Would they not be on there until 2020, 6 years from the date of default? Poster Obiter Dictum is of the belief that putting a notice of circumstances on there wont make a blind bit of difference... is there anything else I can do to improve the damage done? In addition to what I'm doing now, which is using my 'better' credit card sensibly and paying the balance off in full each month.

Capital One defaulted on 10/03/2014 and was paid off on 31/10/2014. Ocean was on 24/03/2014, settled 31/07/2015.

Both were in default without me paying anything at all for four months. One was Capital One £630, which was paid off in three consecutive monthly installments after the four months, meaning I have a record of seven 'D's showing for that account on my credit report. One was a loan I had at the time with Ocean Finance - £1100 was the default amount. I paid the default amount off in smaller installments and it was paid full twelve months after the four months of paying nothing...so sixteen 'D's show under that one. Capital One were so unhelpful at the time. Obviously it was a life changing and very devastating event. I'd just moved address about a month before the incident and Capital One, after me explaining the circumstances of my non payment for four months, felt it necessary to add a note to my file that I 'omitted' to tell them about a change of address until five months after I moved, when in fact I had written a letter at the time of the change of address (and sent them a copy at the time of the note appearing on my file as proof!). Wouldn't touch them with a barge pole ever again. I know they are a credit business and they don't really care..but jeez. Both were 'bad credit' type accounts, although I didn't really have any bad credit beforehand, I had no credit..which had subsequently become bad, due to the defaults. For mortgage applying purposes. I am completely debt free now and for the last 3 months, since I obtained it, I make a small purchase a month on a Tesco 6 month 0% interest on purchases credit card, then pay it back in full. I managed to get 5.9% APR on that card when the 0% is up. Which is obviously at a far better rate than anything I would have got in the past. This gives me a glimmer of hope that I might be worthy of lending mortgage finance to??

Yes, I actually work as paralegal in a conveyancing department and remember a lot of cases being pulled during the scandal. Thanks very much for the advice and help. I know each case is based on its individual merits, so it could be much more, but I feel much better knowing that it could be a little as 1.5% above base rate (although I understand it will push mortgage repayments up a bit), as using a mortgage calculator that would still be feasible and in our budget. I guess we'll plod on saving, hit the 15% and then go back to our mortgage broker. I don't think I'll bother with the notice of circumstances.. doesn't sound like it's worth the effort of even writing the letter.

Bugger, I was hoping it would give me my credit rating that extra push. We have spoken to an independent mortgage adviser (free consultation) and he was confident that he'd be able to find us something with a 15% deposit, which based on how much we've managed to save in the last year, I'm hoping we will have next year. He did state it would be a slightly higher rate, but didn't go into detail in the free session. I was hoping we'd be able boost our credit ratings with a note. God loves a trier! When you say you talk from personal experience, did you manage to secure a mortgage with defaults on your account? If yes, at what inflated rate if you don't mind me prying?

Hi, Not been on here for a while, but was looking for some advice as to placing a notice of circumstances on my credit file. I plan to purchase a house next year with a hefty deposit, and for the first time, I've been accepted for very low APR credit with a 0% interest deal. My credit rating finally is improving! Long story short, like a lot of us, I've been working on improving my credit rating for some time. A few years ago I went into default with two of my creditors. I actually had four creditors at the time, but when explaining the circumstances, two were most understanding and froze my account, two were not! I would add that both of these defaults were paid off in full just over a year ago. As stated at the beginning of my post, I am now looking to explain the circumstances of the defaults on my credit file. I understand that I should have the notice removed once my defaults drop off my credit report (in four and bit years!), and I understand that they will only be seen by a physical person underwriting any future credit. I have compiled a letter but I'm struggling with the 200 word 'notice'. So this is what I have so far: At the time of the default my grandmother had been murdered, and both my partner and I (now husband and wife) had to have a lot of unscheduled time off work to attend family liaison sessions, family therapy and press conferences. Under the extreme, and incredibly rare circumstances, I fell behind with my payments. So my questions are: 1. Is this relevant to any underwriter? Obviously it was relevant to me, my husband is self employed, and therefore we were really struggling with meeting our bills etc. at that time. 2. Is it worth adding a notice of circumstances to your credit files? 3. Does anyone have any better ideas? Sincere thanks, to anyone that takes the time to reply Frankie

Thank you for your help! I will send a chase letter today and also request that they cancel the PPI payments asap. I am currently paying £40.00 a month (the minimum payment plus £10.00) and I am only £200.00 (approx.) over the credit limit but the £40.00 just gets swallowed up in 'over the limit charges' and the PPI that I am paying for! If they temproarily freeze the interest, I might actually be able to get somewhere!! Will keep you posted!

Hi, I wrote a letter to Barclaycard about three weeks ago asking them if they could freeze the interest on my card temporarily as I'm over the credit limit (and have been for about three years) and just can't get anywhere paying it off. I still haven't heard back from them!! Does anyone have any tried and tested addresses for Barclaycard whereby they had a response from them? One more thing... I noticed on a recent statement that I am paying £10.00 a month payment protection insurance- I don't think this was 'mis-sold' to me as I remember agreeing to it when I took out the credit card however should I cancel this as it's just one more expense I could do without. One problem....I switched jobs last year and I'm on a six month probation period at my new job (ending in April). Any advice much appreciated!