Written by John Kruse, one of the leading experts on Bailiff Law, this consumer friendly guide is essential reading for anyone who comes into contact with a bailiff.
The book is easy to understand and clearly explains the rights
a bailiff has, and also what they cannot do when collecting debts and repossessing goods etc.
I have had poor credit for years and years, mainly through being stupid when I was younger. I've never been able to get credit previously and have just considered myself stuck so not looked at a way to get out of the mess I'm in.
A couple of months back, on a whim I applied for an o2 simplicity contract (been declined before but what the hey) as it worked out as better value for me than payg. To my surprise I was accepted (I know it's their lowest credit rated but this is the first credit I've got in years!)
I decided to test the water as I know one way of improving your credit rating is to have credit and make payments on it so I applied for a vanquis card. Again to my surprise I've been accepted (been declined before). I keep this card at around £140 allowing them to skim a bit of interest off me just in the hopes of further improving my credit rating in the long term.
I'm getting to the age now where i do need to start thinking about the long term benefits of improving my credit file so I've done the free equifax trial and got my report and I hoped someone could help me with prioritising and best ways to approach people/reasonable offers.
Summary
CurrentPrevious Number of Accounts4n/a Number of Defaults3n/a
Mr Daniel ******
DOB Company Name / Insight Account NumberAccount TypeTermsStart BalanceCurrent Balance Hillesden Securities /
Loan0 @ £ 0 (Monthly) £ 0 £ 1,537 StatusCredit LimitDate UpdatedStart DateDate Last DelinquentDate SatisfiedDefault DateDefault / Delinquent Balance Defaulted £ 005/06/2007 05/04 26/05/2004 £ 1,537
Length of Time on Electoral Roll 3 years
Daniel
NORTHAMPTON CCBC / ********
TypeCourt DateAmountDate Satisfied county court Judgment (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)01/09/2008£388
This is it for my equifax file. I'm waiting for a pin number from Experian although i think that's just a t-mobile contract from 2003ish. I also have a now disused Basic Bank Account that is about £300 overdrawn which I am very annoyed about as they told me they were cancelling all direct debits but lo and behold i keep getting charges on it.
I've removed my personally identifiable details but left you enough to look at. One thing I noticed was how they can be quite informal (Dan not Daniel) and even willing to spell my name wrong (Danial??). so there you go, how do i best approach clearing up my credit file then guys? debt management, phone up debt collectors, write to them. I'd like to prioritise the quick wins, in the short term. but want them all cleared in the end.
Just looked and this is at northhampton court and I have no idea who it is for? no one has ever chased me or asked for that money so how would i find out who to pay it to? I can't actually remember ever being taken to court by anyone which is bad i know.
The Vanquis and Hillesden ones will drop off you credit file by May next year, but my advice is if they are not bothering you do not rock the boat.
As for the car phone warehouse you'd need to see what they have to say. By either SAR or writing to Equifax and get them to contact them. I have found out of all three CRA's Equifax are the easier to deal with.
they are just removed after 6 years and should be removed no later than 28 days after the 6 year date although sometimes the CRA need a gentle reminder.
I've just had a Natwest one removed in 4 days by the OC.
Wow, so my credit file is just going to improve itself over time? fair enough. although from what you say wouldn't the march and may 04 ones actually be dropping off this year?
So the ones i really need to hit in order to cause maximum short term improvement in my credit file (6-12months) are the CCJ and the default from 2007?
In that instance I am tempted to write to my 2007 creditor asking to see that they followed procedure in issuing the default correctly. If they haven't then I will ask them to remove the default and come to a payment arrangement with them with no default. I am also thinking of asking for my CCJ to be set aside on grounds of never receiving any documents either before or after the hearing and not in fact being aware of who the original creditor is (could it have been sent to an old address?-I've been on the electoral roll in my current place since 18months before the hearing so i doubt it). If they agree to set it aside and let me know the original creditor I will quickly ascertain whether I agree with the debt and if so pay it in full before a new hearing date and if not I'll be able to put in a defense.
Worst case scenario and the default was lodged correctly and the ccj stands I guess paying them and having them marked as settled would improve my file a bit more yeah?
If the CCJ is set aside the creditor will have to re-apply for the CCJ and you should get all the relevant paper work to your current address. If the CCJ is upheld then you have 28 days in which to pay and it is then removed from your credit file. You some times have to get a certificate of satisfaction from the court which costs £15 but it should be automatically removed.
you've been very helpful. I'm not trying to avoid old debts or current responsibilities but I am trying to prioritise and I think I've got some kind of plan of action now.
I'll doubtless be asking for much more advice over the coming weeks but I'm more optimistic that things are looking a little brighter and in a year or two (or three) i won't have an completely awful file!
Some advice on a poor credit file please.
I've got in years!)
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