In simple terms a payment remark is a remark registered against you as an individual for an unsettled debt collection case. This means that you have not paid a bill, even though your creditor has taken legal action to get their money.
For example, if you have wage deductions, fines or are bankrupt, you have a payment default.
When you apply for something on credit, whether it is a loan or a deferred payment transaction (e.g. Klarna), your credit score is checked. The credit score should tell your creditor something about how likely you are to pay back what you owe. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best.
When someone records a payment default on you, your credit score usually goes down to 0. This means that you will usually be automatically rejected if you apply for credit.
It will have an impact:
If you pay the debt owed to you by a creditor, the payment reminder will also be deleted. If you are unable to pay it yourself, but are able to use your own or someone else's property as collateral, you can apply for refinancing. We will then pay off your creditors, delete your payment record and give you a fresh new loan, often with better conditions than you had before.
There are several ways to alert the credit reference agencies that you have not paid your bill.
Yes, you can check for yourself with the credit reference agencies if someone has given you a payment remark.
For example, you can check with
Remember that checking your details is completely free of charge. You don't have to pay anyone to run a credit check on you.
In principle, a payment remark remains in force until you pay it. However, after 4 years, the case may become obsolete, i.e. it "expires". It is important to remember that most creditors will start the process of renewing the claim after 4 years, so it is unlikely to go away by itself. The best thing to do is to pay your way out of a payment default if you can.
Sometimes people get into financial difficulties and find it hard to pay all their bills on time. This can quickly turn into a difficult situation, with some people even having trouble opening their bills. But it is important to try to contact the people you owe money to. It is often possible to negotiate a lower interest rate or to set up a payment plan.
At every step of the way, we encourage you to contact your creditor to see what your options are.
This article is part of the category Economic first aid , a collection of articles that deal with topics related to a strained economic situation, such as reminders and collection, payment notices, garnishments and forced sales. Read more about Financial first aid
