Switched mortgage provider but first payment not taken.Can it affect my credit rating

I recently switched mortgage providers from First Active to Halifax. I completed all the details in branch and filled out all relevent forms, including a direct debit mandate.

The money was drawn down on April 30th with first payment due to go out on May 3rd. The money was never taken out so I rang the branch to notify them and they told me that the draw down date and first payment date were so close together that it may have been too close for the money to go out. They told me that it may roll over into the following month and that it wasnt an issue.

Today I received a letter from their collection department in Dublin(dated 9th May) stating that their payment request for the monthly mortgage had been returned by my bank marked "no instruction" and are requesting the payment,within 7 days(even though I am receiving the letter 9 days after issue) along with a Direct Debit form to be filled out.

I called into my bank last week to make sure that there was a DD mandate active on my account for Halifax and there was and also there was funds there for the payment at all times.

Now I wont be able to resolve this until tomorrow at the earliest as I arrived home after office hours to the letter, but my big worry is that this may affect my credit rating, which would drive me insane as I have never missed a payment in over 9 years and obviously this is some sort of clerical error.

I`m sure I will be able to sort it out, but I am seething at the moment and would really appreciate anyones opinion on how this may or may not affect my credit.

Thanks.

Re: Switched mortgage provider but first payment not taken.Can it affect my credit ra

Your credit rating will only be affected if Halifax records a missed payment with the Irish Credit Bureau. From what you say, the error appears to be theirs so I'd be inclined to get a letter from them confirming that they made the error and that they have not recorded, nor will they be recording a missed payment on your Irish Credit Bureau record.

If it really concerns you, you can also request a copy of your ICB record for a nominal fee in a few months' time.

Re: Switched mortgage provider but first payment not taken.Can it affect my credit ra

LDFerguson said:

Your credit rating will only be affected if Halifax records a missed payment with the Irish Credit Bureau. From what you say, the error appears to be theirs so I'd be inclined to get a letter from them confirming that they made the error and that they have not recorded, nor will they be recording a missed payment on your Irish Credit Bureau record.

If it really concerns you, you can also request a copy of your ICB record for a nominal fee in a few months' time.

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Thanks for the response.

I spoke to them today and have cleared it up. The direct debit wasnt set up in time for the first payment so I paid by Laser over the phone. I asked about my credit rating and she assured me that it wouldnt be affected. She told me on a new account like mine, I would need to miss two months payments.

I signed and gave them the direct debit mandate weeks ago so its a mess up between themselves and Bank Of Ireland, where the money is being drawn from. I`ve double checked online to make sure the DD is active on my account and its active since May 6th. The first payment was due on May 3rd.