We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

credit file confusion

So... took advantage of Experians 30 day free trial today. Put in last 6 yrs of my partners address. only 1 debt was listed. It was listed as defaulted and we settled it with a full and final settlement offer last month. How can we ensure this gets changed to settled on the file.

Also we were aware of a total of 6 debts - some of which we settled

1 - Provident - this one is not settled but not listed either
2 - Lloyds - this one we settled using an offer of f&f settlement and we have received written confirmation of this. It is not listed in any way
3 - Lowell - this is listed as defaulted but this is the one I refer to above, we settled it last month
4 - Lloyds - this is not settled but not listed either
5 - Solicitors - this is not listed but I know there is a ccj on it
6 - Legal debt - has been written off but not listed in any way

How do I find out if our paperwork is correct if it does not match the Experian check? How can I think the debts exist if they aren't listed (1,4,5)- what does this mean? How can I amend the one which appears as defaulted but is settled (3, 5) and how do I deal with 2 which we settled but does not appear at all?!

I'm so confused. All I want to do is find out EXACTLY what outstanding debt there is in case there is some we are not aware of and also make sure that the ones we have settled are recorded as such.

Can I pick anyone's brains please????
Many thanks

Comments

  • MrsTinks
    MrsTinks Posts: 15,238 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    Hmmm could they be on the credit report with Equifax? I know Lloyds didn't used to update Experian at all - good OR bad which caused me a load of problems! I had no credit history as all my accounts were with Lloyds so the fact I had never had any adverse was unprovable as Lloyds back then never updated them... Nightmare! I don't know if they have improved on that.
    DFW Nerd #025
    DFW no more! Officially debt free 2017 - now joining the MFW's! :)

    My DFW Diary - blah- mildly funny stuff about my journey
  • I sent letters to the three big credit agencies earlier this week. Any idea how long they take to arrive? Thanks
  • ellissa
    ellissa Posts: 114 Forumite
    not sure, did the experian one on the net so was pretty instant!
    Anyone else got any advice or ideas about my predicament please???!!!
  • Mum_of_3_3
    Mum_of_3_3 Posts: 658 Forumite
    Do you live in a flat? The only reason I ask is because I do & when I checked my file recently there were a few things missing.

    I phoned Experian & they told me it's probably because I don't have every address possibility on my file ie
    Flat 1, Bananaman House, 117 Acacia Road;
    1 Bananaman House, 117 Acacia Road;
    Flat 1, 117 Acacia Road (you get the idea :) )

    Once they had added every possibility all my credit history came up.

    HTH

    M_o_3
  • ellissa wrote: »
    It was listed as defaulted and we settled it with a full and final settlement offer last month. How can we ensure this gets changed to settled on the file.

    I'm pretty sure that if you offer a full & final settlement (below the actual debt amount) then you get a black mark on your history - default doesn't sound right though.
  • fermi
    fermi Posts: 40,542 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    ellissa wrote: »
    1 - Provident - this one is not settled but not listed either

    May appear on Equifax or CallCredit. You need to check these as well.

    2 - Lloyds - this one we settled using an offer of f&f settlement and we have received written confirmation of this. It is not listed in any way
    3 - Lowell - this is listed as defaulted but this is the one I refer to above, we settled it last month

    2 and 3 - If this is listed as defaulted with Lowells then they should have taken over the responsibility for reporting the account information from
    Lloyds. You must only have one entry on each file regarding each debt. In this case Lowells.

    If it is settled then the default remains but they must mark it so that it states that it is "satisfied or settled" or "partially satisfied or settled" with NO outstanding balance. If this is not the case then they must change it.


    4 - Lloyds - this is not settled but not listed either

    May appear on Equifax or CallCredit. You need to check these as well.

    5 - Solicitors - this is not listed but I know there is a ccj on it

    A CCJ should show up on all three files as it is public information. Is the address the CCJ was issued against listed as as previous address with your report?

    6 - Legal debt - has been written off but not listed in any way

    If this is not a credit "type" debt, then it may not appear on your Credit Reference Files anyway.

    Hope that helps. :)

    As others mentioned, make sure every possible name/address for the last six years is referenced on the reports so that they are as complete as possible.
    Free/impartial debt advice: National Debtline | StepChange Debt Charity | Find your local CAB

    IVA & fee charging DMP companies: Profits from misery, motivated ONLY by greed
  • balmk
    balmk Posts: 624 Forumite
    Hi, I have nothing on my Experian report aside from amatch on the electoral role. This is depsite having 17 different credit accounts over the last 10 years, being declared insolvent, and then being discharged!

    I would definitely suggest that you get your Equifax and Callcredit (though Callcredit are notoriously ropey - info is seldom correct) reports. You can do this by getting statutory reports for £2 each (see their respective websites www.equifax.co.uk and www.callcredit.co.uk) or if you want to see the datat online, some of them do a 30 day free trial, or you can get a monthly triple agency report (ie Equifax, Experian and Callcredit) for a quartely fee at www.checkmyfile.com.

    Hope that helps!
  • fermi
    fermi Posts: 40,542 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    balmk wrote: »
    Hi, I have nothing on my Experian report aside from amatch on the electoral role. This is depsite having 17 different credit accounts over the last 10 years, being declared insolvent, and then being discharged!

    Insolvency (bankruptcy or IVA) is "public record" information, so it should appear on all three reports if it occurred in the last 6 years.

    If the insolvency occurred less than six years ago, then Experian are definitely having some problem linking your current details to past records/accounts. Check that previous address/name details match and are complete. Even a small discrepancy can sometimes prevent information. Remember that it's possible that a creditor searching your record and providing slightly different search criteria than you may see the details of accounts/records that you can't.
    Free/impartial debt advice: National Debtline | StepChange Debt Charity | Find your local CAB

    IVA & fee charging DMP companies: Profits from misery, motivated ONLY by greed
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.3K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 603.7K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.3K Life & Family
  • 261.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.