Bills in joint names..

babymoo

Hi all

Just put of curiosity, I had bills in my name and 2 old flat mates names a few years back. Will this affect my credit rating if they have bad credit and vice versa?

I have a bad credit rating atm, I defaulted and have ccj's against me which if i'm correct stay on for 6 years which is fine but I am now debt free and trying to build up what I can.

If it is going to go against me being linked to the others how do I stop being financially linked to them?

Thanks

Babymoo

Tixy

Its likely you are not financially associated but you could be (utilities etc usually only report if you get behind with payments).
Best way to check for sure is to get a copy of your credit file and look under financial associations. If anyone appears there who shouldn't you'll need to complete a notice of disassociation with each of the 3 credit reference agencies.

babymoo

We did get behind with all the utility payments and then the other 2 left me to pay the lot. I got very poorly and couldnt afford to pay anything so moved in with my parents and forgot about it till DCA started chasing me. I went through the CAB and got help and eventually got it all paid off, as I don't know where the other 2 are anymore I couldn't get them to pay their share so had to pay everything, shan't make that mistake again!

How do I check my credit file? I had a free trial thing with experian 6 months or so ago and I never saw anything untoward on there but I'm not sure I totally understood it either if that makes sense.

Cheers for quick reply.

Tixy

Hi

if you've used the free trials already then the best way is probably to get your statutory report (costs £2each). You should see a section on the report called financial associations (near the bottom of the report I think?) If there is anyone listed there then you would need to do something about it.

Statutory report from experian - http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html
equifax - http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html
(I would get both)

babymoo

Thanks so much!!

babymoo

Hi

I have received my report from experian, still waiting for the one from equifax. On the experian report I have no CCJ's listed, no defaults listed even though I know I defaulted with at least 2 companys. I am not complaining but I am slightly confused by it. I was certain I had CCJ's and definately certain I defaulted unless I misunderstand both terms which is possible.

It is up to date with the Provident credit that I have, I get vouchers that I save for xmas and pay for throughout the year. Never defaulted on them and they all say theyre happy and settled other than the one that I am currently paying for. There is nothing on there about the car insurance that I have that I pay monthly and I assumed that would be on there.

I tried to get a current account with halifax about 3 months ago and they declined me one but I didn't realise then that halifax and lloyds tsb are the same group. I had a loan with lloyds tsb that ended up with a DCA, this is now settled. Could this be the reason that I got refused and not my credit rating after all?

Any thoughts greatfully received.

Thanks

Tixy

Presumably you don't think your defaults are 6years old?

I would wait until you have your equifax report and see what it says.

Does your experian report list the address that you think you got defaults/CCJs at?

babymoo

Yeh I was convinced the defaults etc were about 2 years old. The report I have lists every address I have ever lived at.

It lists the mobile phone contract I had but it lists it as settled last year even though it went to a DCA. It doesn't list any of the utilities debts I had which I assumed it would.