If you are behind with your payments, you are regarded in credit parlance as being in arrears. Arrears is also a term that describes the amount overdue.
On a credit report, the number of months in arrears is recorded and reported to the credit reference agencies every month. A payment status of 0 means you are zero months in arrears, i.e. up to date with payments. 1 means one month in arrears, 2 means two months in arrears and so on. Payment status codes of 0,1,2 and 3 are recorded, and if an account is further in arrears than three months, a Default is then recorded.
You can see whether any arrears are recorded on your credit report by checking your credit files with checkmyfile.
Arrears remain on your credit report for six years, unless you close an account, when they can stay longer as the six year credit history is effectively frozen and is continued to be reported for six years after the date of closure.
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