NatWest default dropped off early… afraid!

PollyPocket4

Hi, I hope this post is in the right place! 

Having fallen into bad money habits and having difficulty with debt since 2019, I have recently started to get on top of my finances having paid off 5/6 of my debt accounts with the likes of Lowell and Intrum. It’s been hard going but I’m getting there! I had a personal loan with NatWest (10k loan when I was a student, stupid) that defaulted in March 2019. I tried to set up a payment plan with them in 2022 (the same time as I set up the rest of my payment plans) and it was a nightmare. The account seemed to no longer exist and when I finally got speaking to someone who could find it they said they had passed it to agencies but decided to write off the debt in Dec 2020. I stopped trying to pay them at this point (middle of 2022) and I haven’t heard a peep further about it. I realise I have (stupidly) reset the clock in 2022 making a couple of payments to them but they refunded 2 of them so I’m not sure when I stand here. 

Anyways, the point of my post. I was expecting the default to drop off in March 2025 however I can see it’s dropped off credit karma this month. I’m worried this might mean it’s been sold or is moving to a ccj? I would be absolutely heartbroken if this is the case as I’ve worked so so hard clearing my other debts and they are all dropping off in the next few months. I only disregarded the NatWest loan as the guy on the phone told me it was written off. 

What should I do? NatWest don’t have my current address and I’m so anxious about what might happen. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you. 

JadedAngel88

For them to get a ccj they would have had to send court documents. If they don't have your current address, it's possible they might have been sent to a previous address. It's also possible it's been sold on to a debt collector. But there's no way to tell until or if you receive a letter.

Credit reference agencies usually take a couple of months to update, so you could look again in February say or see if you receive any letters from debt collectors, other than that it's pointless worrying over something you can't change. I think you just have to wait it out. Until you know different just carry on as normal.

It's possible you have reset the statute barred clock but I'm no expert in that area. I'd say just see, if anything, arrives in the new year and act accordingly if it does. You can always post back if you receive or are not sure of anything.

sourcrates

PollyPocket4 said:

I tried to set up a payment plan with them in 2022 (the same time as I set up the rest of my payment plans) and it was a nightmare. The account seemed to no longer exist and when I finally got speaking to someone who could find it they said they had passed it to agencies but decided to write off the debt in Dec 2020.

Its been written off, I don`t think you have anything to worry about here.

Occasionally accounts come off your file early, especially when a debt has been written off, its certainly no indicator of legal action, or anything else for that matter, given the circumstances.

If they refunded your payments in 2022, then that adds credence to the write off story.

PollyPocket4

Thank you both for the replies. I went through all my notes again and it was actually due to drop off at the end of this month, so I’m thinking everything is okay. Another debt that was due to drop off next week has also disappeared so fingers crossed it’s all okay. I’ll keep an eye on things though! Thanks again.