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Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

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  • Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

    Hi there. I'm hoping someone could give me some advice on my situation.

    Back in 2010 around May I moved out of my parents. It was all ok for around 3 or 4 months. I was stuggling a bit but was mostly dealing with things. However shortly after moving in mine and my families life got basically turned upside down. My father was arrested and charged for serious offences (family and others were victims. He received a very lengthy sentence). It was a massive bombshell. My family was in pieces and I wasn't exactly coping either. Being alone in my flat just made me feel even worse. I became quickly depressed (something oave battled on and off for years anyway). I spoke to my landlord (whom I was fortunately friends with. Told him everything and we agreed I would stay until he found someone else to move in which was around 2 weeks later). I moved back home to support my family. It was around this time my debts spiralled. I ended up eventually ignoring them. I admit that. I just couldn't and didn't feel able to deal with them. Eventually they stopped contacting me. I haven't heard from them for years. I mostly forgot about them in the end. I had always meant to sort them out when things resolved but even when the court case was over things never seemed to. For a long time.

    In late 2011, I arranged to change my name. The reason was that I had the same exact name as my father. I felt he didn't deserve the honour of having his eldest son named after him. I went to the solicitors got it done and then.... Sat there with it. I know that sounds crazy. But despite doing it it felt hard to make the final steps. Writing to everyone. Getting everything updated. I just didn't feel able to do it. So I didn't. It ended up sat in a drawer. I'd told my friends and family. People who I knew personally that I'd done it but that was it. Nothing official with anyone. It was more or less became something I was called and nothing more.

    Anyway. Skip forward to late last year. I finally decided that I would go through with it officially and properly. I wrote to the DVLA, who I banked with (don't report to CRA apparently) and they also informed their loan company whom I had dealings with under my previous name. I moved address earlier this year. Made sure I was on the electoral register. They asked if I had changed my name and I said yes. They then gave me the option of whether i wanted to reveal my previous name or not. I chose not to say for personal reasons. The landlord (who set up utilities) was also aware too. I looked into how the credit agencies get informed about name changes and from what I read they should have got this information from other sources such as the loan company etc so I thought 'all good. They should know then.' How wrong I was....

    I applied for a credit builder credit card and got accepted. I also applied for a catalogue account. I was not asked for any previous names once during either process however I mistakenly believed these details had been updated with CRA companies. They haven't. At all I don't think. When I checked Equifax through Clearscore all I could see was the old loan company accounts now under my name and address with NO link to my previous name. Experian had nothing at all. Never checked Call Credit. So I'm now concerned I'm in a lot of trouble. I thought my files were updated but appear to not have been. Not only this but going through a load of old stuff I found a load of old letters and stuff regarding these old debts I'd pretty much forgotten about. I have asked the council to update the electoral register again and this time have my previous name attached in the hope it will force the link. It was perhaps silly of me not to have done that in the first place...

    So now I don't know what to do. I would like to pay these old debts off but have no idea where to even begin. Nor do I know what to do about these new accounts I have opened. Do I tell them what has happened? Should I close them instead? I have no idea what to do and it's throughly stressing me out. It's never been my intention to do anything wrong but I now I feel like I have. Can anyone give me any advice at all?
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

    to LB @Pigs Ear ... you've come to the right place for advice and support :grouphug:.

    Firstly I would like to say well done for getting through what happened and for asking for help, it takes a big person to admit that they are not coping and need advice :nod: I wouldn't (personally) worry about not informing people of your name change. I too started again many years ago ... changing not just my own name, but my childrens' too (I left a violent man and didn't want him to find us) and only ever told the people I was banking with and the DWP etc... Nothing 'bad' has ever happened as a result of my doing it and it has been almost 16yrs now

    I'll tag a few of the other Beagles who might be able to give you a few pointers ( [MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION] [MENTION=2]Celestine[/MENTION] @nemesis45 @Diana M @Debt Camel and @PAWS for a start )

    You might find that many of these old debts are Statute Barred now (that is after 6yrs with no payment/ written acknowledgement in England/Wales/NI and 5yrs in Scotland) which would mean they weren't showing on your credit files anyway ... and SB'd is a solid defence against any court claims too

    Try not to stress too much over the weekend (we can get a bit quiet on here at times, but I know you'll get replies soon)

    K xx
    Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into, but hard enough to get out of.

