Missed payment date confusion

[Nortam]

In December we got our water bill which we accidentally forgot to pay (Christmas, then big holiday) obviously as soon as we realised, we paid it but it went down as a missed payment. In the 12 years we've been paying bills, we've never ever missed a payment for anything.

As it was a December bill, I assumed the missed payment would be counted as December too. So we waited 6 months before looking at buying. (Our mortgage lender needs no missed payments in the last 6 months)

Anyway, we found an amazing house, put an offer in which was accepted. Except now we've realised that the missed payment is marked down as 5 months ago not 6.

I'm absolutely gutted. Does anyone have any advice please?

Could you find a different lender?

Will anyone lend with a missed payment that recent though? I'm so annoyed with myself. We only have a 5% deposit which doesn't help us.

Is this in the UK? Is the water utility actually in your credit record with a missed payment? Has a lender or broker actually indicated that a missed payment has been identified and that’s an issue for lending?

My utilities aren’t connected to my credit record at all and I’ve never known them to be for anyone else.

All lenders have different criteria regarding missed payments, anyway. Some are more willing overlook late payments which aren’t for mortgages or loans e.g. telecoms.

My water bill is in my credit report and has been for years.

My water bill is on my credit report? Has been for ages?

I'd see what your broker says OP? One missed payment in an otherwise entirely clean record shouldn't make much of a difference, but I wasn't aware of the within six months thing. I had one on mine but from years ago and that made no difference.