Confused by addresses listed on credit report (Experian/CreditExpert)

[Deleted User]

Hi, all.

Would appreciate your help with the state of my credit report which seems mostly ok apart from currently using 87% of my available credit, which I'm aiming to sort out and get rid of, in order from highest interest to lowest, so I have a plan (currently 2 out of 6 debts are paid off), but am concerned my credit report isn't as ship-shape as it should be.

Just got my first look at the credit report held with Experian today and there is a rather bizarre set of address listings for example as follows:
(Address 1 oldest from 2005 after moving back to England after 2 years living in Australia, address 4 newest current for last 18 months)

16 records held.
1) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Experian credit report 2005
2) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Natwest 2005
3) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax 2006
4) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax Cards 2008
5) Address 3 linked TO Address 4 - Halifax Cards 2008
6) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Experian credit report 2005
7) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Natwest 2005
8) Address 3 linked FROM Address 2- Halifax 2006
9) Address 3 linked FROM Address 2- Halifax 2008
10) Address 1 linked TO Address 2- Experian credit report 2005
11) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Natwest 2005
12) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax 2006
13) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax Cards 2008
14) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Experian credit report 2005
15) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Natwest 2005
16) Address 4 linked FROM Address 3- Barclaycard

As you can see, there appears to be plenty of repetition. Is this correct? Can/should I request to remove some of the address associations? How far back should I allow them? Should there be multiple repeated references here? At a glance I'd think the person had had 16 addresses in 5 years, not 4 addresses.

I also have no further financial association with my ex-wife and have confirmed this with the bank since mid-2008, but her name still appears linked with me THREE times even though we only had ONE joint account for bills, etc, which I still run as I'm paying the o/d off monthly (not defaulted). Her name no longer appears on any joint finances that we had and she is in no way financially attached to me. Should her name even be attached three times? And I should be able to remove this association completely by notifying all three credit report agencies, right?

I also previously had a Natwest current account which was opened in 2005 and closed in 2006 but still appears on my report. It shows on there as having no balance and no activity, or rather the 0 indicator for bad credit movement, etc. Is it affecting my credit score and can/should I get this removed?

Due to other circumstances at the start of last year, I have just recently finished paying off the Provident (I know!) but due to the record only having been updated start of January, it still shows up as outstanding 50 quid. When this disappears, will my credit score according to Experion improve?

My credit report also shows my Barclaycard as being overdue even though this has now been reversed, they have a habit of moving the payment due date about and they shifted it to a day before payday which made me very shirty. I take it my score will improve on next update too?

Thanks for reading my protracted post and all your help.

niccatw

Deleted_User wrote: »

Hi, all.

Would appreciate your help with the state of my credit report which seems mostly ok apart from currently using 87% of my available credit, which I'm aiming to sort out and get rid of, in order from highest interest to lowest, so I have a plan (currently 2 out of 6 debts are paid off), but am concerned my credit report isn't as ship-shape as it should be.

Just got my first look at the credit report held with Experian today and there is a rather bizarre set of address listings for example as follows:
(Address 1 oldest from 2005 after moving back to England after 2 years living in Australia, address 4 newest current for last 18 months)

16 records held.
1) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Experian credit report 2005
2) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Natwest 2005
3) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax 2006
4) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax Cards 2008
5) Address 3 linked TO Address 4 - Halifax Cards 2008
6) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Experian credit report 2005
7) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Natwest 2005
8) Address 3 linked FROM Address 2- Halifax 2006
9) Address 3 linked FROM Address 2- Halifax 2008
10) Address 1 linked TO Address 2- Experian credit report 2005
11) Address 1 linked TO Address 2 - Natwest 2005
12) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax 2006
13) Address 2 linked TO Address 3 - Halifax Cards 2008
14) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Experian credit report 2005
15) Address 2 linked FROM Address 1- Natwest 2005
16) Address 4 linked FROM Address 3- Barclaycard

As you can see, there appears to be plenty of repetition. Is this correct? Can/should I request to remove some of the address associations? How far back should I allow them? Should there be multiple repeated references here? At a glance I'd think the person had had 16 addresses in 5 years, not 4 addresses.

From memory, my credit report was similar. If you moved address and informed any open accounts of this, then I assume this is why the address are linked. As long as they are all address you have lived at, and are correct, I'm guessing this is ok. If you have not lived at any of the addresses, inform all three credit agencies.

I also have no further financial association with my ex-wife and have confirmed this with the bank since mid-2008, but her name still appears linked with me THREE times even though we only had ONE joint account for bills, etc, which I still run as I'm paying the o/d off monthly (not defaulted). Her name no longer appears on any joint finances that we had and she is in no way financially attached to me. Should her name even be attached three times? And I should be able to remove this association completely by notifying all three credit report agencies, right?

