Dealing with old debts

[debt2013]

Hi just looking for some information and advice re old debts and best action to take.

 

Around 7-8 years ago I got in to difficulty with paying my debts,

there were around 15 accounts totaling around £20-£30k, I can't remember exact amounts.

 

To start with I tried to set up payment plans with some of them but some wouldn't accept what I was offering

and so some of them I just ended up ignoring (I know this was stupid)

 

some of them I paid arrangements to for a while eventually these tapered off and I haven't paid any of them for at least 4 years, some of them longer.

 

My partner also had debts we couldn't afford to pay totaling around £15k, same scenario, started with arrangements now haven't paid for around the same amount of time.

 

Most of my accounts defaulted around 6-7 years ago, not sure about partners.

 

We both have a ccj registered from welcome finance,

neither of us have ever received any paperwork regarding this,

we have moved house several times over the years so I presume this went to an old address.

 

We are getting to the time where we are now thinking we need to sort out the mess as we would one day like to get a mortgage.

 

We have both recently being accepted for credit builder visas with capital one,

we are just using a small amount each month for shopping and repaying in full.

 

I have applied for both of our credit files...

 

Mine shows hardly any of my past credit accounts, the only ones i have left showing that are detrimental

are the welcome finance ccj (which is recorded twice) which was recorded in april 2009.

 

I have three defaults recorded as defaulted in march 2008, june 2007 and june 2007.

 

There is also an account which shows 6 payments late and has done for many years,

this is an old topshop store card which is now being recorded by C L Finance,

I offered a payment arrangement but to be honest i don't know why as i couldn't afford it,

i have never paid to it since, it shows the arrangement set up in march 2007 and 6 payments late every month since then.

 

The rest of the accounts are new visa and two bank accounts which are both satisfactory and will remain so.

 

Rest of my old credit cards, loans, overdrafts etc are not showing.

 

Partners credit file shows ccj with welcome, this was registered in feb 2009.

 

Welcome are also recording the same account as 6 or more payments late every month.

 

He then has a default for british gas which is paid off which was registered in march 2007.

 

The rest of his accounts are our bank accounts and 2 credit builder visas which are all satisfactory and will remain so.

 

I'm not proud of the fact that we haven't paid the debt,

we were both very young and naive when we ran it up

and then were in a position where we just couldn't afford to pay it back.

 

We are still not in a position to pay it all back right now and had been thinking of making our selves bankrupt

in the hope that after 6 years we could maybe get a mortgage instead of paying ridiculous amount for renting.

 

Having seen that it looks like most of this bad debt will drop off over the next couple of years

I'm thinking we may be better doing that instead of bankruptcy?

 

I know we will still owe the debt and i'm sure we will have to pay it back at some time

and we will have to do this one at a time I suppose when the time comes.

 

What is the best option for us with the least detrimental effect to the credit files?

should we still go bankrupt to clear it all forever or is this going to be worse than letting them drop off

and clear them as and when we can?

or should we contact them and offer to set up arrangements again?

 

Neither of us have heard anything from our debts for at least 4 years, probably longer but as I mentioned we have moved so I presume they have written to old addresses.

 

Thanks for any advice

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi welcome to CAG.

I think you need to be aware that the removal of the default entries is not a ''magic wand'' that will dramatically improve

your ability to get credit. mortgage lenders are increasingly look at far longer periods of good ++ credit management often upto 5-6 years.

 

With each debt it would be wise to make up a folder for each one, listing date of last payment, default date and balance,

it will then be easier to manage them.

 

For information the deafulted entries are removed after 6 yeaqrs paid or not BUT the last payment date can be up to 4-5 months prior to the default and become statute barred before the default run out.

 

When did you last check CRA files, which agency did you use?

[dx100uk]

hi welcome aboard.

 

i can see nothing that is not going to be

hurrting your outside of say 12mts.

any debt that has been defaulted will be COMPLETELY removed

on the 6th birthday of the dafault date.

