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Credit file & ratings

Archives for March 2017

02 credit file default
I'll try and keep it brief after 10 years of being with EE, their mast went down near me so I ordered a sim only contract deal with 02 back in june last year and after lots of phone calls they couldn't figure out how to transfer my number. I was so sick of them trying to sort it out i told them i wanted my pak code, i was…
Credit Utilisation Question before applying for a new Balance Transfer Card
I have a general question about credit utilisation as I have two credit cards (both on 0% interest deals), one of which (Barclaycard) is about to come to an end of its promotional offer in 3 months and would like to shift my current 0% debt to another 0% card.... What is more attractive to a prospective lender? (before…
Credit file improvement
I'm ashamed to admit that I have a truly frightening credit score. Missed payments, defaults, the whole shebang. I owe around £3000 to a few lenders and I really, really want to get things cleaned up. I know it will take some time, but it's definitely time to face the music instead of burying my head in the sand. What's…
Best option with bad credit rating.
Hello All. OK looking for a little advice I think I have a plan but need a sanity check. The facts: £22k in debt credit cards majority £2k is an overdraft No CCJ's or Defaults I have missed payments main from mbna most recent January. But going good forward there will be zero. Income £50k disposable income circa £1000 a…
Will a catalogue account make or break a credit report
For years I have been painstakingly getting my credit report, and that of my wifes, into something that is far more acceptable. The plan is that in a few years we will be in a position to buy a house. Currently, our reports are coming in at "fair". We have some credit on credit cards, loans and catalogues that we are…
What do the ! - exclamations mean in credit report
Hi, I just got my credit report from the MSE Credit club. I have one entry that is showing as monthly ! - exclamation points instead of -1 etc even though I am paying monthly and have never missed a payment. What do these exclamation points mean? Thanks in advance for your help.
How big is your credit?
I receive my Credit Score from ClearScore and I have had this 1 (and only) negative point for years: "Your largest credit card limit is low" How low is low? It is £1200 and I struggle to use every month, I like to pay right away! How much credit do people have on cards? Despite all the other positives, all accounts always…
CIFAS - Insurance Claims Fraud
Hello All I am wondering if anyone can help me. I dropped my laptop from my hand and made a claim with insurance company, I did not pursure it. After a few months, the policy got expired. I shopped around and got new home and contents policy from another provider. After a few months of getting the policy from new provider,…
Linked Addresses on File
Hi! long time lurker but first-time poster :) I was going through my Experian credit report and I have noticed that there are 18 linked addresses to my credit file with many of them repeating multiple times, despite having moved just twice in the past 3 years. Is it normal to have so many linked addresses on file? Is there…
trying for credit card but they cant identify me
I tried to use the soft search for credit cards and I am having trouble being accepted and cant find out why. Some history, I lived at address A all my life from 1971 to 1994, I was on the electoral role there, in 1994 I moved to address B and was there until may 2012 when I separated from my wife, I had four children at…
Does How Many Bank Accounts I Have Affect My Credit Rating?
I have 7 bank accounts. I have had some of them for years but there are 3 that I opened in the last 18 months; one I switched to M&S for a £170 (voucher) incentive and the other 2 are Nationwide accounts (1 joint) that pay 5% interest on savings up to £2500. I think only 2 accounts have overdrafts but I never use them. I…
Advice please
Hello, Please can I get help with some facts, really thought I was being proactive when it dawned on me payday this month falls a day late because there is a 31st this month but beginning to wish now I'd not said anything. I know I've always said I'm not worried about my file but can a lender really mark your credit file…
Soft Search
Hi All, Will try and keep this brief. Wife applied to get a credit card, declined. She did a soft search on her and me, cannot be found either of us, rechecked details, nothing. She took out free credit expert trail, error getting started, they had to send out a pin to verify address. Arrives today, credit score over 990.…
Please help welsh water default
I don't think I've ever been so stressed. Last week credit file totally clear, this week gone from 998 to 499 Welsh water have placed an account on my file this week showing 6 late payments from September 2015 to March 2016. I received my first bill in a new property on the 27th July. my first payment was Sept 7th and I…
incorrect default on credit rating
My girlfriend, has a default recorded on her credit rating, by a mobile phone company. Even though we have an email from their customer services, stating that there is no money owing. This is now affecting us trying to get a re-mortgage, this is the only blemish on her credit history. We have phoned, emailed and written to…
Scottish debt now in england
Hi to start i racked up big debt in scotland as a student. I paid alot of the debts off however i moved to england to get a better job. I have not hear anything in five years from the old debts still outstanding. Stupid i know but i dont have a bank account or got any credit in 5 years. I am however on the electoral roll…
Free Monthly Experian Credit Report
I'm signed up for experian's monthly credit report - they are charging me 15 quid by direct debit every month - seems a ripoff to me - is there anyway I can ge the same thing for free?
Virgin media stuck on my credit report
So a couple of years ago I regrettably joined virgin media. Everything was ok then I got a bill roughly £250 more than the usual bill. I couldn't afford to pay it at the time and when I looked at my bill there was 2 over night (10 hour) calls to my parents landline at the same time even though I'v only got one phone line…
Virgin Media
So applied for a mortgage got accepted - put virgin account on hold whilst moving to transfer to new address in the meantime virgin closed first account and opened second account failing to inform me there was £21.25 outstanding. and actively encouraged me to cancel my direct debit. Credit check re run by mortgage company…
Credit rating change
My Daughter and son in law are in the process of buying a new build apartment with the government help to buy scheme.The move date should have been end of February but due to some construction issues it was put back until the end of April.Between February and now they have been informed that due to a.change in their credit…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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