Thanks Paul that's a good letter for me to use, will include the line about which credit ref. agencies are holding the information & get it sent out by recorded delivery today. Lets see what happens next...

Hi Paul, I've taken your advice and tweaked the letter, think it's more substantial now... Dear Mr. xxxx, I am writing in reference to your letter dated 21/09/07. The address provided in my Subject Access Request is correct as is the date of birth provided. Shop Direct Financial Services have entered data in the form of a default (dated 15/04/01) onto my credit file. As a result of this I have requested all the data you hold about me by way of a Subject Access Request under section 7 of the Data Protection Act, 1998. On reciept of this I may confirm if this is an accurate record as is required under the Data Protection Act 1998. I have provided sufficient details to collate the documents I have requested. Please note that you have 40 days in which to produce this information as from your reciept of my Subject Access Request and payment on 15/09/07. If you cannot supply me with the data that I have requested you are required by law to remove the default. Unfortunately I will not be able to contact you by telephone as I require all correspondance to be in written form. I look forward to hearing from you shortly, Yours Faithfully, ...Thanks for taking the time to help me with this, Best wishes Cat

Here is a draft letter to Shop Direct: 25/09/07 Dear Mr. XXXXX, I am writing in reference to your letter dated 21/09/07. The address provided in my Subject Access Request is correct as is the date of birth provided. Therefore you have sufficient details to collate the information I have requested under the Data Protection Act, 1998. Please note that you have 40 days in which to produce this information as from your reciept of my Subject Access Request and payment on 15/09/07. Unfortunately I will not be able to contact you by telephone as I require all correspondance to be in written form. I look forward to hearing from you shortly, Yours Faithfully Please will someone feedback as to if this is OK to send? Many thanks Cat

Hi Paul, thanks for that but to be honest I still can't remember. The default is only for £34 (most of which is probably charges!) so I can't have bought anything good enough to recall nearly 4 years later... Don't want to hijack anyones thread but I sent SAR to Shop Direct and they've replied. Apparantly they can't find record of my account number so I've written a draft letter to send back to them. If yourself or anyone else has time to look at it and suggest any changes it'd be much appreciated then I can get it posted out. Here's a link to my own thread; http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/legalities/114086-dont-want-settle-unless.html Thanks again, Cat

Just read your post, I've been wondering the same thing as I found a default for £34 on my credit report from Shop Direct in 2004 & have no recollection of what its for as I've moved a few times since then & have not been chased for the £34. From the link above it looks like Shop Direct covers a lot of groups- I'm still none the wiser as to where the debt came from, did you manage to find out any more about who they are?

Thanks Midge, will do that.

hi midge I gave the 2004 address and my DOB so don't know why they can't find it. Sure I saw something similar on someone else's thread but can't find it again now I need it! Will keep looking, thanks

I've had a reply from Littlewoods Shop Direct Group: 'I regret that I am unable to trace an account number in your name at the address you have listed. To enable me to commence collating the information for your SAR please contact me by telephone.... from the Complaints Management Team' Theres no way I'm phoning for anything I will do it all by recorded delivery letter, where should I go from here?

Hi, thanks for the advice. Think I will just pay the costs when I get paid this fri. it's so annoying that they can say people are behind on payments when it's payment for a service in advance. Cheers anyway!

I recieved my bill for £211 from UU in April for Water use 2007-2008. My first question is -How are UU able to class me as in arrears by June 2007 for a bill covering costs from April 2007 to April 2008? All other utilities don't bill in advance so how is this right? -Secondly, this was as usual a full bill with no option of staged payments. I had paid £50 off in June and got a reminder in July for the amount outstanding. I then heard nothing until September 9th when I recieved court papers. I borrowed the £161 ( I was out of work until recently and don't get first wage until end this wk) and paid it only to get a bill from UU for £20 Court Costs and £50 Solicitors fees. Could I dispute this amount as being unreasonable? Any advice appreciated!

Thanks for that, Have sent off the S.A.R.'s with the £10 payment by recorded delivery and am waiting for response. Is it 40 days or 40 working days they have in which to reply? Thanks, Cat

Hi, hope someone can help me, I've read loads of threads on default removal but not found anything that fits my problem. I have 2 defaults on experian and equifax; £34 to Shop Direct Financial Services £650 to London Scottish Bank (Next Directory) Both occured when I moved house in 2004, I recieved no default notice but ? if that is relevant in this case. My questions are; 1) I've no recollection of what the £34 debt is for- how can I find out? 2) I have no original paperwork for the £650 but I know at least £500 is debt from goods not charges. I am happy to pay as I want to improve my credit rating asap but ONLY if default is removed. As they've not had any offer of payment from me what are my chances of getting them to agree to remove default upon full payment? If I do get them to write in agreement will it be worth the paper it's written on? I need this sorted asap as I'm recently separated, car is on last legs and no car= no work! I figure if I can find a way to do this it will be cheaper in the long run than paying high interest rates on a car loan. Thanks, Cat :?

Hi David, I'm new here so please excuse my ignorance... I have 1 default on my credit file for £650. This is mostly (about £500) from goods recieved (next directory) so I gather I can't get it removed on the grounds that the default is due to charges. I defaulted in early 2005 when I moved house and I didn't recieve anything from them at my new address. Now I have separated from my partner I need to get my credit file clean so that I can get a car loan at a reasonable rate instead of the disgusting 39.5% apr. I was told to get (no chance- I'd rather walk the 15 miles to work!) but I'm not sure what to do for the best. Was going to offer to discuss payment with the creditors ONLY if they first provided me with a written statement agreeing to remove default immediatly upon reciept of payment. However now I read that you managed to get yours removed (well done!) but did you settle this in full first? Sorry if this seems like stupid question but would appreciate other's input/ advice Thanks Cat