 

as for the CCJ's and welcom finance

 

there are two ways to go here

 

or a mixture of both

 

firstly you BOTH need to SAR welcome finance

 

get the complete story from them

i dont know of ANY welcome debt

that was not inflated by 'compulsory' insurances and PPI

which can ALL be reclaimed PLUS the intrest they have cost you.

and

 

99% of welcome debt are also inflated with all manner of PENALTY charges [£12 for everything]

which can ALSO be reclaimed.+the interst they cost you.

 

as for the CCJ's

 

you both due to no fault of your own

got them sent to an old address

 

THIS IS NOT CORRECT

 

you could if you wish GET THEM SET ASIDE AND REMOVED

from your CRA file.

 

but the same as defaults, they will disappear 6yrs from their birthday.

 

pers i'd get those SARS first.

 

as for the other debts...if all the defaults are within say 12mts of going

i'd do nothing.

 

dx

[debt2013]

Hi welcome to CAG.

I think you need to be aware that the removal of the default entries is not a ''magic wand'' that will dramatically improve

your ability to get credit. mortgage lenders are increasingly look at far longer periods of good ++ credit management often upto 5-6 years.

 

With each debt it would be wise to make up a folder for each one, listing date of last payment, default date and balance,

it will then be easier to manage them.

 

For information the deafulted entries are removed after 6 yeaqrs paid or not BUT the last payment date can be up to 4-5 months prior to the default and become statute barred before the default run out.

 

When did you last check CRA files, which agency did you use?

 

 

Hi and thanks for the reply,

I stupidly don't have all the paperwork for my accounts, I had a lot of them and when I was younger I wasn't wise enough to realise I should it keep it all.

I do have odd bits and bats but don't have anything to do with the defaults that are showing on my credit file apart from some very old statements from one of them which was a catalogue.

 

I realise we won't be able to get a mortgage straight away, we are in no position to pay a deposit or anything yet anyway

and wouldn't even be able to start saving toward this until I return to work when youngest child goes to nursery which is nearly 2 years away

so I'm not too bothered about that yet. I'm hoping the credit builder cards we have got will help towards that??

 

I checked the credit files around a week ago and used experian and noddle.

 

I thought that the defaults would be due to drop off in the next year or two, so even if they then contact me in the future can they not start recording on my credit file again?

 

Also I am concerned with the old store card account,

I seem to be able to see from online banking that the last payment I made to them was in October 2007,

my credit file shows that I set up a payment arrangement with them in March 2007,

 

I have a letter from them around that time stating they accept my offer of payment, but then I stopped paying in the October

(I didn't think I'd paid any of the arrangement at all tbh), I can't be 100% sure but I don't think that I have ever contacted them since this

and I don't have any correspondence from them. I know that I definitely haven't contacted them since at least April 2009.

 

I have been reading that AP's are a lot worse on your credit file as they don't drop off for 6 years after you finish paying them

, is that still the case even though I am not paying them, or would this debt become statute barred and removed from my credit file from the six years since I haven't paid them still?

 

Sorry for all the questions I understand some of the things but some of it just goes over my head.

[debt2013]

hi welcome aboard.

 

i can see nothing that is not going to be

hurrting your outside of say 12mts.

any debt that has been defaulted will be COMPLETELY removed

on the 6th birthday of the dafault date.

 

as for the CCJ's and welcom finance

 

there are two ways to go here

 

or a mixture of both

 

firstly you BOTH need to SAR welcome finance

 

get the complete story from them

i dont know of ANY welcome debt

that was not inflated by 'compulsory' insurances and PPI

which can ALL be reclaimed PLUS the intrest they have cost you.

and

 

99% of welcome debt are also inflated with all manner of PENALTY charges [£12 for everything]

which can ALSO be reclaimed.+the interst they cost you.

