Experian Credit Report records from 8 years ago appearing

[99point99]

I have just been through my Experian Credit Report and noticed that a Barclaycard credit card account which I paid off and closed in May 2007 has history which can be tracked back to November 2004 which is in the '25-36 months' ago timeline of the report.

 

Normally this wouldn't annoy me - however there is one 'late payment' default in January 2005 showing up on an otherwise unblemished record. But surely this shouldn't even be on there are its more than 7 years ago.

 

Obviously it is the year 2012. Why is information appearing on my credit report from 2004/2005? I was led to believe that credit agencies keep records for no longer than 6 years...but I can see records from 8 years ago on mine.

Whats going on? Can they do this? And also - can lenders see this information too?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I think that data is only visible to you as archived data,

a quick e-mail or letter to the data controller should give

you the answer.

[99point99]

Thanks - I have already sent a message to Experian, they claim to respond within 2 weeks.

 

Underneath the report for this Barclaycard account I picked up the following text: "Settled accounts are kept on file for six years from the settlement date. The status history in respect of a settled account relates to the period of time prior to the date of settlement."

 

I read a similar post on here and this has happened to someone else, records are kept longer if you pay your debt and close the account. I will wait for Experian's official stance on this matter as I'm not altogether comfortable knowing there is a late payment default from nearly 8 years ago on my credit report,,,,and I am not sure this will not be visible to lenders as it does not state that it is archived material. Little did I know my records from 2004/2005 would come back to haunt me.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

This is I'm sure archieved information, the whole premis

of defaults being removed paid or not is so that an individual

who has paid is not disadvantaged as compared to a debtor

who has paid nothing.

 

So if this data was to available to lenders then the principle

has been breached.

[99point99]

I certainly hope so...

I think I might call Experian today rather than wait the 2 weeks for their reply, I will post my findings on here shortly after about their take on matters - as I am sure someone else that may be looking for answers about this will come across this thread...

watch this space.

[99point99]

Just got off the phone with Experian and they informed me that the information for closed/paid off accounts will remain visible for 6 years from the date that the account was closed (in My case May 2007). Looks like I shouldn't have closed the account - I would have been better off! So that means my credit files will only completely dissappear next year May 2013 - they wont drop off gradually, but all in one go apparently. So my credit records from Barclaycard in 2004 that are still visible to lenders will REMAIN visible to lenders for another year at least - meaning that my credit report files will actually be visible for 9 years.

This is unbelievable.

[sillygirl1]

It is one of the reasons why the Experian database is (IMHO) no longer fit for purpose, it is prolonging this recession by retaining redundant information from dubious sources and maintaining the premise that 'credit needs to be earnt'.

 

Pity they don't apply the same 'rules' to themselves and the banks!

[99point99]

I have just logged a complaint with the Ombudsman - did this within 20 minutes over the phone - it's a lot quicker than 4-5 years ago when I was nailing the banks for bank charges - they will be sending Barclaycard a letter requesting them to remove data older than 6 years from my credit account. In this case they can only ask and not order them to do it - so I have no guarantee that this route will actually work sadly.

You know I probably shouldn't have nailed Barclaycard for bank charges - this could be their spiteful long lasting vengeance. I actually don't even remember getting this late payment default from January 2005 - my credit account record with them apart from this is spotless - it is entirely possibly that it is a complete fabrication in response to them coughing up nearly a £1000 in compensation.

What irks me is that the Experian consultant said that this late payment default doesn't affect my credit rating - however when I asked him whether lenders can actually see the default he said yes, if they look that far back they will see it as it is openly visible - so then it obviously does affect my credit rating.