Last updated: 4 November 2026. General information for the UK, not regulated debt advice.
You check your credit report and there it is: a little red mark, or a “1” in a row of zeros, next to a month when life got on top of you. Or worse, a missed payment you’re sure you made. Either way, you want to know two things: how long do missed payments stay on your credit file, and can you do anything about it?
Here’s the honest answer. An accurate missed payment usually stays on your file for six years, but its effect fades much sooner than that, especially if you get back on track. And if a missed payment is wrong, you can have it corrected for free.
This guide is part of my debt and credit UK guide.
How long does a missed payment stay on your credit file?
MoneyHelper says negative information such as a missed paymentusually stays on your credit report for six years. After that, it drops off automatically.
That applies to:
- Missed or late payments on credit cards, loans, mortgages, car finance, phone contracts and some utility accounts.
- Arrangements to pay (reduced payments agreed with a lender), which are recorded too.
- Defaults, which also stay for six years from the date of the default, even if you pay the balance off. See what is a default.
- County Court Judgments (CCJs), which also normally show for six years. See what is a CCJ.
Does a missed payment affect your score for all six years?
Not equally. Lenders care most about recent behaviour. A single missed payment from four years ago, followed by years of on-time payments, looks very different from three missed payments last month.
In general:
- The first few months after a missed payment are when it hurts most.
- Each on-time payment after it helps rebuild your record.
- After a year or two of clean history, many lenders will weigh it much less, although some, especially mortgage lenders, may still ask about it.
So the best thing you can do today is make sure the next payment, and every one after, is on time.
Should I pay a missed payment off straight away?
Yes, if you can. Bringing the account back up to date stops more missed months building up on your file and stops interest and charges growing. It won’t remove the missed payment that’s already recorded, but it stops a small problem becoming a default.
If you can’t catch up, call the lender before the next payment is due. Ask about a reduced payment or a payment break. My guide to negotiating a payment plan with a creditor has a script and a letter template.
Can you remove a missed payment from your credit file?
- If it’s accurate: no. MoneyHelper is clear that accurate information can’t be removed early. Be very wary of anyone who charges you to “clean” your credit file: they can’t do anything you can’t do for free.
- If it’s wrong: yes. You have the right to have inaccurate information corrected.
There’s a middle ground too: if the missed payment was accurate but happened for a reason, like a bereavement, illness or a mistake by the lender, you can add a Notice of Correction to explain it (see below).
How to dispute a missed payment that’s wrong
Common errors include payments you made on time but that were recorded late, accounts that aren’t yours, a balance that’s wrong, or a missed payment during a payment holiday the lender agreed to.
Step 1: Gather your evidence
- Bank statements showing the payment left your account on time.
- Emails, letters or call notes showing an agreed payment break or arrangement.
- Your credit report with the error highlighted.
Step 2: Contact the lender first
The lender (not the credit reference agency) is the one that reported the information, so it’s often quickest to ask them to correct it. Explain clearly, attach your evidence, and ask them to update all the credit reference agencies they report to. Keep a copy.
Step 3: Raise a dispute with the credit reference agency
You can also raise a dispute directly with the agency showing the error: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion or Crediva. Each has an online dispute form. MoneyHelper says the agency checks with the organisation that supplied the information, and the processshouldn’t take longer than 28 days. While it’s being checked, the entry is marked as disputed, and lenders shouldn’t rely on it.
If the error appears with more than one agency, dispute it with each one. Here’s how to check your credit report for free with all of them.
Step 4: Escalate if you need to
- If the lender won’t correct it: make a formal complaint to the lender. If you’re unhappy with its final response, or it hasn’t replied within 8 weeks, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.
- If the credit reference agency won’t correct it: MoneyHelper says you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
What is a Notice of Correction?
A Notice of Correction is a short statement you add to your credit report to explain an entry. For example: “I missed two payments in March and April 2025 while I was in hospital. All payments since have been made on time.”
Things to know:
- You add it separately with each agency.
- MoneyHelper says it won’t affect your credit score, but lenders must read it manually, so applications may take a little longer.
- It’s most useful for one-off problems with a clear reason, not for a long run of missed payments.
Other credit report mistakes to check for
While you’re looking, check for these too:
- Old addresses you don’t recognise, which can be a sign of fraud.
- Accounts you didn’t open. Contact the lender and the agency straight away, and report it to Report Fraud.
- Financial links to an ex-partner or old housemate. If you no longer share any credit, ask for a notice of disassociation.
- Closed accounts showing as open, or settled accounts still showing a balance.
- Not being on the electoral roll at your current address. MoneyHelper says registering could improve your score within about eight weeks.
How to stop missing payments in future
- Set up Direct Debits for at least the minimum payment on every credit card and loan.
- Move payment dates to just after payday. Most lenders let you choose.
- Turn on reminders in your banking app or the lender’s app.
- Keep a small buffer in your current account. My £1,000 emergency fund guide shows how to build one.
- Use a simple tracker for all your debts. My Debt Payoff Progress Tracker puts every balance and due date on one page.
If you’re missing payments because there isn’t enough money to go round, that’s not a reminder problem. Please read what to do if you can’t pay your bills this month and speak to a free debt adviser.
Missed payments: people also ask
How long does a late payment stay on your credit file in the UK?
Usually six years from the date it was recorded. Its effect on your score and on lenders’ decisions fades over time, especially if every payment after it is on time.
Does one missed payment ruin your credit score?
No. One missed payment will lower your score and can make some lenders more cautious for a while, but a run of on-time payments afterwards will help it recover.
Can I get a missed payment removed if I pay it?
Paying it brings the account up to date and stops more damage, but it doesn’t remove the missed payment from your file if it was recorded correctly. Only inaccurate entries can be removed.
How do I write a goodwill letter to remove a missed payment?
Some people ask a lender to remove a one-off missed payment as a goodwill gesture, explaining what happened. Lenders don’t have to agree, and many won’t if the entry is accurate. A Notice of Correction is a more reliable way to explain it.
How long does a credit report dispute take?
MoneyHelper says it shouldn’t take longer than 28 days. The entry is marked as disputed while it’s being checked, and lenders shouldn’t rely on it during that time.
Who do I complain to if my credit report is wrong?
Start with the lender that reported it and the credit reference agency. If the lender won’t fix it, you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service. If the agency won’t, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Summary
- Missed payments usually stay on your credit file for six years, but their effect fades with time and good habits.
- Accurate entries can’t be removed early; inaccurate ones can be corrected for free.
- To dispute an error: gather evidence, contact the lender, raise a dispute with each agency, then escalate to the Financial Ombudsman or ICO.
- A Notice of Correction lets you explain a one-off problem.
- Direct Debits and payday-aligned due dates stop it happening again.
Next step: check your report with all the agencies using my guide to checking your credit score for free, then read how to improve your credit score.
General information only. I’m not a debt adviser. If you’re struggling, please contact a free, confidential debt advice service such as MoneyHelper, StepChange or National Debtline.
Sources (checked 4 November 2026): MoneyHelper: how to improve your credit score · Financial Ombudsman Service · ICO: credit reference agencies