Armed forces and credit scores

the_Front

Ive recently passed my test and interview to join the Royal Navy as a submariner. I explained to my interviewer that my soon to be ex wife had debt problems and he has left my application pending until i take my name off the mortgage. I am in the proceeds of this and also a divorce which wont take long as we are both in agreement,and personally i am happy to walk away from my house with a small percentage when she does finally sell[we have children]

Anyway,my main concern is my credit score. I know its not great as i couldnt get a switch/solo account. But i have payed off all the small debts i have bar one which is in joint names with her but i have been keeping on top of the payments i have left.

My other worry is with my score is due to us having CAP[Christians Against Poverty] intervene with our accounts when we were still together which will show as defaults at the time of negotiation. She also has defaults since we split up as CAP couldnt pay until her fresh claim for tax credits came through.

Im now back at my parents house,with very little outgoings and maintaining my small debt consistantly.

Im just looking for help on how to get through the credit check stage. My interviewer only seemed to be worried about CCJs [which i dont have]. But i have been told differently of other Navy employees. Im just very worried as this is my dream. And im not getting any younger to wait 5 or so years for my score to improve.

Anyone out there..................help!

Cat695

mate i really wouldn't worry on this....i've seen many a recruit (Army) come through Winchester (Phase one of basic training) with HUGE debts even though the policy is no debt when joining the forces

You have shown that your IN CONTROL and that is the main thing.....so don't worry yourself about it ok, your going to get a steady wage (if you pass training) so look to the future and good luck

CHR15

I could count on the fingers of one hand the amount of Junior Rates not in debt on my last ship.

They all have brand new cars and expensive clothes bought on credit.

I wouldn't worry about it at all. The services are considerate employers.

People serving buried in debt (as a lot are!) may not agree but there is as much help as you need to get through it, it just takes a bit of courage to fess up to someone and get it out in the open.

The Support network really is second to none if you take advantage of it.

Once you get through basic training and qualify for submarine pay, your debts will soon clear. There isn't much to spend money on 150m below the Ocean.

Just be careful where your ex is concerned, you could end up paying a lot out for maintenance.

the_Front

Thanks for the replies. It has made me feel somewhat better to know that recruits are coming through the security checks with debt history.

As i mentioned above im not too worried about debt as the only debt i really have is my mortgage which im currently in the proceeds of handing over. My ex is the one who has debt and she is inevitably going to drag me down with her if i dont financially untie myself from her. She wouldnt sell the house and i personally believe its only a matter of time before she is reposessed!

My only worry is my past credit history from helping to pay her debt and also trying to pay our bills therefore, from a 'joint' point of view my hisory is bad.

At the end of the day,this is all in my past and i just want to move forward with life and finally join the Armed Forces.

As for the maintanence issue,i know things can turn nasty but since splitting we have come to a mutual agreement on support. She knows i will always be there for my children both emotionally and financially. I have them on every occasion possible and give her an amount each week.

Although i understand things can change[ie future partners etc etc etc], beside her flaws with money management,she is good where the kids are concerned and has always been very fair,and has insisted on not wanting to fleece me.

Sorry for the relationship rant and thanks again

Cat695

you are divorced now aren't you? be very careful about the mutal agreement on support for the kids make sure you record EVERY penny you give to her (and i don't mean write it down i mean proof from a bank etc ok)NEVER JUST CASH

IF she ever gets benefit then the CSA WILL get involved whether she/you want them to or not...and if you have been paying her money they will want evidence....and saying i gave her cash will NOT BE accepted!!!

It sounds friendly between the two of you at the moment and i'm not saying it will change....BUT things can change rapidly when the CSA get involved (this is from experience ok) they don't care about you or how much you owe or how much you have paid her in cash because if you can't prove it then they will just take it ALL off you....and being in the forces you are EASY prey!!

So be prepared now for IF it happens and they get involved...always pay her by cheque or via bank transfer and keep the record of it!!

I really don't want you to get caught out ok so please take my advice on board (no pun)

Cat

the_Front

Cat695 wrote: »

you are divorced now aren't you? be very careful about the mutal agreement on support for the kids make sure you record EVERY penny you give to her (and i don't mean write it down i mean proof from a bank etc ok)NEVER JUST CASH

IF she ever gets benefit then the CSA WILL get involved whether she/you want them to or not...and if you have been paying her money they will want evidence....and saying i gave her cash will NOT BE accepted!!!

It sounds friendly between the two of you at the moment and i'm not saying it will change....BUT things can change rapidly when the CSA get involved (this is from experience ok) they don't care about you or how much you owe or how much you have paid her in cash because if you can't prove it then they will just take it ALL off you....and being in the forces you are EASY prey!!

So be prepared now for IF it happens and they get involved...always pay her by cheque or via bank transfer and keep the record of it!!

I really don't want you to get caught out ok so please take my advice on board (no pun)

Cat

God,thats frightening as ive been paying her in cash!!! Simple fact being,if i pay her through the bank then she'd never see the money as it would simply be taken out by CAP for debts.

Im thinking i should be chaning my method of payment to cover my own !!!! now!

Im glad i came onboard here now,thanks yet again.:money:

the_Front

PS. No im not divorced yet.

CHR15

YES YES YES, Change your mathod of payment.

The amicable times don't last long!

You NEED to be able to prove the money going into her account. I'm not sure if it is your concern what happens to it afterwards.

There is a similar argument that a lot of NRP's pay maintenance for the mother to go and buy shoes etc, the kids don't necessarily see any of it. As a father, you have no right to have any input into how she spends it.

Once she is under pressure (and she will be at some point) she can (and likely will) say you have never paid a penny.

You will then have a long times worth of back payments to make all over again.

It may be worth posting in a more relevant forum about this issue where some CSA Guru's live

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=140

Sparky29

You can join the Forces with debt. If you couldn't the Forces would be a lot smaller! Your payments must be less than 35% of your Forces take home wage. Your debts include mobile phone contracts.

Cat695

Mate i really want to cover your !!!!....you really need to have a record of payments.....i don't know if the CSA would accept a recipt that she had signed....hence why i said bank statements or cheque as this can be followed....they really will just hit you with a bill for the whole time you have been apart (mine was 4000 pound even though i had been paying 200 quid a month by cash) i learnt the hard way......

the only thing they take into account is a mortgage (which you won't have soon)......the only good thing is IF (and i'm only saying IF) the CSA do get invovled then your pay as a basic salior (sorry don't know Navy rank system) will be pretty pants for awhile so they can't take that much hehe but you will ALWAYS have food and a bed (bloody crap one on a sub i can guess) so least thats not a worry (but not as bad as the back decks of a tank trust me hehe)

Just be careful with your ex and keep your cards close to your chest (i'm not saying turn nasty or anything like that) but better to be safe than sorry as it can come and bite you in the !!! in time to come....

and finally you really need to get divorced (i did all my divorce with NO solicitor so cheaper and very easy to do) as your going into a job with a pension etc and the last thing you want is her to have that off you in your retirement (i've seen that so many times in the army)

Now is the time to look after number one (sounds harsh)

Marker_2

No look after your kids first and then yourself.

When I was going through it for a short time, my OH wasnt requried to back date pay, wish that were the case, could of kept my home other wise, but CSA told me they will only start it from when he first makes contact with them after the letter requesting payments is sent out!