Credit file advice for a newbiw please!

brow987b

I just checked my credit file and there are a few things that i need to get rectified but am not sure how best to do it to get the desired result!

Firstly, there are 17 linked addresses from my car finance company, bank and phone company over a periood of three years when I was a student. I have asked the car finance company and bank to remove them and have been asked to put it in writing - no problem. At first Natwest told me to speak to someone in the branch, when I went into the branch I was told that the telephone advisors do not know what they are talking about and I need to write to Customer Relations. When I first opened my student account, there was a separate field for address and correspondence address and therefore when I updated my addresses with the bank whilst at uni I assumed they would update the correspondence address - not so. When I explained this to the manager, he said that after the first year of university there is no such thing as correspondence address, however, I do not understand why have something for one year only, when the average degree length when this option would be required, is three years...The manager said there is a slim chance that this information would be changed and the linked addresses removed even if I write to them. However, I didnt actually permanently live at these addresses and was only there during term time - as the application form actually stated "term time address". I am therefore wondering whether this battle is going to be more trouble than it's worth and whether I should leave it...how much will it affect my credit score etc....And with regards to the finance company and T-Mobile, well I at the time was just naive, I thought they would just send information to me, not update the address to the extent that it appears on my credit file....Are these types of requests usually fulfilled by companies?

Also, there is a default notice on my account from a company called Arrow Limited..I have no idea who they are/why I supposed owed them money, however, I recognise the debt amount as a really old phone bill that was actually cleared last year with Westcott Credit Services - I have the letter somewhere proving this. If I write to the company asking them to remove the record altogether, do they have an obligation to do so? Do I have to settle for it being amended to satisfied even though I do not recall ever having a debt with this company?

niccatw

Hi

I wouldn't worry about the addresses linked to your credit file - it's pretty unavoidable when you are a student (I had tons). And while it shouldn't affect your credit rating, some companies might automatically reject if you have lived at numerous addresses in a short period of time. This will setttle down as you stay somewhere for longer, just make sure you are always on the electoral role otherwise you will find it difficult yo get credit.

The default will affect your credit rating and will stay on your file for 6 years (I think this is from the date it was applied rather than from when it was paid). From what you have said it seems phone company have sold the debt on, perhaps a few times. If this is the case, then you need to write to the company that applied the default stating you have paid the debt (prove it if you can, although I think legally they have to prove the debt is yours not the other way around. Don't send original copies and do it all in writing so you have a paper trail) and ask them to remove the information. If the default was appleid by the phone company or the debt collection agency you paid themney to, then they probably won't remove the default.

In the meantime, you can contact the credit agencies and ask them to put a note on your file stating that the information is incorrect and you are currently pursuing this with the company.

brow987b

Aww thank you so much for this, I was really panicking about this linked address business! It makes me look like such a traveller!!!

Will write to the debt company today!

Thanks

niccatw

Good luck

If you need a hand with the letters, post again. There are template letters on here somewhere, but I'm not sure which will be best for your situation. GeorgUK is your man for that, if he's online the next time you are.