How to Find Out Who You Owe Money To

According to research by StepChange Debt Charity, over half of UK adults (51%) have experienced ‘problem debt’ – which is when someone is struggling to keep up with their repayments. That works out to roughly 27 million people.

Whether you've moved house or forgotten an old account, finding out what you owe and learning how to check your debts online is the first step towards getting your debts paid. 

To help, we'll walk you through some of the common reasons why you might not know who you owe money to, how to find out what debt you owe, and what to do next.

Why you might not know who you owe money to

There are many reasons why you might not know who you owe money to:

• Creditors selling unpaid or old accounts: Creditors and lenders can sell or assign unpaid debt or old accounts. You might be contacted by a different person than the one you remember.

• Different names: An account can appear under a lender's legal name, not the brand name you're familiar with.

• Old default accounts: An account in default for more than six years will drop off your credit report after six years, hiding past unpaid balances.

• Change of address or contact details: Moving house can create another problem if you forget to update your address with lenders. You might never receive letters about missed payments or legal action if they have your old address. The same goes for changes to your email or phone number.

How do I find out who I owe money to?

If you're wondering how to find out what debt you owe, start with the documentation and records you already have, including:

• Bank statements.

• Old emails.

• Lender letters.

• Direct Debits or standing orders.

Then work through the following checks:

Check your credit report

Your credit report shows credit accounts reported in your name. Those accounts include:

• Mortgages.

• Credit cards.

• Loans.

• Overdrafts.

• Some mobile or utility accounts.

Your credit report usually shows the lender, balance, payment history and whether the account is active, closed, or in default.

Note: The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Not every lender will report to them all, and if they do, they might present information differently.

Checkmyfile is the only service that puts all your data from the three agencies side by side, so you don’t need to check with them individually. And if you spot something that doesn’t look right, we can help. Start with a 7-day free trial, then it’s £14.99 a month. Cancel online anytime.

Contact your banks and lenders directly

Contact your bank or lenders directly if you're unsure whether you still have any debt outstanding. Most bank and lender contact information is available online, but you may need to submit a form and wait for a call or email back. 

In the meantime, you can look through your old bank statements to check for payments to lenders or collection agencies that might refresh your memory of their name and why you owed them money.

Check for County Court Judgments (CCJs)

Lenders can take you to court over unpaid money, meaning you may have a County Court Judgment (CCJ). You can also receive a CCJ registered against you if you fail to repay money you owe, without a court hearing. A CCJ doesn't necessarily mean you've been summoned, but it is a step up from a simple payment request.

A CCJ normally stays on your credit report for six years unless you pay it in full within one month. If you pay within one month, your CCJ could be removed, but it's always worth monitoring your report to make sure it actually isn’t there anymore.

If you find an account on your report that you don't recognise, the court and case number can help you investigate further by contacting the issuing county court.

How to find out what debt you owe online

Checking your credit report online is a good way to build an initial list of what you owe and who you owe it to.

What you'll see on your credit report

Your report can include:

• Active and closed credit accounts.

• Current balances and credit limits.

• Monthly repayment history.

• Missed payments and arrears.

• Defaults.

• CCJs and other public-record information.

• Financial associations and linked addresses.

If you see an account you genuinely don't recognise, check the details and contact the lender. It could be a renamed or sold account, an error, or a sign of fraud. If you don’t find a solution that way, our UK-based customer care team can look into it for you.

Understanding payment markers and account statuses

The markers next to an account tell you what's happened with the payments.

On your Checkmyfile report, you may see the following:

• OK means you made payments on time.

• The numbers 1–6 show increasing months of arrears.

• AR means a payment arrangement.

• D indicates a default.

• S means a settled and closed account.

• SF means a satisfied default.

These markers help you separate an account that's part of your old credit history from one that may still need attention.

See our full breakdown of what the payment markers on your credit report mean.

Where to get free debt advice

It can be difficult to work out what to deal with first. And the thought of contacting lenders can be stressful in itself. But you don't have to do it alone. Free debt guidance is available through MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline, and Citizens Advice.

A debt adviser can help you understand which payments are priorities, put together a budget and look at the options available for dealing with what you owe.

Check your debts with Checkmyfile

Knowing who you owe starts with knowing what's on your credit file.

At Checkmyfile, we put your information from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion into one easy-to-read report, helping you spot outstanding accounts, old lenders, missed payments, defaults and other information that could need your attention.

And if something doesn't look right, our UK-based customer care team can help.

Get started with a 7-day free trial, then it’s £14.99 a month. Cancel online anytime.