Question about Credit Report

missljm

Hi, I'm not sure if this is on the correct forum but I have seen the really helpful information given on this forum by you all and I do hope you can help me. It's a bit long so apologies there.

I had a default entered on my credit report on 31/08/2001 by Barclaycard after falling behind with payments (they had never once chased me for the money so forgot all about it). I decided in August 2006 that I really needed to get control of my finances as I was applying for a Mortgage and was advised to get a hold of my Credit Report and sort out the mess I had created. I contacted Barclaycard and made an arrangement to pay a specific amount each month until the debt was paid back, and so far I have not missed one payment and I am due to pay the final payment in a couple of months.

So today I decided I should check my Credit Report again just to check everything is in order only to find to my horror :eek: that Barclaycard have issued another default on the account in April 2007, and that according to the Equifax report that I have checked that I have only paid £320.00 rather than the actual amount of £760.00. I have tried to call Barclaycard this afternoon, but after getting cut off by their agents twice, been given a number for a department that I was assured was open to call and find it was shut and then launching the phone across the room I'm really frustrated.

So to cut a long story short if a default was due to be cleared from my account last August, can a new one be issued prior to this date?

Aesop

Hi, defaults are not actually removed from your credit report, they are usually just marked satisfied when full pyt has been received. if Barclaycard "think" you have not paid your amount in full, they may have issued another default notice. The best thing to do is contact them on Monday, get it all cleared up once and for all, and ask them to contact all the credit companies with the correct information, they do make mistakes!!

On a sidebar, my sister used to work for a finance company and decided to do a credit search on me, which affected my status and when I checked my report found this illegal search. I contacted the company who immediately removed the information from my report but wouldnt tell me why my sister had done it, she and i dont speak.

good luck, post to advise if you get everything sorted out correctly.

missljm

Thank you for replying so quickly, I will contact them on Monday and try and get this sorted out. Just when I thought I was doing so well too.

Aesop

I think you have been, remember they are not infallible and make mistakes too!

fermi

Yep. You need to complain to Barclaycard.

Defaults DO expire on your credit report and are removed after 6 years from the original default date.

From: Equifax website.

Data Type: Credit Agreements
Expiry Date: 6 years from the date the account was settled, written off or defaulted, whichever occurred first.

Once the first default has been register and expired they are not allowed to re-register the default again.

If they won't remove it, make a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office.

missljm

Ooh looks like a mistake then, thank you. Starting to feel a bit better now, thought I was going to be spending my Saturday on a really bad mood. Thanks.

fermi

Yep.

If you have any trouble with Barclaycard, get in touch with the Information Commissioners Office.

ICO helpline: Helpline is open between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
08456 30 60 60
01625 54 57 45

Credit Reference Files and the data that creditors record on them are covered by the Data Protection Act and must be accurate.

It's the job of the Information Commissioner to oversee this and deal with disputes, so if you have any doubt over how Barclaycard should act and what you can do about it then give them a call.

More is explained in the ICO's factsheet credit explained

missljm

OK quick update. I called Barclaycard this morning and went through everything that has happened and they have no explanation as to why this default has appeared. They have requested that I fax a copy of the credit report over to them and allow them to investigate it, which I am quite happy to do.
I'll update when I have a response.

fermi

Good.

As long as they're not trying to tell it shouldn't be there, when it's their fault and should never have happened, that's good.

Aesop

hey Missljm, glad to hear you got through to Barclaycard and they are going to look into it for you. Good luck and hope this means your name gets cleared once and for all.

missljm

I thought that I would let you all know that this has now been resolved, got the letter yesterday from Barclaycard apologising for their mistake. It wasn't easy though had to make umpteen calls and fax the details over twice, but was worth it in the end. Thank you to aureol212 and fermi for your advice.