How long does a default stay on your credit file?
Why the default date matters, and what paying it does and doesn’t change.
Free tool · Credit file dates
When will it drop off my credit file?
Most negative entries stay on a UK credit file for 6 years. Choose the type of entry and its start date to see when it should drop off and how far through the 6 years you are.
Result
Should drop off on
15 June 2028
Based on the standard 6-year period. Check the dates on your own reports; agencies can occasionally differ.
What it means for a remortgage Check your remortgage optionsHow the 6-year rule works
UK credit reference agencies keep most negative information for 6 years. After that it drops off your file automatically, so lenders searching your file won’t see it. The start date depends on the type of entry, which is why a CCJ runs from the judgment date and an IVA from its start date, not the date it ended.
An entry doesn’t have to drop off before you can remortgage. Many people remortgage with adverse credit still on their file. As entries get older, and especially once they are settled, they usually carry less weight, which can widen the choice of lenders. Our guide to how long a CCJ affects a mortgage explains how that tends to change year by year.
Credit file date questions
How long do most things stay on a UK credit file?
Most negative entries, including CCJs, defaults, missed payments, IVAs and bankruptcy, stay on your credit file for 6 years. What matters is which date the 6 years runs from, which is why the calculator asks for the right start date for each type.
Will a lender still ask about it after 6 years?
Once an entry drops off, lenders searching your credit file won’t see it. Some application forms ask whether you have ever had a CCJ or been bankrupt, and you should always answer honestly. See remortgaging after a CCJ over 6 years ago.
Does an entry matter less before it drops off?
Usually, yes. Many lenders look most closely at the last two to three years, so an entry that is several years old tends to carry less weight than a recent one, especially if it is settled and your record since is clean. Each lender sets its own criteria.
Where do I find the exact dates?
Your statutory credit report from each of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion shows the dates recorded. Check all three, because they don’t always match. Our guide on how to check your credit report for free explains how.
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