Completing a debt arrangement or obtaining a discharge after the Dutch statutory debt restructuring procedure (Wsnp) does not immediately erase all BKR information. Distinguish between a debt assistance record, a restructuring loan and the individual credit agreements on which arrears were recorded. Check each entry’s end date, retention period and responsible organisation. Sometimes correction is required; sometimes an evidenced request for early removal is possible.
Why is there still a BKR record after debt restructuring?
BKR’s Central Credit Information System (CKI) contains information about credit agreements and relevant events. Those details may remain relevant when new credit applications are assessed after an agreement has ended. The ordinary retention period for ended credit registrations is often five years after the recorded actual end date. That is different from five years after the first arrears or the start of your debt arrangement.
Several entries can coexist during debt assistance. You may have completed a municipal programme while an individual lender has not yet updated its record correctly. A restructuring loan may also have a different end date from the date on which the original creditors accepted an arrangement. Obtain a current report and assess each agreement separately.
What is the difference between SH, SK and Wsnp?
| Situation | What should you investigate? |
|---|---|
| Debt assistance, designated SH | The reporting municipality or provider, correct termination and applicable retention policy |
| Restructuring loan, designated SK | The loan agreement, repayment and actual end date of that loan |
| Individual old credit with special codes | Each lender’s notification and the settlement of that agreement |
| Wsnp with a discharge | The court decision and its effect on the relevant debts; Wsnp is not itself one general CKI credit code |
A restructuring loan pays creditors under the arrangement, after which you repay that loan. Debt mediation can operate differently. Saying “debt restructuring completed” therefore does not establish which registration and period apply. BKR’s explanation of restructuring loans and your agreement help establish the correct starting point.
Does a six-month period now apply to debt assistance?
Municipalities have developed policies to end or remove SH entries earlier. Check the municipality, provider, end date and applicable policy in your case. One specific example is the published policy of the municipality of Best: for the SH programmes covered by that policy and ended on or after 26 August 2025, retention is reduced to six months after termination.
This municipal example is not a nationwide rule erasing every BKR code six months after a debt arrangement. Nor does it automatically cover an SK record or separate credit agreements with banks and other providers. Ask your municipality in writing which policy applies to your SH entry. Include the registration number and end date to obtain an answer about your file.
Then check a new BKR report. A municipality’s confirmation that it will delete its entry does not mean every other participant has also changed its records. For remaining entries, ask separately about the basis, end date and remaining retention period. This prevents a request to the wrong organisation.
What does a Wsnp discharge do to old debts?
A discharge affects the enforceability of debts covered by the decision. That is a different legal issue from processing historical credit information. The discharge does not automatically make the previous payment history inaccurate and therefore does not, by itself, remove all BKR codes. The record must nevertheless correctly reflect the settlement, and a specific removal request must be assessed on its merits.
Keep the judgment and documents showing when the procedure ended and what was decided. If uncertain, check whether all relevant debts fall within the discharge. Avoid saying “the court decided that all debts never existed”; that is not what a discharge means. For general background, consult the Dutch judiciary’s information on debt restructuring.
Which BKR codes may remain visible?
A indicates reported arrears; H indicates recovery of those arrears during the agreement. Special codes describe additional events, such as acceleration of the debt under code 2 or a relevant write-off under code 3. A write-off is different from full payment by the consumer. The exact processing depends on what happened to the agreement.
Check not only the letter or number but also the date, credit status and reporting organisation’s explanation. A combination such as A3 may require different evidence from arrears subsequently paid in full. Our guide to A, A2, A3, A4 and H codes (Dutch) explains the distinction.
When can a registration be corrected?
Correction is appropriate where a specific item is wrong or incomplete: an incorrect end date, wrong outstanding balance or code inconsistent with the settlement. Compare the report with the debt arrangement, repayment statements, payment evidence and creditors’ confirmations. Identify exactly which detail should change and why.
A technically incorrect record and early removal are different grounds. An established error does not need to be justified solely by an urgent mortgage interest. Conversely, accurate processing does not make every assessment of continued retention unnecessary. You may raise both issues in one request, provided the grounds remain clear for each.
When is early BKR removal possible?
For an accurate record, you can ask whether continued processing remains necessary and proportionate in your current circumstances. Relevant factors may include the cause and seriousness of the payment problems, how debts were resolved, time elapsed, financial stability and the record’s specific effects. No factor alone provides a general guarantee of removal.
Evidence the change in your situation. Stable income, manageable expenses, no new arrears and an appropriate financial buffer together may show more than a single recent payslip. Explain what caused the original problems and the structural measures reducing recurrence. Do not omit remaining debts or obligations.
A request stating only “I worked hard and want to move on” does not explain sufficiently why the legal assessment should change. Connect your circumstances to documents and a specific request. For example, request removal of an identified entry and, if refused, individual reasons explaining the remaining need for that entry.
BKR after Wsnp and a mortgage: which documents help?
