Who will be honest with me about my credit rating

hedgehopper_2

Folks, I am at my wits' end.

Since The Mistake (bad decision on first property purchase), I have been unable to get any sort of credit. I have never had such problems before having never failed to pay off a debt in my life and being relatively solvent.

I have now been turned down for two different credit cards and am beginning to despair; while I can live without them, it is going to be tight getting through a few months where cashflow is affected by an unexpected massive hit from costs relating to The Mistake.

What is bothering me is that despite what I've been told time and again, including on here, I think that the credit problem is to do with the seller's former tenant. While I KNOW it's individuals they base ratings on, it seems our house has actually been blacklisted - I have now read his post (shoot me) and his debs were quite phenomenal - I have had to call at least half a dozen bailiffs and will get on to the next dozen as soon as I feel mentally strong enough.

The last person I spoke to when I was turned down for a card (I'd shown up in person to see if that would help) told me that while he couldn't say so for sure, he felt that this problem with my address was probably to blame. Despite what people have told me time and again on here, he thought this was more likely to be the issue than my only having lived here a month.

I am so upset about this and so worried about how this might affect my partner and I in future that I want it sorted now, but both times I've been turned down it's just like I've been given 'hints' and clues about why it's happened. I just want them to tell me what is wrong and how I fix it.

IS there an organisation that will do this and that will get our address cleared?

Thanks.

CLAPTON

what do your credit records say?

hedgehopper_2

CLAPTON wrote: »

what do your credit records say?

I didn't know I could view them - or at least I haven't had any done before now because I knew I had a good rating and didn't want to damage it.

Now I guess I've got nothing to lose - what's the best way to go about it? I really have no idea.

MrsTinks

Ok let's get this straight ADDRESSES DO NOT GET BLACKLISTED!!!!! I can't make that much clearer than that...

Now what you need to do is get a copy of your credit file from the credit reference agencies - there are probably special offers on at the moment where you can get money to sign up but for reference the main two are Equifax and Experian.

You need to make sure no-one has been linked to your credit file and that you are registered on the electoral roll - this WILL make a major difference! Having only been at the address for a month will mean you are NOT on the electoral register for that address and yes a lot of companies will actually refuse you just on that...

MrsTinks

hedgehopper wrote: »

I didn't know I could view them - or at least I haven't had any done before now because I knew I had a good rating and didn't want to damage it.

Now I guess I've got nothing to lose - what's the best way to go about it? I really have no idea.

Ok... you REALLY need to look at your credit file regularly - you didn't know you had a good rating... you THOUGHT you did. Please please please realise that ratings are nothing but gimmicks to make money out of silly people (like me... I can't help it! I actually love seeing the number although I am perfectly aware that it's meaningless and won't make a difference to if I get accepted for credit or not!)

You viewing your credit file does NOT count as a search and won't have an adverse affect.

Your parters credit rating will automatically be linked to yours IF you have joint financial products... that means if either gets into trouble BOTH will be less desirable for lenders.

And... even if you have a perfect record then there is no guarantee anyone will accept you... I have been turned down for 0% cards despite a "999" (best you can get) score and never having late payments, being a home owner etc... because more than likely they didn't feel I would actually be a profitable customer to them

hedgehopper_2

Thanks MrsTine that has made me feel a whole lot better - was very down earlier as it just seemed to be yet another reason this flat was making our lives a misery! I can't believe the guy at the shop (it was a shop storecard on this occasion) was daft enough to tell me it was the fault of my address - I guess he thought it might make me feel less bad if I could blame someone else. It was just all too easy to believe him when our doormat is littered with bailiff's letters every morning to the extent we're almost starting to feel guilty ourselves!

I was told many times by my bank I had a good rating, but fair enough, I guess I don't have to believe them.

OK so if I do a check with, say, Experian now it will give me some helpful info and not damage my rating further, is that right?

BugsyBrowne

MrsTine wrote: »

Ok... you REALLY need to look at your credit file regularly - you didn't know you had a good rating... you THOUGHT you did. Please please please realise that ratings are nothing but gimmicks to make money out of silly people (like me... I can't help it! I actually love seeing the number although I am perfectly aware that it's meaningless and won't make a difference to if I get accepted for credit or not!)

You viewing your credit file does NOT count as a search and won't have an adverse affect.

Your parters credit rating will automatically be linked to yours IF you have joint financial products... that means if either gets into trouble BOTH will be less desirable for lenders.

And... even if you have a perfect record then there is no guarantee anyone will accept you... I have been turned down for 0% cards despite a "999" (best you can get) score and never having late payments, being a home owner etc... because more than likely they didn't feel I would actually be a profitable customer to them

So you have a credit score of 999 with a company who do not lend money,bet your proud of that.

hedgehopper_2

"So you have a credit score of 999 with a company who do not lend money,bet your (sic) proud of that"

Erm, sounds like she has it everywhere. But it's a well known fact that some lenders don't actually want people with that high a rating as they won't make any interest back from them.

inmypocketnottheirs

How long at current address?
On electoral roll at current address?
How many previous addresses in last three years?
On electoral roll at any previous address?

hedgehopper_2

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

How long at current address?
On electoral roll at current address?
How many previous addresses in last three years?
On electoral roll at any previous address?

Only 1 month here, but I was on the electoral role for 2 years at my old place. I asked to be put on at my new address when I moved in, but didn't realise how long it took to update

BugsyBrowne

hedgehopper wrote: »

"So you have a credit score of 999 with a company who do not lend money,bet your (sic) proud of that"

Erm, sounds like she has it everywhere. But it's a well known fact that some lenders don't actually want people with that high a rating as they won't make any interest back from them.

I was saying a credit score of 999 from experian is meaningless.
you say its a well known fact that some lenders dont actually want people with a high rating,oh yeah so the best thing to do is get people with low credit ratings caused by defaults and missed payments.
Think you meant paying in full each month