    It doesn't matter where your journey begins, so long as you begin it...

    recte agens confido

    ~~~~~

    Any advice I provide is given without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

    I can be emailed if you need my help loading pictures/documents to your thread. My email address is Kati@legalbeagles.info
    But please include a link to your thread so I know who you are.

    Specialist advice can be sought via our sister site JustBeagle

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

      Good afternoon PE,
      As [MENTION=49370]Kati[/MENTION] said well done for deciding to sort this all out!!

      A sad and difficult period for you I can see, there's always loads of help here you just have to ask!!

      It may be more simple than you think, you are already using CRA' s or a reference point for what has gone on before which is good as well.

      Keeping your new current credit/ bank/ utility and phone accounts running well is another plus.

      To help us get the greater picture it would assist if you listed the debts you want to sort out.

      1.The name of the creditor.

      2. Id there any debt agency involved? If so which one.

      3. The amount owed.

      4. Is the account defaulted, what is the default date on the credit file.

      Any other information on the debt.

      It may be that you are aware of debts not reported on credit file, this is usually because the debt / account was defaulted more than 6 years ago - all defaults are removed from credit files after 6 years paid or not.

      So a time scale for the debts would help date started, date payments ceased, date defaulted.

      It may be that some could be statute barred as well.

      nem

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

        It doesn't sound to me as though you have done much wrong, I wouldn't worry about this.

        First I think you need to get hold of your statutory reports from all three credit reference agencies - they cost £2 each - links in here http://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/. I think you are asked to give previous names when you apply for these - doing this will help the CRA link your new name with the old one.

        Telling your council about your old name will also help. But at the moment we are in the August - November period when councils do not update the CRAs (bizarre but true!) so this will take a while to get through.

        If any of thCRA statutory reports don't show your old name, you should contact the CRA and tell them. Experian have a form for doing this https://help.creditexpert.co.uk/help...names_you_have

        Once this is done you should be able to see your outstanding debts. some of them may have been sold to debt collectors, so you may see a Barclaycard account showing as zero that you didnt think you have paid, but thats because it is now under the name of a debt collector.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

          Thanks for your replies and advice everyone! I know this will take a while to get through but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end!

          I am on shifts ATM. So I will try and sort what paperwork I can find into some order and report back what I have. I will also get the Statutory Reports done as well and see what I can find on those and see what needs doing to any of them.

          What should I do about the new accounts that were recently opened? I'm assuming that they wouldn't have been able to see anything from my old name either when I applied. Any previous names were not requested on the application forms either. Am I likely to be in any trouble because of this?

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

            Originally posted by Pigs Ear View Post
            What should I do about the new accounts that were recently opened? I'm assuming that they wouldn't have been able to see anything from my old name either when I applied. Any previous names were not requested on the application forms either. Am I likely to be in any trouble because of this?
            if you're paying them on time and keeping them up to date then I wouldn't worry about it P E :nod: ... all they'll be bothered about is that you are not defaulting on your payments with them, nothing else
            Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into, but hard enough to get out of.

            It doesn't matter where your journey begins, so long as you begin it...

            recte agens confido

            ~~~~~

            Any advice I provide is given without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

            I can be emailed if you need my help loading pictures/documents to your thread. My email address is Kati@legalbeagles.info
            But please include a link to your thread so I know who you are.

