Something's wrong on my file
Lesson 7 of 12 in our free Credit Scores & Files guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
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Questions you'll answer
Mo spots an account he never opened. What first?
Quick facts
- Red flag: “We can DELETE missed payments and CCJs from your file in 48 hours” — No one can remove accurate information from your file. Only genuine errors get corrected — and that's free.
- Red flag: “for a one-off fee of £249.” — You never have to pay to dispute errors on your file.
- Red flag: “Just send us your online banking login so we can 'verify' you.” — Never share banking logins. That's how accounts get emptied.
- Red flag: “Offer ends TONIGHT!” — Fake urgency is a classic pressure tactic.
- Fact: “You can add a short 'notice of correction' to your file to explain a missed payment.” — Up to 200 words explaining something like a missed payment during illness. Lenders can read it.
- Myth: “A credit repair company can legally remove accurate negative info.” — Accurate info stays for its normal time. Only errors get removed — and you can do that free.
- Fact: “If the same error is at all three agencies, you may need to dispute it with each.” — Each agency holds its own file, so check all three.