How to check defaults?

london1973

As anyone who has read my posts (bad luck) i am managing numerous credit card and loan debts and awaiting them to default

i do find the various letters quite confusing and even misleading, is there any way to check whether you have defaulted…i realise credit files are a good place to start but the free ones seem to be pretty useless..i have definitely defaulted on 2 (a while ago) and neither have shown up on credit karma (which continues to report I’m in good shape 😂)

Would rather not cough up with equifax just to monitor defaults

I’m asking as i need to understand at which point i should be arranging the payment plans with each creditor. 

Brie

I would suggest that you wait a minimum of 3 months after making no payments to contact the creditor and ask about the situation.  It may in fact be better to have a debt adviser enquire on your behalf as they will be able to send a standard letter that will ask about the account, arrears, date of default etc before contacting them again to set up a payment plan of some sort.  Doing this through a debt adviser just takes some of the pressure off you but leaves you to manage the debt plan yourself with their guidance which sounds like what you want to do.

Check out NationalDebtline, StepChange, CMA (Community Money Advice), some Citizens Advice can also assist.

backinbusiness

I would also add that you can check all three credit reference agency files for free. Sometimes a debt won't be reported to all 3, so you'd be better checking them all. Hope that helps. BiB x 

freshstart2023

I use Clearscore which is free and it shows very clearly on there the accounts that have defaulted…apart from Virgin. I did received the default letter and the account has been sold, however, still shows as in arrears on my credit file. 

sourcrates

Defaults are registered solely on your credit files.

The date of default will be clearly stated.

Experian and Equifax provide a free statutory copy of your credit report, as does credit Karma, you can also view it online.