            Specialist advice can be sought via our sister site JustBeagle

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

              No you were not asked for further details it makes me wonder if any full credit checks were made or just address confirmation.

              nem

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                Originally posted by nemesis45 View Post
                No you were not asked for further details it makes me wonder if any full credit checks were made or just address confirmation.

                nem
                Now that you've come to mention it you might be onto something there. When I applied for the card I was asked to send in ID and proof of address. They accepted proof of address but rejected my drivers license because I hadn't updated the address on it to my current one at the time. Got it updated, sent back in and went through without a hitch. Catalogue company never requested anything. I guess I will find out soon enough once I get the credit reports sorted anyway.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                  Originally posted by Pigs Ear View Post
                  Now that you've come to mention it you might be onto something there. When I applied for the card I was asked to send in ID and proof of address. They accepted proof of address but rejected my drivers license because I hadn't updated the address on it to my current one at the time. Got it updated, sent back in and went through without a hitch. Catalogue company never requested anything. I guess I will find out soon enough once I get the credit reports sorted anyway.
                  Good morning,

                  Have to wonder if this could be described as " irresponsible" lending?

                  nem

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                    Piled all the letters and that I have at home. Just need to go through them and will post all the information I have regarding them on here so as I can go through them all. Will also get the CRA reports done ASAP.

                    Strange thing has happened this evening though. Got an alert from Clearscore that my credit report was ready (under my current name). Something odd has happened. The 2 (now closed) loan accounts that were transferred to my current name have now reappeared as active and open with balances of £16 and £21 outstanding respectively. These were previously showing as cleared. What's the best way of querying these?

                    Also had an email from the local council saying they had received my application to change to the Open register so they obviously have my updated electoral information with them. Would I be correct in assuming they should (at some point) pass this onto the CRAs?

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                      Originally posted by Pigs Ear View Post
                      Piled all the letters and that I have at home. Just need to go through them and will post all the information I have regarding them on here so as I can go through them all. Will also get the CRA reports done ASAP.

                      Strange thing has happened this evening though. Got an alert from Clearscore that my credit report was ready (under my current name). Something odd has happened. The 2 (now closed) loan accounts that were transferred to my current name have now reappeared as active and open with balances of £16 and £21 outstanding respectively. These were previously showing as cleared. What's the best way of querying these?

                      Also had an email from the local council saying they had received my application to change to the Open register so they obviously have my updated electoral information with them. Would I be correct in assuming they should (at some point) pass this onto the CRAs?
                      A dispute on each queried entry as a Formal Complaint.
                      Which company now shows as owning the accounts?

                      The CRA's will auto check the ER's as they come out I think.

                      nem

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                        Originally posted by nemesis45 View Post
                        A dispute on each queried entry as a Formal Complaint.
                        Which company now shows as owning the accounts?

                        The CRA's will auto check the ER's as they come out I think.

                        nem
                        The same company. Ideal Finance. Both updated on the 5th of this month and reopened. Do you think it's worth giving them a call personally?

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                          Originally posted by Pigs Ear View Post
                          The same company. Ideal Finance. Both updated on the 5th of this month and reopened. Do you think it's worth giving them a call personally?
                          Yes there's no reason not to phone but take careful notes of what is said or better still record the call if you can.

                          Still place a notice of dispute/ correction on the credit file entry.

                          nem

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                            Originally posted by nemesis45 View Post
                            Yes there's no reason not to phone but take careful notes of what is said or better still record the call if you can.

                            Still place a notice of dispute/ correction on the credit file entry.

                            nem
                            Excellent. Thanks. I'll give them a call tomorrow before work if I can. Seems odd that's all. I have a bank account with another part of their group so if I still owed money I would have thought they would have contacted me at least! Just seems a bizarre and small amount. Thanks for your help! I'll see what they say and post any updates.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Made a complete mess of things and don't know what to do!

                              Well well well. Had a missed call this morning from a number I didn't recognise on my mobile. Looked it up. It's PRA Group. A DCA. How spooky! Any advice as to how I should proceed? I don't know what it's about yet.

                              Comment

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