In reality, it's much longer. We only had to wait two years before an automatic discharge because we self-declared, but even now, thirteen years on, we still have difficulty getting major credit. It also caused problems recently when my bloke had to apply for a joint executor's account with his brother in order to sort out his mum's will. Basically, they couldn't have the account, so his brother resorted to using an existing joint account he'd had with their mother. We wondered if it would have just been easier not to say anything on the application form, but we did the right thing and told them.
In short, we just can't get any credit to speak of - including a bank current account - so we don't even bother trying. You get used to it, and to only buying what you know you can afford. I've stopped hankering after the fancy house, the foreign holidays and the expensive car and I seriously don't miss them. Life is simpler now. No debts and (more importantly) a great deal less stress.
You learn that money isn't everything, and you learn to appreciate the simpler things in life. In my book, that's no bad thing.