A wish to obtain a mortgage is relevant but does not automatically justify early removal. Ask your adviser which information blocks the application and whether financing would otherwise be feasible. Keep a written refusal, financing calculation and information about the home needed. A general statement that a mortgage is difficult is less informative.
Make your housing interest specific: a necessary move, unsuitable accommodation or changed family circumstances. Explain the alternatives investigated. A purchase contract with a short deadline does not itself create a right to deletion. Proceedings do not extend the financing condition either. Coordinate the legal timetable with your adviser and estate agent.
Which documents belong in your file?
- A recent BKR report showing all relevant entries and dates.
- The debt arrangement, restructuring loan agreement or Wsnp decision.
- Confirmations of termination, repayment, write-off and any discharge.
- Correspondence about the record and previous requests.
- An overview of current income, fixed expenses, other debts and reserves.
- Evidence of specific disadvantage, such as a reasoned mortgage refusal.
- For SH: the municipality’s response about the applicable removal policy.
Organise documents by registration. Give each attachment an identifiable name and note the argument it supports. A municipality’s closing letter does not automatically establish the end date of a separate loan elsewhere. This distinction prevents refusal because evidence concerns the wrong agreement.
Example of a targeted removal request
Dear Sir or Madam,
My BKR report shows agreement [number] with your organisation, codes [codes] and end date [date]. My [debt arrangement/restructuring loan/Wsnp] ended on [date]. I enclose the relevant confirmation.
I request that you [correct the specific inaccurate information/remove the identified entry early]. My grounds are [factual error and evidence] and/or [current circumstances, stability and specific effects], supported by attachments [numbers].
Insofar as this concerns your SH entry, please also confirm which municipal retention policy applies to this end date. Address each identified item separately and explain why any continued processing remains necessary and proportionate.
Please acknowledge receipt and inform me of your decision within the applicable GDPR period. If you make a change, please confirm the amended information and processing date in writing.
Yours faithfully,
[Name and contact details]
Use only the parts relevant to your entry. Ask for an appropriate secure method for sensitive identification information. Do not send unnecessary complete medical files or third-party details where a focused explanation is sufficient.
What if the lender refuses?
Compare the refusal with your request. Does it address the correct code, end date and current circumstances? Supplementing the internal request may help if evidence was missing or an argument overlooked. Monitor procedural deadlines at the same time. Certain GDPR decisions may trigger a six-week period after receipt for a petition under Article 35 UAVG. A new letter does not automatically restart that period.
Kifid is an option only if both the provider and complaint fall within its jurisdiction. Check membership, rules and the consequences of binding advice; a reference to financial supervision alone is insufficient. Court proceedings may be considered in other situations. See what to do after a rejected BKR request (Dutch).
Frequently asked questions
Will my BKR record disappear five years after Wsnp starts?
The start date of Wsnp does not establish that. Assess each entry and its actual end date separately. Ended credit entries often remain for five years after that date, while some SH records may be subject to different policies.
Does everything disappear six months after municipal debt assistance?
No. Check your municipality’s policy and the SH conditions. A shorter SH period does not automatically remove a restructuring loan or codes reported by individual former lenders.
Can I have an A3 code removed after discharge?
You can request assessment of its accuracy and the need for further retention. Discharge is relevant but does not automatically invalidate the code. Evidence both settlement and your current circumstances.
Should I approach BKR, the municipality or the bank?
That depends on who reported the information and what you request. Start with your report and address the responsible organisation. BKR can provide information and access; a lender or municipality often holds the underlying file.
Is a restructuring loan the same as debt assistance?
No. A restructuring loan is credit with its own settlement. SH concerns debt assistance. Check whether your report contains SH, SK, individual loans or a combination.
Am I guaranteed a mortgage after removal?
No. The lender also assesses income, expenses, other obligations and acceptance criteria. Establish beforehand whether BKR is actually the decisive obstacle.
How quickly must my request be answered?
Normally within one month for a GDPR request. A necessary extension of up to two months is possible subject to conditions and must be notified with reasons during the first month. No response does not mean automatic approval.
What if an old creditor fails to update the end date?
Request correction in writing and enclose settlement documents. Identify the expected date and its supporting evidence. After confirmation, obtain a new report to check implementation.
Does a long period without new debts help?
Sustained improvement may be relevant to balancing interests. Support it with a coherent financial overview and timeline. The absence of new debts alone does not automatically entitle you to deletion.
Can a lawyer erase every registration at once?
Each entry has its own responsible organisation and grounds. One file can be prepared efficiently, but there is no general procedure removing everything without individual assessment. Discuss prospects and costs beforehand.
Have your registration assessed after a debt arrangement
Arslan Advocaten can compare your BKR report with the settlement of your debts and your present interests. We discuss whether correction, an evidenced removal request or proceedings would be worthwhile. Read about BKR removal services (Dutch) or contact us. Tell us immediately when you received any refusal and whether a specific deadline is running.
