Denied credit card application

andrew-the-cat

Hi all, trying to apply for a Halifax Clarity Card as I am going abroad in June. It would be my first credit card, all I have had until now are a Santander current account and ISA.

Long story short the application was denied. I signed up to the free trial on Experian to see my credit score and was surprised to see it is "poor". This is because for some reason there is a CCJ against my mother from 2006 on there (I had only just opened my first bank account in 2006...).

Anyway what can I do?

I work full time earning a modest wage, I have a few direct debits going out of my bank like mobile phone contract, broadband, Sky TV etc and I've never missed a single payment on any of them, I have always paid my car insurance monthly by DD (for the first 2 years it was over £100 a month), always paid my overdraft off quickly etc.

It seems pretty unfair that my mothers actions have affected my ability to get credit. I hope this is not something which affects me for the rest of my life, like getting loans/mortgages etc.

Thanks

[Deleted User]

What happened when you advised Experian that they have the wrong details on your file and to correct it?

CLAPTON

check all three creit reference companies and get them to remove any incorrect information

andrew-the-cat

I can just contact Experian and tell them it's wrong? I didn't think it was that easy. I thought the fact that I am male and my mother is female might be a tell tale sign that we aren't the same person.

To be honest I don't really know anything about this whole thing...I have a current account...I pay for things out of it and it works for me.

[Deleted User]

Yep - you need to monitor and correct any errors on your report. It shouldn't be too tricky given the different genders, ages, names, etc. As Clapton says though, you should do this across all 3, not just Experian.

Your credit report is basically what lenders will look at when you ask them for a credit card, loan, mortgage etc. It lets them see if you've borrowed money before, and what are you like at paying it back.

andrew-the-cat

Ah right - never knew that. Stupid question what are the other 2?

[Deleted User]

Equifax and Call Credit.

Shelldean

You've been financially linked with your mum as if you were a couple I'd guess??
Just get in touch with experian and tell them you're not financially linked and they should disassociate you from your mum.

But this will only work if you do not hold any finanicial things together. I used to be linked to my Nan, but it was she helped me get a bank a/c ( bank wouldn't give me one so we got a joint one) So I couldn't disassociate myself from my Nan as we were linked. But luckly it wasn't a problem in my case