How long does a default stay on my credit file in the UK?

A default stays on your UK credit file for 6 years from the date the default was registered, not from when you pay it off. If you pay the debt in full, the status changes to 'satisfied' but the default entry remains visible until the 6-year period is complete. After 6 years, it is automatically removed by the credit reference agencies.

Do missed payments stay on my credit file for 6 years too?

Yes. Individual missed payment records (shown as 'late' or with a number code indicating months overdue) remain on your credit file for 6 years from the date they were recorded. Each missed payment creates its own record. Multiple missed payments on the same account appear as a pattern, but each individual payment record has its own 6-year clock. The account itself, including all its payment history, drops off the file 6 years after the account is closed or defaulted.

What can I do while waiting for bad credit to drop off my file?

You can actively improve your credit profile even while negative marks remain. Register on the electoral roll if you haven't already. Use a credit builder card with consistent on-time full repayments. Keep existing account balances low (under 30% of the credit limit). Ensure there are no errors on your credit file. Open a basic bank account if you don't have one. These positive actions build a track record that lenders can see alongside the negative marks, progressively improving your overall creditworthiness.

How Long Does Bad Credit Last in the UK? Complete Guide 2026

The most common question people ask after a financial difficulty is: how long will this affect me? The UK credit reporting system has specific, defined retention periods for different types of negative information. Understanding the exact timelines — and what you can do while you wait — is the foundation of any credit recovery plan.

The Key Timelines at a Glance

Negative Mark	Duration on File	Clock Starts
Default	6 years	Date of default
CCJ	6 years	Date of judgment
Missed/late payment	6 years	Date of the missed payment
Bankruptcy (IVA, DRO)	6 years	Date of order
Satisfied default	6 years	Date of original default
Account closure	6 years	Date account closed

All durations are 6 years. The important variable is the start date.

Defaults: How They Work and When They Drop Off

What Is a Default?

A default is registered on your credit file when a lender considers you to have seriously breached your credit agreement — usually after 3–6 consecutive missed payments. The lender sends a default notice giving you 14 days to catch up, and if you do not, a default is recorded on your file.

The 6-Year Clock

The default stays on your credit file for exactly 6 years from the date it was registered. This is non-negotiable — you cannot ask a credit reference agency to remove a legitimate default early.

Key point: The clock starts on the default date, not on the date you pay the debt. If a default was registered on 1 March 2022, it drops off on 1 March 2028, whether you pay the debt in 2022 or in 2027.

Satisfied vs Unsatisfied Defaults

When you pay off a defaulted debt in full, the status on your credit file changes from “defaulted” to “satisfied.” This is positive — lenders can see you resolved the debt — but the entry remains on your file until the 6-year period ends.

A satisfied default is meaningfully better than an unsatisfied one when lenders are assessing applications, because it shows the debt was eventually resolved. It does not, however, remove the default from your file.

Partially Settled Defaults

If you pay a negotiated amount less than the full debt (a partial settlement), the status shows as “partially satisfied.” This is better than unsatisfied but worse than fully satisfied in lenders’ eyes, as it indicates the full debt was not repaid.

CCJs: How Long They Last

A County Court Judgement stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date of the judgment. The same rule as defaults applies: paying the CCJ changes the status to “satisfied” but does not remove it.

The Early Removal Exception

If you pay the full amount owed within 1 month of the judgment date, you can apply to the court to have the CCJ set aside (cancelled). If successful, it is removed from the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines and from your credit file. This is the only way to remove a CCJ before the 6-year period expires.

The application costs £255 in court fees and requires you to provide evidence of payment. If the CCJ was issued because you did not receive the claim (for example, it was sent to an old address), you can also apply to set it aside on those grounds.

Missed Payments: The Rolling Record

Missed payment records show in your credit file as payment status codes — a record for each month of each account, showing whether the payment was made on time, 1 month late, 2 months late, and so on. Each individual record stays for 6 years from the date it was recorded.

This means a period of missed payments creates a series of individual negative marks, each with its own 6-year expiry. They do not all drop off at once unless they are all from the same month.

In practice, a series of late payments across 6 months in 2020 will gradually disappear from your file throughout 2026, with earlier months clearing first.

Bankruptcy, IVA, and Debt Relief Orders

Bankruptcy: The bankruptcy itself is recorded for 6 years from the date of the bankruptcy order. Discharge from bankruptcy typically happens after 1 year, but the record remains for the full 6 years.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): An IVA is recorded for 6 years from the start of the arrangement, or 6 years from default on the underlying debts if that is later.

Debt Relief Order (DRO): A DRO stays on the credit file for 6 years from the date of the order.

What to Do While Waiting for Bad Credit to Drop Off

The 6-year retention period is fixed. However, your overall credit profile — and therefore your access to credit — can improve meaningfully even while negative marks remain.

Register on the Electoral Roll

Being registered on the electoral roll is the most significant identity verification signal available to lenders. If you are not registered, register now at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Impact on credit file: visible within 30 days of registration.

Open or Maintain a Bank Account

A basic bank account in your name, used regularly, contributes positively to your credit profile. Most UK banks offer basic bank accounts with no credit check.

Use a Credit Builder Card

Obtaining a credit builder card — even with a very low limit — and making consistent full monthly repayments generates positive payment history that lenders can see alongside the negative marks. After 12 months of consistent use, recent responsible behaviour starts to outweigh older negative marks in lenders’ assessments.

Keep Existing Balances Low

If you have any existing credit products, keep the balances below 30% of the available limit. A credit card with a £500 limit carrying a £400 balance looks worse to lenders than one carrying £100, even if you pay on time.

Check Your Credit File for Errors

Incorrect defaults, wrong account details, or debts that belong to someone else can all suppress your score unfairly. Check your file with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion (all three can have different information). Dispute any inaccuracies directly with the credit reference agency — they are required to investigate and correct genuine errors.

Avoid Multiple Applications in a Short Period

Every credit application generates a hard search on your file, visible to other lenders for 12 months. Multiple hard searches in a short period suggest financial stress and can suppress your score. Use soft eligibility checkers before applying to minimise unnecessary hard searches.

When Does Bad Credit Become Less Important?

Lenders look at both the presence of negative marks and their recency. A default from 5 years ago is significantly less damaging to your application than one from 6 months ago, even though both are still on the file.

In practice, many specialist lenders will consider applications from people whose negative marks are more than 2–3 years old and who have demonstrated recent responsible credit behaviour. The 6-year rule is the legal maximum retention period, not the point at which your credit becomes usable again.

Further Information

For free, impartial advice on managing your credit history and understanding your credit file, visit MoneyHelper — the UK government-backed money guidance service.