are not working are you claiming all benefits you are entitled to?

What you should have been doing is trying to save regularly even a small amount so you have an emergency fund to cover any unforeseen emergencies instead of wanting to put the cost on a credit card.
If you say you can't afford to save how would you afford to pay back a credit card bill?

RAS

This sounds very difficult at the moment.

Please get a full benefit check in case you are missing anything. Some councils offer this through their larger libraries, other will be able to refer you to the right place. Bear in mind that sometimes being entitled to 1p on a gateway benefit is worth claiming as you can then access other discounts or freebies.

And look out for things like pay as you feel cafes, community larders and even Sikh temples who do langar (free community meals). Just choose your least holey socks if you attend langar. And watch out for things like "Ask for Henry" offers at supermarkets (Morrison's free meal deals, offered each year for a couple of weeks).

And pop over to the MSE Old Style forum for help with meal plans, ideas on budget living.

If you can reduce your food spends using these, you need to put away those tiny gains into a savings account towards a rainy day. 

daniel-2412

as i said, i am not wanting to put anything on a credit card, but emergencies do happen sometimes and it would be nice to have a back up if i ever needed it, i have no intention of using any credit if i can help it and i am living within my means, sometimes things are just hard thats all. im just coping the best i can. thanks for the advice.

13thlegion

daniel-2412 said:

as i said, i am not wanting to put anything on a credit card, but emergencies do happen sometimes and it would be nice to have a back up if i ever needed it, i have no intention of using any credit if i can help it and i am living within my means, sometimes things are just hard thats all. im just coping the best i can. thanks for the advice.

Think of it this way just to see a different angle.

Imagine you have just this instant spent £1000 on a credit card to deal with an emergency. Make anything up as to what would make you go against the want to not spend on it. Make it serious. This is £1000 extra debt on a horrible interest rate. Imagine the feeling of seeing it there. Maybe even use an online calculator to see what the figures are (something like 25 or even 40 %).

How much can you, right at this moment pay back monthly to this? This is in addition to everything else. If the answer is zero, then you must not put yourself in that position. It is not fair on yourself to do that to yourself.

If the answer is greater than zero, whatever that number is, put it aside in savings starting now. Don't wait for an emergency. It will cost you the same per month as a credit card, but less overall. One way of looking at it is a debt you pay to yourself, and unlike consumer credit there is no option to work around it. Then when the emergency comes around you have the cash to pay it. And it won't affect your finances as you already pay it anyway. 

This is the angle other posts are getting at.

Now think of as many different things that could lead to something similar, even if it is just £50 on a credit card. There are sure to be hundreds of them. I'll say it stronger than you did. Emergencies don't just sometimes happen. They do happen. I read once that NASA assumes the probability chance of disaster gets closer to 1 the more time passes. This means that given enough time an emergency will 100% happen. This approach means that as many can be prepared for as possible.

Your bankruptcy means that you have to rely on solutions you create yourself for many of these, and not on consumer options. It is a hard road, and I'm sure feels very long. Starting fresh is a very difficult experience. I want to end on saying massive well done on every step you've taken so far, you've got this, you can do this.

EssexHebridean

I agree with going through one of the benefits checkers to be sure you are getting everything that you should be. Also, it may be worth putting together a new SOA for your current situation - you could post it here if that feels OK to you, as there may be areas where we can identify savings that you haven’t quite spotted yet, and that in turn might mean that you can start  to save a little surplus each month for an emergency fund. Look at it this way - if you can save £20 a month then if in 6 weeks time your kettle dies, you’ll just be able to use the money saved and replace it, no stress. If in a couple of years time your fridge dies, you will be able to replace that - again, no fears about then having an overdraft costing you money that you have to worry about clearing. It’s that peace of mind - even to a degree, that is the reason we talk so much about emergency funds here. 

daniel-2412

thank you all for taking the time to reply i appreciate it