How Long Do Missed Payments Stay on Your Credit Report?
Missed payments can affect your credit score and mortgage chances, but they're not the end of the road. This guide explains how long they last, their impact, and what you can do about them.
What Counts as a Missed Payment?
A missed payment is recorded on your credit file when you fail to make a required payment on a credit agreement by the due date. This includes payments on:
- Credit cards
- Loans (personal, car, etc.)
- Mortgages
- Mobile phone contracts
- Utility bills (if reported)
- Buy now pay later
- Catalogue accounts
- Store cards
How Long Do Missed Payments Stay on Your Credit File?
6 Years from the Date of the Missed Payment
Each missed payment stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date it was missed. After 6 years, it's automatically removed.
Late Payment vs Missed Payment vs Arrears
You paid after the due date but before the next payment was due. May or may not be recorded depending on the lender and how late the payment was.
You didn't make a payment at all for that period. This is recorded as a "payment status" on your credit file, typically shown as 1, 2, 3, etc. (number of months missed).
When you've missed multiple payments and owe more than one month's payment. Can lead to default if not addressed.
Missed Payments and Your Credit Score
Even a single missed payment can negatively affect your credit score. The severity of the impact depends on several factors:
- Recency: A recent missed payment (within 12 months) damages your score more than older ones
- Frequency: Multiple missed payments compound the negative effect
- Type: Missed mortgage payments hurt more than missed utility payments
- Pattern: A one-off is less damaging than a pattern of late payments
Your credit score will gradually recover as missed payments age and you maintain consistent on-time payments. After 2-3 years of clean payment history, the impact on your score reduces significantly.
What If I Accidentally Missed a Payment?
Accidentally missing a payment can happen to anyone - a changed bank account, a failed direct debit, or an unexpected payment date. Here's what to do:
For mortgage applications, a single accidental missed payment with an otherwise clean history is often viewed sympathetically by lenders. See our quick answer on mortgages with missed payments for eligibility guidance.
How Missed Payments Affect Mortgage Applications
Lenders look at your payment history as an indicator of how reliable you'll be with mortgage payments. Here's what they consider:
Missed Payments on Your Credit Report
A missed payment on your credit report is recorded when you fail to pay a credit account by its due date. In the UK, credit reference agencies like Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion track these payment markers, which creditors use to assess your reliability. Whether it's a single missed payment or multiple missed payments on your credit report, each instance creates a negative marker that lenders can see when you apply for credit.
Missed payments on your credit report appear in your payment history section, often shown as a status number (1, 2, 3, etc.) indicating how many months you were behind. UK lenders place significant weight on recent payment behaviour, typically scrutinising the past 12 to 24 months most closely. Understanding how missed payments credit report entries affect you is essential for planning your next steps.
- Each missed payment is recorded individually and remains visible for 6 years
- Multiple missed payments on the same account are more damaging than spread across different accounts
- Recent missed payments (within 12 months) carry more weight with lenders
- Settled accounts still show historical payment issues until removed
If you have missed payments and are concerned about mortgage eligibility, our specialist missed payments mortgage guide explains which lenders may still consider your application.
Credit Card Missed Payment: Impact and Recovery
A credit card missed payment is one of the most common types of adverse credit that UK consumers experience. Whether you've had a missed credit card payment due to a forgotten due date, insufficient funds, or financial hardship, understanding the consequences helps you plan your recovery. Credit card providers typically report missed payments to credit reference agencies after 30 days, creating a marker visible to all lenders.
The impact of a credit card missed payment depends on your overall credit history and how quickly you address the issue. A single missed credit card payment on an otherwise clean file is viewed differently to a pattern of late payments. Most UK mortgage lenders will require an explanation for any credit card missed payment, particularly if it occurred within the past two years.
- Credit card missed payments are reported after 30 days past due
- Interest and late fees may be added, increasing your balance
- Your credit limit could be reduced by the card provider
- Repeated missed credit card payments may lead to default after 3-6 months
- Some mortgage lenders require 12 months clear of credit card arrears
For guidance on your mortgage options with credit card missed payments, see our quick guide on mortgages with missed payments or explore bad credit mortgage options.
How to Remove Missed Payments from Credit Report
Many people ask how to remove missed payments from credit report entries, but the reality in the UK is that accurate information cannot simply be deleted. Credit reference agencies are legally required to maintain accurate records, and legitimate missed payments will remain on your file for the full 6-year period. However, there are specific circumstances where removal or amendment is possible.
If you believe a missed payment was recorded in error, you have the right to dispute it. Contact the creditor first with evidence of your on-time payment, such as bank statements. If they don't correct the error, escalate to the credit reference agency directly. You can also add a Notice of Correction (up to 200 words) to your credit file explaining exceptional circumstances such as illness, redundancy, or administrative errors.
- Accurate missed payments cannot be removed before 6 years
- Dispute errors through the creditor first, then the credit agency
- Request a Notice of Correction to explain exceptional circumstances
- Focus on rebuilding credit rather than removal attempts
- Beware of credit repair companies promising removal of legitimate entries
Rather than focusing on removal, many people find success by working with specialist adverse credit mortgage advisers who know which lenders are more flexible about historical missed payments.
Missed Payments and Your Credit Score: The Full Picture
Understanding how missed payments affect your credit score is crucial for managing your financial health in the UK. Each credit reference agency uses its own scoring model, but all treat missed payments as negative markers. A single missed payment can reduce your score by 50 to 130 points depending on your starting position and the agency. The impact of missed payments on your credit score diminishes over time, but remains visible to lenders throughout the 6-year period.
Your credit score considers the full context of missed payments, including when they occurred, how many you have, and whether they led to more serious issues like defaults or CCJs. Rebuilding your score after missed payments requires consistent on-time payments across all accounts. Most people see meaningful score improvements after 12 to 24 months of clean payment history.
- A single missed payment can drop your score by 50-130 points
- The credit score impact reduces each year the missed payment ages
- Mortgage lenders look beyond scores to your actual payment history
- Building positive payment history helps offset past issues
- Different lenders have different tolerance levels for missed payments
Even with a lower credit score from missed payments, mortgage options exist. Learn more about your eligibility in our mortgage missed payments guide or speak to a bad credit mortgage specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Missed payments stay on your credit file for 6 years from the date of the missed payment. After 6 years, they are automatically removed by the credit reference agencies.
Yes, even one missed payment can affect your credit score, though the impact varies. A single late payment is less serious than multiple missed payments or a pattern of late payments.
Missed payments can only be removed if they were recorded in error. If accurate, they will remain for 6 years. However, their impact reduces over time, especially after 2-3 years.
A late payment is when you pay after the due date but before the next payment is due. A missed payment is when you skip a payment entirely. Both can be recorded, but missed payments are more serious.
This depends on the lender and how recent the missed payments are. Some lenders allow 1-2 missed payments in the last 12 months, while others require a clean 12-month payment history.
Yes, missed payments on utilities, mobile phones, and other bills can appear on your credit file if reported to credit agencies. They're generally viewed less seriously than missed mortgage or loan payments.
No, bringing an account up to date won't remove the record of missed payments. However, it stops further missed payments being recorded and shows you've addressed the issue.
Yes, if you believe a missed payment was recorded in error, you can dispute it with the credit reference agency. You'll need evidence that you made the payment on time.
Have Missed Payments and Need a Mortgage?
Missed payments don't automatically disqualify you from getting a mortgage. Our specialist advisers can help you find lenders who may still consider your application.