Right. If you no longer have any joint accounts with your ex, then ask them to put a note of disassociation, otherwise, if she defaults, it might still show on your credit record.At least, that's my understanding of it.

I also previously had a Natwest current account which was opened in 2005 and closed in 2006 but still appears on my report. It shows on there as having no balance and no activity, or rather the 0 indicator for bad credit movement, etc. Is it affecting my credit score and can/should I get this removed?

Not sure about this one. I imagine it will just drop off after a certain amount of time has elapsed. I'm afraid I don't know the time-scale might be though.

Due to other circumstances at the start of last year, I have just recently finished paying off the Provident (I know!) but due to the record only having been updated start of January, it still shows up as outstanding 50 quid. When this disappears, will my credit score according to Experion improve?

As far as I understand it, any defaults stay on your account for 6 years before dropping off. This doesn't necessarily mean you won't get credit, but might mean you won't get the best rates. You probably also need to be careful for what credit you are applying for as you will leave a "footprint" each time. If you are rejcted, this will make it harder.

If this is an issuew for you, perhaps don't apply for anything for the next 3-6 months and make sure you are meeting all your minimum repayments to build that rating back up.

My credit report also shows my Barclaycard as being overdue even though this has now been reversed, they have a habit of moving the payment due date about and they shifted it to a day before payday which made me very shirty. I take it my score will improve on next update too?

I belive they update them monthly, so the account should come up as paid by that date. I'd perhaps send them a letter asking them to confirm the date payments are due - listing each of the times they have changed it and the inconvenience it has caused you (assuming they haven't given you prior notice). I thought they couldn't change the date without informing you (unless the date happens to be a bank holiday or SUnday, when it tends to come out the Sunday before)

Thanks for reading my protracted post and all your help.

I'm not an expert on credit reports so I'd double check. Hopefully some-one more knowledgable will be along in a second, but I hope this helps meantime.

Good luck

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the reply, the Provident one isn't a default, so that's ok, it's just all already paid off. I haven't defaulted or made arrangements on anything so compared to a lot of people I'm in pretty decent shape owing £7,000 at the moment.
I did some more reading after that post and it seems that even closed accounts stay on your report for 6 years or so.
I've applied to Experion to remove my ex and am in the process of doing so for Equifax, but Call Credit want you to pay money to even sign up so I have no reference number with them and not sure what to do and don't want to send details through the post on a whim.
I think I'll just have to check that things are cleared correctly and she's removed in a couple of months, it seems to take 2 months for balances to reach the reporting agency in Experion's case.

niccatw

Your entitled to them for £2 (not sure if that's under DPA?) Thefollowing might help (from Information Commissioner's Office webpage):

"How do I get my credit reference file?
You have the right to write to any of the credit reference agencies and ask for a copy of your credit reference file, which will cost you £2.
Your letter should include:

• your full name -also any other names you have been known by e.g. your maiden name;
• your full address including postcode;
• any addresses where you have lived over the past six years;
• your date of birth; and
• a cheque or postal order for £2 made payable to the credit reference agency.

You should keep a copy of your letter and you may want to send it by recorded delivery. The credit reference agency has 7 working days to send you your file after receiving your letter and fee.
Sometimes the credit reference agencies need more information from you before they can send you your file. For example, they may need proof of your name and address from a utility bill or bank statement. This is important to make sure that no one else gets your file by mistake or to check that no one else has fraudulently applied for your credit reference file. The agencies do not have to send you your file until they get this information.

The addresses of the credit reference agencies are:
Equifax Plc
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
www.equifax.co.ukCall Credit Plc
Consumer Services Team
PO Box 491
Leeds
LS3 1WZ
0870 060 1414
www.callcredit.co.ukExperian Ltd
Customer Support Centre
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF
0844 481 8000
www.experian.co.ukYou can also find out more about your rights under the Data Protection Act."

I guess if you don't actually need your data from Call Credit, you could just write re. disassociation to the address above. Hope this helps.

DarkConvict

I have the same thing on my credit report, atleast when i last checked in August 09.

I am 22, so i got another current account and my first CC and mobile contract back in 08/09 during my Uni placement. Anyhow, placement finished and i moved back home in July 09. My report was full of the above change of address remarks for moving away from home and then moving back (albit a different address as my mom moved house when i was away), so 3 addresses within 14 months.

Its nothing to worry about, it will reduce your score just because you have not lived at your current address for very long. But otherwise not a problem.