pumpkin --- I don't think anyone meant to judge you, just offer a bit of supportive advice.

I enclose an article below that may help you apply for a credit card where it is a problem.

http://www.creditcards

4badcredit.co.uk/.

Fair enough but i think you have the wrong impression,the reason its been so long since my original post is because i havent applied for any credit in that time!    The only people i approached was vanquis and aqua so there isnt loads of searches on my credit file. Its up to me what i do and yes i am paying off all existing debt but that dont mean i dont want to be able to get credit again,only one credit card the ones that exist to improve your credit rating,the ones with the silly interest rates,im not naive and i shouldnt be judged on my past problems. Am i right that searches are removed after one year?  Looking at my latest credit file there will only be what 2 credit searches on there by December so i dont think thats too bad.

Pumpkin, I'm not able to answer all of your questions, but just wanted to point out, in the absence of an expert, that you approaching all of these companies means if they're doing credit searches on you, your credit rating will have taken even more of a battering. You shouldn't apply for too much credit, because lets face it, if you've got lots of applications on your file, they're definitely not going to lend to you. Considering how long it's been since your original post, I think you may just have to give up on the idea of getting more credit for now, after all if you're now looking at ways to clear your debt other than paying it, how do the companies know you won't do the same all over again? Sorry to be negative, but I do wish you luck. 

So what do people reckon i should do?  Just leave it for now and let my credit file show that im continuely paying off more debt or is there some companies that might let me have a card that i havent tried yet?  It seems even the companies that offer cards with people with bad debt they still dont want to know...So if i phoned up a company do i say i want to apply for a card over the phone and then explain why i will be declined or just say ive been declined in the past and want to try and get a card and then justify why they should give me one?  What company was it that you spoke to over the phone and negotiated an interest rate and credit limit?

My partner had an idea that i contact the companies im in debt with and try and offer to do some work for them to try and clear some of the debt either through advertising for them or something just to be able to get some money taken off? Anyone think that would work?

Yea the CCJ was from a credit card,Capital One and i only owed £400 on it whereas some of my cards have got £3,500 on them yet they didnt give me a CCJ. Ive recently obtained my credit files and am told i can put a notice of correction on there to say i am paying back all my creditors on a monthly basis so please consider this when im applying for credit. Ive been through it and queried things which have been put straight so i feel there really is nothing else i can do to be able to get any kind of credit,nobody will give me any....Recently tried the Vanquis card again but no,even though they can see im paying back money they still dont want to know and my bank who ive been with for years still wont let me have a normal bank account even though i been at my address a long time and my job and never had any kind of problems with bank they still dont trust me all i have is a solo account with Natwest...Just wondering how long it will take before someone does trust me again and i can prove i can build my credit record up again....Anyone been in the same boat? How long did it take before you could get credit again?

Was your CCJ for a credit card debt?

I know exactly what you mean "chicken and egg" syndrome can`t get card because of debt in past but how can you re-build trust and credit rating without a card, most people go through a sticky patch beyond their control and it is left to computers not real people to make decisions as to grant credit.
After I was turned down by about 4 card companies I decided to approach one of them direct over the phone so at least I could give my side of the story and even though they had my "missed payments" up on their screen I convinced them to take me on with a small limit with a high APR and if I didn`t pay off the balance each month they would be getting a high return on a small outlay or "gamble".
I didn`t owe Barclaycard any money as you do, so it might be better to find a different card and try the personal touch, because every computer will kick you out as they did with me and now I am on the way to getting my rating improved.
Hope this helps
Kevin

I with Abbey but they use MBNA for they credit stuff. This company wrote me a letter to say that I should contact them to "discuss terms!" Have written back to state that I do not have a great deal of money and am looking at a full and final settlement.

It would appear that this "six year rule" is not the "get out of crap" card as we all thought! Hope the bailiffs don't get sent round!

What card did you apply for and what is the state of your credit record at the moment?
I thought after 6 years if you have had no contact with any debt people then the debt is wiped off?
not saying thats a good thing but what can you do when u try to contact companies to pay back debt and they dont contact me...Seems weird how they would contact you after 6 years!!!

I got the shock of my life a few weeks ago when I applied for an MBNA card and was accepted with a £2500 limit. Paid off the 24% APR VISA nightmare and now use that strictly with a view to paying it off in full each and EVERY month. Never knew what this 56 days interest free business was until quite recently.

However, the last of my CCJ's left my Equifax/Experian file this year with the very last one due on December 29 (11 days to go). Am looking to apply to Barclaycard again for one of their cards. However, whereas I thought the £3000 debt I left them with six years ago was out of my hair due to the six year rule, I get a call from some company to say that they are now pursuing the debt!

Will the nightmare ever end?

I am currently in debt with a barclaycard,the card was cut up quite a few years ago now and just slowly paying back the money each month. you reckon its worth applying for another barclaycard? Even if it was only £100 credit limit its better than nothing and means i got a bit of spare money for emergencies and yes i would def pay off balance each month as i know any card that i get is going to be high interest rate. Want to prove that i can be responsible from now on but i guess with my track record no one seems to think so. But how else can i build up my credit rating again apart from paying off my debt monthly which is going to take years and years.

Hi I was in a similar position to yourself after the CSA really screwed up and virtually made me bankrupt, even though I have a letter from them saying "sorry" it didn`t alter the fact that I missed some credit card payments and Hey Presto "A bad credit rating" through no fault of my own came my way. After applying with no success from a few credit card companies I applied to Barclaycard and they accepted me on a £200 limit initially which was great as I could then buy items on the internet.
BUT BEWARE THE INTEREST RATE IF YOU DO NOT PAY OFF THE BALANCE IN FULL EACH MONTH IS 29.9% APR
But I always pay off in full and get charged NO INTEREST I am just glad that I can have a credit card for my online transactions.
I have been with them for 3 years now and my limit is now £600 but I always pay off in full to avoid the charges, I am re-building my credit rating slowly and hope soon to be able to access a better APR card but I say THANKS to Barclaycard for helping me on my way.
Hope this helps
Kevin

Hi I was in a similar position to yourself after the CSA really screwed up and virtually made me bankrupt, even though I have a letter from them saying "sorry" it didn`t alter the fact that I missed some credit card payments and Hey Presto "A bad credit rating" through no fault of my own came my way. After applying with no success from a few credit card companies I applied to Barclaycard and they accepted me on a £200 limit initially which was great as I could then buy items on the internet.
BUT BEWARE THE INTEREST RATE IF YOU DO NOT PAY OFF THE BALANCE IN FULL EACH MONTH IS 29.9% APR
But I always pay off in full and get charged NO INTEREST I am just glad that I can have a credit card for my online transactions.
I have been with them for 3 years now and my limit is now £600 but I always pay off in full to avoid the charges, I am re-building my credit rating slowly and hope soon to be able to access a better APR card but I say THANKS to Barclaycard for helping me on my way.
Kevin

not sure on your last point, but I would have one of the many experts on this site should know.................


anon

I've just been turned down by vanquis too. I thought the card they did was for people to rebuild their credit history. I was bankrupt but am discharged. I've not tried to obtain credit in the last 3 years, have been at same address for 7 years and in same job for 5 years. If they looked at my salary and outgoings they would know I can easily afford to have a small credit limit and pay it off every month. Does anyone think it is worth trying another card? This deposit thing sounds quite interesting, but does anyone know if they accept ex-bankrupts?