Millions of people fail to make payments on payday loans, personal loans, mortgages, credit cards, and other forms of credit each year.
If you don’t make these overdue payments right away, you may experience a “default,” which is noted on your credit report.
Oh, man, I feel you Defaults can be a real pain in the neck But don’t worry, there’s actually a way to get them removed from your credit report.
Here’s the lowdown:
First, let’s get one thing straight:
- You can’t just magically make a default disappear. It’s not like waving a wand and poof, it’s gone.
- There’s only one real way to get a default removed: ask the credit reference agencies to remove it.
Here’s how it works:
- Contact the three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Raise a “credit report dispute.” This is basically a formal request to the agency to investigate the default and see if it should be removed.
- The agency will contact the lender who issued the default. They’ll check to make sure the information is accurate and that the default was actually registered correctly.
- In the meantime, the agency will put a “Notice of Correction” on your file. This is like a little flag that says “Hey, this default is being disputed, so maybe don’t hold it against this person just yet.”
- If the default shouldn’t be there, the agency will remove it. And your credit score should go back up, hooray!
But what if the lender insists that the default is legit?
- Don’t fret, the agency will let you know what your options are. You might be able to negotiate with the lender or take other steps to improve your credit score.
Now, here’s the thing:
- There are some other ways to “remove” a default from your credit report, but they’re not really removing it. They’re more like covering it up.
- For example, you can repay the debt in full or set up a debt management plan. These things can help your financial situation, but they won’t actually make the default disappear.
So, the bottom line is:
- If you want to get a default removed from your credit report, you need to contact the credit reference agencies and raise a dispute.
- This is the only way to get it officially removed.
- Other methods might help your credit score, but they won’t actually make the default go away.
Cheers!
A massive thank you
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Carrington Dean for helping me. It feels like I have control of my life again. ”.
Late filing of a default
Sometimes, defaults can be added to your credit report late. This is probably not going to cause you any trouble until your default is automatically deleted from your credit report.
As we’ve already discussed, a default will show on your credit history for 6 years. On the other hand, if the default is not filed on time, it will remain visible for six years after it first occurs. This means that it might overrun and appear on your report for several weeks or even months longer than it ought to.
If so, when the actual six-year period is about to expire, you might be able to have it removed.
How to Get a Default Removed from your Credit File
FAQ
Can you ask for a default to be removed?
How do I get a company to remove a default?
Can credit companies remove defaults?
Will my credit score go up when a default is removed?
How do I remove a default from my credit file?
Despite what you might read elsewhere, there’s only really one way to have a default actually removed from your credit file – and that’s to ask the credit reference agencies to remove it for you. To do this, you’ll need to contact the three main credit reference agencies and raise something known as a ‘credit report dispute’.
Can a default be removed from my credit profile?
Once a default is recorded on your credit profile, you can’t have it removed before the six years are up (unless it’s an error). However, there are several things that can reduce its negative impact: Repayment. Try and pay off what you owe as soon as possible.
What happens if you default on an account?
When you default on an account, the negative information associated with it will remain on your credit report for seven years from the date of the first missed payment, even after the account has been paid in full.
Can I ask creditors to remove a default?
Yes, there are times when you can ask creditors to remove a default. Common reasons to make this request are administration errors causing mistaken identity or when you contest the default. You can learn the ways you could contest the default further below.