Hi Firewalker, just of curiosity, did you make sure your credit file was updated to show all your defaults were showing as satisfied before you appled for Aqua?

HI CIF. Yes, I spent around 6 months getting the dates of default changed to very close to or a match with the Trust Deed date and showing as Satisfied or Partially Satisfied. Then waited another six months before applying.

I really should have done that then:(

I'll get some letters off next week but just about all of mine will drop off next September at the latest anyway as the six year will have expired anyway. The earliest drops off in April so maybe not worth the effort.

Although my accounts show PS or S and the dates match my Trust Deed, they are still on my file and wont disappear until September next year.

Aqua and Vanquis are credit building cards. They seem to take a risk because of the high interest rate they charge. I only applied to Aqua.

Aqua and Luma declined me but Vanquis accepted me whilst still in my TD. It's September before mine drops off as well - can't wait.

Watch out with reducing those card limits, it's not always a good thing.

Shouldn't apply to anyone on here as we won't be running up balances again, but as your limit comes down your percentage usage goes up. Keep it under 50% usage. Remember, you might be paying it off that month, but it may be your statement balance that is used as the measure.

I did not realise that Bert. Thanks for pointing it out. I was coming from the perspective that the total credit I have would not show me potentially over-committed. I will bear that in mind though.

Been doing much the same things as others on here. I've been diligent about getting my credit file updated and using credit carefully to try and help.

My last sticking point was RBS showing 2 overdrafts I had as still in default a few months after discharge, and me writing to them. I called their insolvency team who said it had been an oversight and amended the files to show the accounts as settled.

I decided to wait a month before going to check the credit scores with the agencies to make sure everything had all gone through. Sure enough, all of my accounts are now settled and satisfied - and my Capital One card shows that it gets paid off in full every month - along with positive reports from O2 and my current account at Nationwide.

My monthly report with Noddle had been 2/5 so I presumed with the last few things being sorted it might go to 3/5. No chance - now back to 1/5. My Equifax score was 380 last month - now down to 166. No idea what I'm meant to do to get these scores up as I'm doing everything I can to be sensible!

On the other hand, Experian has given me a score of 999. Go figure!

Hi Upstream

I am assuming that my score with Noddle and anyone else would remain at bottom end until the Trust Deed dropped off, then I would see a change. I would think that would over-ride the rest for now although longer term the good credit use over a period would show a better history when the Trust Deed and related accounts disappeared, so I believe I am 'investing' in the future of my credit score.

Hi upstream, has your TD dropped off your credit file yet?

Hi upstream.

I'd simply ignore the scores the CRAs are providing. If they can vary so much what use are they? The scores themselves aren't used by lenders, they're just an estimate of how a lender might interpret the information there. Every lender interprets it differently.

All you can do is correct errors, layer good credit history on top of bad, and allow some time to pass. Those three actions will get you back into mainstream credit (if you want it) in time and are the only things you can control.

Thanks TDA. I know I shouldn't pay too much attention to these scores but it was just a bit of a kick in the teeth when I've been working so hard at getting things to where they are now. It's not like I'm even planning for credit any time soon - tho my car may be thinking differently.

CIF, my TD will be on my file for another 2 years so that certainly isn't going to do me any favours. I shouldn't be complaining. Getting through the TD was the hard bit as we, and anyone still in one, know too well!

Someone with 999 will get knocked back. Someone with 712 will get accepted.