help with sorting out credit files

[willow]

Having finished my IVA with a F & F I have sent off for my credit files from the 3 agencies. There are mistakes including the IVA listed twice and defaults put on after the IVA was started etc and it is all quite complicated as I had a lot of creditors. Is there an agency or firm that I can use to sort it all out or is there a type of professional who I can go to? I am obviously prepared to pay a fee to get this all done properly. I know my credit will be bad until the 6 years are up but I want to get it sorted as far as possible now.

I was also surprised to find that a search on a comparison site two weeks ago for car insurance has shown up as a search on my file - I do not remember them telling me that a credit search would be done and it would be marked on my file. How can they do this and does it affect credit ratings as we are always told to have as few searches as possible. Can I get it removed?

[kallis3]

Hi,

The search for the car insurance is not a credit search as such, it is designed to just check that you live at that address and will not show up to anyone else.

You need to write to the creditors who have defaulted after the IVA was approved and tell them to remove the defaults. I would query with the CRA's as to why your IVA was listed twice.

[Skippy]

To be honest I wouldn't pay anyone to do this as it's not that difficult to do it yourself for the price of the stamps.

If you have a look at my blog there is a template letter that you can use to send to your creditors, and other information about updating your files. The letter will need to be amended slightly as was originally written for BR.

I have heard that insurance companies do credit check you, and I don't think it's possible to get it removed.

[kallis3]

I was told that the checks that they do don't show up if anyone else checks your file - as I check loads of insurance companies everytime it comes up for renewal then I should have a list as long as my arm!

[willow]

Thanks for your replies - I am glad that the insurance quotes wont show up - one less to worry about. The reason I wanted to get someone who knew what they were doing to sort out my files is that the three different credit firms show different things for the same creditor and there are pages of the stuff! I have two creditors Nat West and Alliance and Leicester that are updating defaults to last month - even after the IVA was settled so there is a lot to do but I guess I will put aside a day with the three reports, look up Skippy's templates and try to sort it out myself.

[Skippy]

I made a list of my creditors and wrote to each one as it's down to the creditor to amend their file, not the credit reference agencies.

You only need to send each creditor one letter as this will cover all 3 agencies.

Don't be surprised if they don't reply, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they haven't amended your file. I left it 6 weeks and reapplied for my credit files and most of the ones who hadn't replied had still amended the entry.

Good luck x

[kallis3]

Excellent advice from Skippy.

[JuliaE]

I emailed the credit agaency and explained what had happened, (still defauting even though IVA was settled) and the y said they would contact the companies for me and sort it out. They did too, within a month. I was very pleased.

[Skippy]

I think if you need defaults to be removed from your credit file you still need to contact your creditors individually.

I'm glad you got yours sorted out Julia!

[kallis3]

I think you are right Skippy - I'm very surprised that the CRA did it for you. I know people have posted on here in the past that they have refused to do it as it is your responsibility.