Hey there, welcome to the club. It's a long hard slog getting your file cleared up and in my experience it only happens if you keep hounding the companies. I believe they do drop off after 6 years but I wouldn't rely on that as no doubt everyone will be reporting your default date inaccurately. Having finally cleared mine just last week a new default - Marlin Financial - has appeared from nowhere. I could scream!

Hi ac494851 and welcome.

It depends upon what you mean by a default.

If you were issued with a "default notice" on 1st April 2008 it should drop off in April 2014 (after six years).

If an account is simple marked as being "in default" then any new entries added may remain on your credit file for six years.

If your previous creditors aren't doing the right thing you may want to make formal complaints to them, and then to the Information Commissioner if they don't act appropriately upon the complaints.

thanks for the info.
im still not really sure, they all show as having a default date 2009 sometime. but the creditors are updating every month or so with a balance showing as still owed. it's stopped me getting 2 jobs recently as they said my credit files bad

I only started getting a response when I sent my letters to the respective complaints departments. They seem to have a commitment to respond to you within a certain time period. Letters direct to the data management teams all gained no response.

If you're discharged you don't owe any money ac494851.

You're absolutely entitled to expect that your credit file reflects this.

As Beloved_Aunt says, don't be afraid to make formal complaints. You're in the right here and they shouldn't be reporting incorrect information about you.

My Trust Deed was August - discharge was 3 years later in August.
The creditors all showed Default and dates which varied by 6 months.

I have written to them all; some of them 3 times. I have managed to get all but one reported as Satisfactory.

One RBS (Mint) is simply ignoring me (3 letters so far including Data officer). M&S changed my record to Satisfactory but has incorrect date (6 months later), so I am now trying to get them to correct the date.

So, from my records; I understand that the trust deed should drop off in August 2015; a couple of default creditors will drop off in September 2015 (not worth the hassle to bring forward the month), another will not drop off until February 2016 unless I can get them to correct the date), and I have no idea what will happen to the RBS one if I cannot get any response [:(]. I am at the stage of writing to the ICO.

I was just thinking, the RBS have taken the strong stand about PPI not being returned to those in a Trust Deed (but they do via Trustee), and they have not replied to any of my letters. An indication of complete disapproval of and a hard line towards those who enter into Trust Deeds? Make it as difficult as possible for them!

too be honest i'm still in the dark regarding my question about this.
as my default dates are all showing as 2009 does that mean that they all automatically drop off my file next year as 6 years will have passed, even if there is a balance still showing as owed. can anyone advise. thanks

See my first answer ac494851.

Are they accounts in default, or formal default notices?

They're two different things.

i don't really understand what you mean too be honest.
i'm looking at my credit report but can't see where i would get that info

I think an account that's marked as being in default will sometimes have a "D" next to it, perhaps for a number of months.

A default notice will have a specific date of issue, 15th March 2014 for example.

Does that help?

hi thanks again for your help.
they all have a specific date early 2009, but all still have a balance showing as still owing. so if i just leave it will they all drop off my credit file in 2015?

We make no claims to be experts on credit files.

I suspect that the default notices will drop off automatically, but that your creditors will need to amend balances due to zero.

Hi ac

I have a Noddle account (free) and an Experian account which I pay monthly for.

I don't know what you have, but if it helps you:

Experian have an Account Information section, under which they have headings including Lender, Status, Amount.
Initially they will show as Status as Default and then the amount under the Amount column. As I have had mine updated, the Status changes to Satisfactory and the balance changes to £0.

If I open up the More Details button it will give details of the default date and satisfaction date.

Under Public Notices the Trust Deed is listed there with date of start and satisfaction date. The satisfaction date there should match the updating of the individual accounts.

The list of accounts remains visible.

In Noddle - it is very similar except the updated accounts move from the Open Accounts page to Close Accounts page. Again, mine are marked Satisfactory and with £0.

All the dates against updated or Satisfactory SHOULD be the date of the settlement of the Trust Deed.

My my case, dates are very slightly out (a couple of weeks after) which I am not concerned about. One is 6 months ahead so I am working to correct that by using copy of entry in Credit Reference file (copy and paste) and also the Form 5 discharge - both sent to the company.

I hope that makes sense and it will help you to interpret your own a bit easier.

PS: I also have another completely incorrect file record which I am trying to get resolved (Barclaycard showing that I have a current card which is Satisfactory but fully used).

From this I have learned that it is good for anyone, trust deed or not, to keep an eye on their credit file and get anything corrected if necessary.

i did a bit more searching to try and answer my question, and came across this on the money saving forum. if it's accurate it means that i only have a year to wait and don't need to chase these companies to update my credit file.

"Defaulted accounts.

All trace of the account and default is removed from your report 6 years from the recorded default date. All traces are removed; the default, the account/status history, balances, everything. As far as anyone checking your report after that point is concerned, they will see no evidence that the account or default ever existed.

Q&A on defaulted accounts.

Q. Is the account and default still removed even if the debt has not been paid off?

A. Yes. The status of the account makes no difference.

Q. I see Ds or 8s each month. Do these new defaults mean the 6 years runs longer?

A. No, as they are not new defaults, but merely status updates on the original default. Everything will still be removed 6 years from the original recorded default date.

Q. Do I still owe/have to pay the debt once the default drops off?

A. Yes, if you are still liable. Presuming that the debt is not time barred, then the creditor can still obtain a County Court Judgement, which would result in a new separate entry in the public record section of your report for another 6 years.

Q. 6 years has passed but the entry remains on my report?

A. It should have been removed by the CRA, so complain to them.

Q. Once the default has dropped off can another be added?

A. No. Only one default can be entered on any account. Once dropped off it cannot be re-added. If that happens then complain.

Q. A debt collector has added a new default or changed the date of the original?

A. A debt collector can have the default record changed into their name, but the default date itself must not be altered. If it is then they must correct it to match the original.

Only one default record is allowed per account, so if a duplicate is created then one of the two must be removed. Limited exception to this is if the original is marked as "Debt Assigned to CAIS. Member", as this entry will not be visible to anyone credit checking you.

Q. I need to complain about something that is incorrect?

A. Dispute the entry/information with the CRA and the lender if possible. If the lender refuses to correct the entry, then complain to the ICO and if it falls within their remit, also the FOS."