 

as for the CCJ's

 

you both due to no fault of your own

got them sent to an old address

 

THIS IS NOT CORRECT

 

you could if you wish GET THEM SET ASIDE AND REMOVED

from your CRA file.

 

but the same as defaults, they will disappear 6yrs from their birthday.

 

pers i'd get those SARS first.

 

as for the other debts...if all the defaults are within say 12mts of going

i'd do nothing.

 

dx

 

Hi,

 

What does an SAR tell me? by writing to them and asking for this can this have any impact on the CCJ staying on our credit file's longer than the six years?

I don't want to start getting hounded from them yet as we don't have the funds to pay them right now.

 

I do think we both have PPI on the accounts with welcome as quite a few years ago i asked for the agreement to be sent out for my partner and this showed PPI on,

this was before all the reclaiming started I think.

 

I have never wrote to them to ask for the PPI back as thought this would just open up a can of worms.

I also think there probably are a lot of charges on the accounts,

especially my partners as his loan was for less than mine but his CCJ is for a considerable amount more than mine?

 

Thanks

[debt2013]

Sorry also what about all my other debt that is now not showing on my credit file and I haven't heard from for years, do you think they will not bother to contact me now or do you think they will still contact me at some point?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Ok a SAR gets you all the data the original creditor holds on you so, eg the default date, last payment date, and the true balance of the account when it was sold, also PPI and penalty charges if any.

As to the debts showing on file what are the default dataes?

[debt2013]

Ok a SAR gets you all the data the original creditor holds on you so, eg the default date, last payment date, and the true balance of the account when it was sold, also PPI and penalty charges if any.

As to the debts showing on file what are the default dataes?

 

Default dates are

 

Littlewoods - Showing as Arrow Global Limited - Defaulted on 27/03/2008 - Default Amount £980 - Current Balance £1951 - Last Updated 17/07/2011

 

3 Mobile - Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on 05/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £200 - Current Balance £520 - Last Updated 26/02/2012

 

3 Mobile Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on09/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £134 - Current Balance £378 - Last Updated 13/03/2011

 

Thanks

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Default dates are

 

Littlewoods - Showing as Arrow Global Limited - Defaulted on 27/03/2008 - Default Amount £980 - Current Balance £1951 - Last Updated 17/07/2011

3 Mobile - Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on 05/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £200 - Current Balance £520 - Last Updated 26/02/2012

3 Mobile Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on09/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £134 - Current Balance £378 - Last Updated 13/03/2011

 

Thanks

 

 

Well 3 mobile Could already be statute barred, default date is often 4-5 months after last payment. so both in the same situation.

I take it that AG are not chasing the Littlewoods account.

[debt2013]

No, nobody has written to either of us for any of our accounts for years

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

No, nobody has written to either of us for any of our accounts for years

 

Which does seem odd, there may be contact as the stat barred date near.

[debt2013]

Is it just because we have moved and not told them that they have not been in touch, is it likely they are writing to us at an old address still or would they normally try to track you down. We have been on electoral roll for the last 2 addresses so the last 3 years at least.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Is it just because we have moved and not told them that they have not been in touch, is it likely they are writing to us at an old address still or would they normally try to track you down. We have been on electoral roll for the last 2 addresses so the last 3 years at least.

 

Probably yes, but if they really want to find you they can.

[dx100uk]

Hi,

 

What does an SAR tell me? by writing to them and asking for this can this have any impact on the CCJ staying on our credit file's longer than the six years? - no!!

I don't want to start getting hounded from them yet as we don't have the funds to pay them right now.

 

I do think we both have PPI on the accounts with welcome as quite a few years ago i asked for the agreement to be sent out for my partner and this showed PPI on,

this was before all the reclaiming started I think.

 

I have never wrote to them to ask for the PPI back as thought this would just open up a can of worms.

I also think there probably are a lot of charges on the accounts,

especially my partners as his loan was for less than mine but his CCJ is for a considerable amount more than mine?

