The default date is fixed at the point the account was actually defaulted — clearing the balance doesn't reset the clock.
Newer positive information (settled accounts, on-time payments, low utilisation) increasingly outweighs older defaults over time.
Focus on rebuilding steadily: keep any current accounts in good order, avoid multiple applications, and check your file every few months.
Related reading
Defaults & Missed Payments
What a default really is — and when one can be registered
A default is a formal statement that an account has broken down. There are rules about when it can be recorded.
ReadCredit Files & Scores
How to check your credit file — and fix errors
The three UK credit reference agencies each hold slightly different data. You should check all three regularly.
ReadCredit Files & Scores
Correcting mistakes on your credit file
You have a legal right to have inaccurate information corrected — for free.
Read