Summary
After two years, the negative impact diminishes to 250 points, and once the default surpasses four years, it further reduces to 200 points.
Introduction
Understanding your credit score and the factors that influence it is a vital part of financial literacy.
In the UK, these three-digit numbers can determine whether you’re approved for credit and the interest rate you’re offered.
One significant detriment to your credit score is a default. But what happens when a default is removed? Let’s delve into this topic.
Guide
Understanding Credit Scores in the UK
In the United Kingdom, a credit score is a vital tool used by lenders to assess your creditworthiness, or how likely you are to repay any debts.
This score is calculated based on your financial history and current credit behaviour, providing a snapshot of your credit health at a specific point in time.
Your credit score is calculated by credit reference agencies (CRAs). The three main CRAs in the UK are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Each of these agencies collects information about your credit behaviour, including the types of credit you have, how much you owe, whether you make payments on time, and if you’ve had any defaults or bankruptcies. They then use this information to calculate your credit score.
Each of these agencies uses a different scale to represent your credit score:
- Experian: Their scores range from 0 to 999, with a higher score indicating a lower risk to the lender. Experian categorises scores into five bands: Very Poor (0-560), Poor (561-720), Fair (721-880), Good (881-960), and Excellent (961-999).
- Equifax: Their scores range from 0 to 700. The categories Equifax uses are: Very Poor (0-279), Poor (280-379), Fair (380-419), Good (420-465), and Excellent (466-700).
- TransUnion (formerly Callcredit): Their scores range from 0 to 710. TransUnion uses a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating a very high risk and 5 indicating a very low risk. In terms of numerical scores, 1 equates to 0-550, 2 to 551-565, 3 to 566-603, 4 to 604-627, and 5 to 628-710.
While the scales differ, the principle remains the same across all three agencies: a higher credit score indicates that you are seen as less of a risk to lenders.
This could lead to you being more likely to be approved for credit, being offered higher amounts of credit, or being offered lower interest rates.
However, it’s important to remember that each lender has its own criteria for what it considers a good or bad credit score.
Therefore, even if you have a high credit score, you could still be refused credit if you don’t meet the lender’s other criteria.
Impact of a Default on Your Credit Score
In the realm of personal finance, a default is a serious event that signifies a failure to meet the legal obligations of a loan or credit agreement.
It typically happens when you’ve missed multiple payments, usually between 3-6 months’ worth, and the lender has given up on receiving the missed payments and marked your debt as a default.
A default is one of the most detrimental marks you can have on your credit report.
It’s a clear signal to potential lenders that you’ve had significant difficulties meeting your financial obligations in the past.
This makes you appear riskier as a borrower, which can have a host of negative consequences.
When a default is recorded, it can cause a significant drop in your credit score.
The exact amount can vary depending on several factors, including the scoring model used by the credit reference agency and the rest of your credit profile.
However, it’s not uncommon for a single default to drop a credit score by tens or even hundreds of points.
Beyond the immediate impact on your credit score, a default can also create long-term difficulties in your financial life.
It stays on your credit report for six years from the date of default, regardless of whether you’ve since paid off the debt. During that time, it can make it much harder to secure credit.
Potential lenders, upon seeing a default on your credit report, may be less likely to approve you for credit cards, loans, and mortgages.
Even if you are approved, you may be offered less favourable terms, such as a lower credit limit or a higher interest rate.
Furthermore, it’s not just lenders who consider your credit report. Landlords may also check your credit as part of the tenant screening process.
A default could potentially influence their decision, making it harder for you to rent a home.
Removing a Default from Your Credit Report
Under standard circ*mstances, a default is a persistent mark that stays on your credit report for six years from the date it was recorded.
This is the case whether or not you’ve subsequently paid off the defaulted debt.
After six years, the default is automatically removed from your report, and it will no longer impact your credit score.
However, there are certain situations where it may be possible to have a default removed from your credit report before the six-year period is up.
Here are some of the circ*mstances where this could occur:
The default information is incorrect
If the default has been recorded inaccurately – for example, if the amount defaulted is wrong, the default date is incorrect, or if you had not missed payments as claimed – you have the right to challenge this information.
You can contact the lender who recorded the default and ask them to correct the information. You may need to provide evidence to support your claim.
The default was unfair
If you believe the default was unfairly recorded – for instance, if you were not given proper notice of the debt or if you were in a dispute with the lender about the debt when the default was recorded – you can also challenge this.
Again, you would need to contact the lender, explain why you believe the default was unfair, and ask for it to be removed.
The lender agrees to an early removal
In some cases, you might negotiate with the lender to have the default removed early. This typically happens if you agree to pay some or all of the defaulted debt.
However, whether or not a lender agrees to this will depend on their individual policies and your specific circ*mstances.
If you have a valid reason to believe a default should be removed and the lender refuses to do so, you can escalate the issue to the CRA who recorded the default, or to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
They can investigate and, if they agree the default is inaccurate or unfair, can order the lender to remove it.
Removing a default from your credit report can be a complex process, and it’s not always possible.
However, if successful, it can provide a significant boost to your credit score and improve your chances of being approved for credit in the future.
Always seek advice if you’re unsure about how to challenge a default, or if you’re struggling with managing your debts.
The Effect of Default Removal on Your Credit Score
Removing a default from your credit report can undoubtedly help improve your credit score.
However, the exact increase can vary significantly based on individual circ*mstances and the specific CRA.
While it’s challenging to pinpoint an exact figure, a default removal can lead to a credit score boost ranging from a modest increase to a substantial uplift, depending on the overall context of your credit history.
It’s important to remember that while removing a default can improve your score, it won’t automatically restore it to a ‘perfect’ state. Other elements of your financial behaviour, such as outstanding debts, the diversity of credit, and recent credit applications, also factor into your credit score.
Tips for Improving Your Credit Score Post-Default Removal
Once a default is removed, the journey to a better credit score isn’t over. Here are some key strategies:
- Regularly check your credit report: Ensure all the information is accurate and up-to-date. Dispute any inaccuracies promptly.
- Pay bills on time: Timely payment of all bills is a simple but effective way to boost your credit score.
- Maintain a low credit utilisation ratio: Try to use only a small portion of your available credit. High credit utilisation can negatively impact your score.
- Diversify your credit: A mix of credit types, such as credit cards, retail accounts, and loans, can improve your score, as long as you manage them responsibly.