 

Thanks

 

nothing can 'extend' a CCJ on your cra file

 

6yrs, like everything, its gone.

 

get those SAR's off to welcome ASAP.

 

bet they owe YOU two more than you owe them!!

 

dx

[dx100uk]

Hi and thanks for the reply,

I stupidly don't have all the paperwork for my accounts, I had a lot of them and when I was younger I wasn't wise enough to realise I should it keep it all.

I do have odd bits and bats but don't have anything to do with the defaults that are showing on my credit file apart from some very old statements from one of them which was a catalogue.

 

I realise we won't be able to get a mortgage straight away, we are in no position to pay a deposit or anything yet anyway

and wouldn't even be able to start saving toward this until I return to work when youngest child goes to nursery which is nearly 2 years away

so I'm not too bothered about that yet. I'm hoping the credit builder cards we have got will help towards that??

 

I checked the credit files around a week ago and used experian and noddle.

 

I thought that the defaults would be due to drop off in the next year or two, so even if they then contact me in the future can they not start recording on my credit file again?

 

Also I am concerned with the old store card account,

I seem to be able to see from online banking that the last payment I made to them was in October 2007,

my credit file shows that I set up a payment arrangement with them in March 2007,

 

I have a letter from them around that time stating they accept my offer of payment, but then I stopped paying in the October

(I didn't think I'd paid any of the arrangement at all tbh), I can't be 100% sure but I don't think that I have ever contacted them since this

and I don't have any correspondence from them. I know that I definitely haven't contacted them since at least April 2009.

 

I have been reading that AP's are a lot worse on your credit file as they don't drop off for 6 years after you finish paying them

, is that still the case even though I am not paying them, or would this debt become statute barred and removed from my credit file from the six years since I haven't paid them still?

 

Sorry for all the questions I understand some of the things but some of it just goes over my head.

 

ok so this storecard could be an issue with its AP markers

 

brig can sort that out

 

p'haps in might be a good ldea to start a new thread on this one alone

 

see below for help

 

dx

[dx100uk]

Default dates are

 

Littlewoods - Showing as Arrow Global Limited - Defaulted on 27/03/2008 - Default Amount £980 - Current Balance £1951 - Last Updated 17/07/2011

 

3 Mobile - Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on 05/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £200 - Current Balance £520 - Last Updated 26/02/2012

 

3 Mobile Showing as Lowell Portfolio - Defaulted on09/06/2007 - Defaulted Amount £134 - Current Balance £378 - Last Updated 13/03/2011

 

Thanks

 

forget the two mobile debts they are dead

 

as for the cat debt

 

thats got a year to run bedfore it goes away

 

pers i'd look at firing off an SAR to littlewoods

 

almost all cat debts are the same as welcome finance ones

99% PENALTY charges

 

get the sar off to them as when that comesback start a new thread for it.

 

dx

[dx100uk]

so to round up

 

make a new thread for the storecard debt - fire an sar off

make a new thread for the welcome debts and fire two SAR's off

make a new thread for the cat debt - fire an sar off

 

 

dont forget

all your SAR's goto the ORIGINAL CREDITORS

 

ignore the dca's

 

overall i dont think you are going to comeout too bad here

 

less than 12mts and it will be sorted.

 

dx

[debt2013]

so to round up

 

make a new thread for the storecard debt - fire an sar off

make a new thread for the welcome debts and fire two SAR's off

make a new thread for the cat debt - fire an sar off

 

 

dont forget

all your SAR's goto the ORIGINAL CREDITORS

 

ignore the dca's

 

overall i dont think you are going to comeout too bad here

 

less than 12mts and it will be sorted.

 

dx

 

Thanks a lot for your advice, its been really helpful, will do the new thread now and get on with the SAR's this week, do I need to pay for these?

 

Thanks again

[dx100uk]

sadly yes £!0 an sar

 

use blank PO's

 

dx