Damage to credit score

whatsonjack

I don't know if this is the right place so please feel free to move it.

I'm not on any payment plans, I'm just dealing directly with the companies below and hope the information is useful to others

I have been having a problem with Barclaycard recently
Firstly they returned two months payments (made by internet banking - same as I have for the past X years!!!) Hands up. once paid I forget about them and never realised they had come back
I then got a phone call saying I was in arrears and I needed to pay £60 immediately - I paid by debit card on the phone. I then checked my bank account and found the returned payments. I rang BC and eventually got to speak to someone who didn;t just speak english but also understood what I was trying to say!! They admitted it was their error and have credited the late payment fees etc.

Fine I thought............

I then get a letter halving my credit limit due to the missed payments:mad: I again ring BC and tear strips off two guys there. I finally get someone who appears to know what they are talking about. The letter I received clearly states the reason for the reduced limit but the guy tells me that is not the real reason. They have had a poor credit score from Experian and decided to reduce their exposure to me and drop my limit.

I go to Experian to get my credit report and score. Firstly I find BC have given me three late payments on the report!!! I'm writing to them to ask them to get them removed.

I then find five ( 3 x Black Horse , 1 Alliance & Leicester , 1 x Halifax) Credit Application searches for a personal loan!!!!!!!!
Now, back in november I filled in one of the enquiry forms on beatthatquote.com (I think) as I was looking to raise funds for a business project. I got a number of quotes for various amounts over a number of years but decided not to pursue any of them. At NO point did I ever apply for a loan with any of these companies. But their searches (within a couple of days of each other) has crashed my credit score down to fair. (being self employed doesn't help matter so I need my score to be as high as possible)

I have spoken to Experian who say these should be called quote searches and do not appear on lenders credit searches but are there for you to see.
I have sent recorded delivery letters to all three asking them to change the info with Experian but we;ll see what happens.

Moral of story (and perhaps I'm preaching to the converted) ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORT

Regards
Whats on Jack

ps sorry for waffleing.

TroysMum

I completly agree with the above. I recommend everyone to check their credit file periodically, keep track of everything. And any disrepancies, get on to it straight away and chew at them until things get sorted.