The fact that an account has defaulted is recorded on your credit file for six years, and will make it harder to obtain credit for that time. A credit agreement can only default once.

Creditors often talk about default notices in terms that make them sound like a serious threat. If you want to preserve a good credit rating they are a valid threat. But if you have a record of missed or late payments and are having trouble managing your debts, your credit rating will be affected already.

If the debt relates to a previous occupier in your property, contact the creditor and tell them the person no longer lives there.

Sometimes debt collection agencies try to find debtors using public records such as the electoral roll. If you have similar details, they may try to contact you about someone else’s debts. Write to explain they have mistaken you for someone else and ask them to stop contacting you.

In both cases, creditors may expect some proof that you are not the person they are looking for. If you have any problems, make a complaint to the creditor.

No. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) guidelines confirm a debt collector can only visit you at work with your permission.

If a creditor threatens to visit you at work, tell them very clearly that you do not want them to do this. Send them a letter stating you are refusing them permission to do this, making sure you send the letter by recorded delivery and keep a copy for yourself.

If a creditor does call at work after you have told them not to, contact Consumer Direct.