Credit Rating: How it works and How to improve it discussion area

*Kat*

I need some advice please, recently i went into the bank and they offered to upgrade my account to a reglar account, atm i have an easy cash, visa electron account, no overdraft or anything, well i sat down and she did the checks and stuff, and it came up that i have a CCJ?! As far as I know I don't have any credit, except my contract phone, which is paid up and not in arrears or anything...its 18mth, and 16mth down.

Today, I checked my credit report and it says i dnt have anything, except my phone? No CCJs, or anything...thoughts? Thanks x

izools

The computer in branch will not tell the personal banker that you have CCJ(s) / Default(s) / missed payment(s).

It will either approve or decline. If it declines, it will say either:

> You do not meet their criteria
> You failed the credit score
> Adverse data was found on your credit file

It will NOT be any more specific than this and if the person in branch said it's because you have a CCJ, they are talking balls. The haven't got visibility to see that even if you did. I would kick up a sh!tstorm with the branch manager for one of their staff being so incredibly mis-informative!!

How long have you held the Easycash account?

EDIT: In any case, even if you DID have a CCJ, that doesn't mean you can't get a full current account, depending on the rest of your credit file and data provided on your application form. One CCJ over three years old against someone who's got an otherwise impeccable credit file, stable job, good income, etc, probably won't stop them from getting a current account. Didn't stop me getting a current account, anyway...

*Kat*

Oh right, she actually scared me. LOL. So that's good, I definitely dont have a CCJ then, I dont know why she said it?

I don't know why I got rejected. I am on the electoral roll, < even though on my credit report it says I'm not?
I am up to date with my payments to my contract phone, I've been late on a couple of them though? I don't have any other credit than that. Hmmmz? I move quite a bit though, maybe thats why? Any other ideas?

izools

Stability is a key part of credit scoring. If you move a lot this will harm your score as it is considered a sign of instability. Along side this not being on the electoral role will hurt your score further. Coupled with missed payments on your only credit account in the last year makes for a less than desirable customer.

1. Check with your local authority that you are on the ER and if you are take it up with Experian why you aren't.
2. Decide where you would be happy living for the next few years - not the next few months.
3. Pay on time every time with your mobile contract.

Once you've not missed a payment in 12 months, haven't moved in 12 months, are definitely on the ER, you should stand a much better chance of getting further credit scored facilities like a full current account

*Kat*

ah, ok thanks, im a student so thats why i move a lot, and dont have a parents address to use, guess ill have to wait until I finish uni before lol

izools

Barclays offer Student Current Accounts but they aren't credit scored in the usual way - they are approved by the Branch Manager. Might be worth looking into

never-in-doubt

*Kat* wrote: »

Oh right, she actually scared me. LOL. So that's good, I definitely dont have a CCJ then, I dont know why she said it?

I don't know why I got rejected. I am on the electoral roll, < even though on my credit report it says I'm not?
I am up to date with my payments to my contract phone, I've been late on a couple of them though? I don't have any other credit than that. Hmmmz? I move quite a bit though, maybe thats why? Any other ideas?

You may well have a cifas entry - even a ccj - not all data that is owned by a third party is accurate on the CRA's systems, some is wrong and some is missing in its entirety. However some things are hidden from and do not show on your credit report BUT the bank CAN tell you if there is public data present or a cifas - sorry if this conflicts with others views - but it's right, 100% so!

Everyone can see public data (such as a ccj) and therefore the banks can tell you if one is present, if they did then chances are there is one - check http://www.trustonline.org.uk/ to see if you have a CCJ!

You should also SAR CIFAS to find out for sure and rule it (having a cifas) out, one way or another. I suspect they may have meant yo had a cifas and not ccj? Could be wrong but banks do make mistakes.... (lol, the irony)!!

Cifas details here: http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=692-59

izools

never-in-doubt wrote: »

You may well have a cifas entry - not all show on your credit report and the bank CAN tell you if there is public data present - sorry if this conflicts with others views - but it's right, 100% so!

Everyone can see public data (such as a ccj) and therefore the banks can tell you if one is present, if they did then chances are there is one! You need to SAR CIFAS to find out for sure and rule it out, one way or another.

Cifas details here: http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=692-59

Big difference between "Public Data" and a "CCJ". The bank shouldn't have been so specific. Public data covers much more than CCJs

Whilst the bank can see the presence of a CCJ their terminals in branch aren't that specific, are they???

*Kat*

Why do you have to pay for this information? It's ridiculous, I have to pay £10 to see if there's a CCJ against me? Even though my credit report says there's not?

never-in-doubt

*Kat* wrote: »

Why do you have to pay for this information? It's ridiculous, I have to pay £10 to see if there's a CCJ against me? Even though my credit report says there's not?

Your credit report only shows limited data regards to fraud, this is dealt with by CIFAS so you pay £2 to see credit file and £10 to SAR cifas - also you have N Hunter, another fraud agency that may have adverse data registered against you....

Regards to iZools post, the banks (as can I) confirm a CCJ - it is not breaching DPA and banks do confirm this, for instance HSBC 100% do as do RBS group if they can see one registered against you.

They can say 'a ccj is registered' but they cannot say 'barclays registered a ccj' - that's the difference between breaching and complying with DPA