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Credit Rating for Mortgage

Hi folks! :D

I've never previously checked my credit rating however as I'm hoping to purchase a property this year I decided to look in to this. I've just created an account with Equifax and was utterly shocked at the result, to say the least!!! My score is 435 :eek:

I am up to date with all open accounts. I only have 1 credit card which has around £300 on it. I've previously had a car loan but this has been paid off for over a year, 2 years earlier than planned. I have the usual mobile phone/tv contracts, all of which have been paid on time every month.

The only thing which is bringing my score down is that I'm showing as having 1 late payment for a credit card in December 2007. I definitely never went a month without paying at all, it was only a late payment. Can this 1 late error really bring my score down so much???

Totally shocked and quite worried about a mortgage application now :(

PS. Apologies for also posting this in 'Buying, Selling, Renting' - I thought I was in the mortgage page.
Deposit Saved -> £25000 Target -> £25000
100% of the way there :j
Target Date -> 31/12/2011

Comments

  • Ok, now I'm really confused. I was really panicking about the score so ordered my record from Credit Expert - it's showing as 990???!!
    Deposit Saved -> £25000 Target -> £25000
    100% of the way there :j
    Target Date -> 31/12/2011
  • beecher2
    beecher2 Posts: 3,677 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Don't waste any more time on credit scores as they're meaningless. The lender will do their own credit check - go to see a mortgage adviser to get help and to find out if the late payment will make any difference.
  • GMS
    GMS Posts: 5,388 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The credit reference agencies dont lend the money so the score is irrelevant. Lenders have their own systems.

    It is more important to check that the data is correct.
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • Thanks guys. I had a major panic moment tonight when I seen the first credit score!
    Deposit Saved -> £25000 Target -> £25000
    100% of the way there :j
    Target Date -> 31/12/2011
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