Finding a CCJ as a result of being a guarantor on ex partners loan - Please help!

Jas5000

Hello,

I am hoping for a bit of advice. I am looking to get on the housing ladder and get a mortgage at the end of the year so decided to perform a credit check on myself. I used to be reckless with credit cards spending etc going back many years. I have been paying everything off and have not defaulted on anything for about 4 years.

I usually check my credit report with Experian however went for a free option this time with "Creditscorematters". My report was fine, a 3/5 star rating. However I noticed at the bottom of the report was a link to previous aliases/addresses which showed my ex, old address etc. I clicked on this which redirected me to a seperate report based on a previous address I lived at with my disturbed ex partner. On this page I was mortified to see my name and a CCJ listed! This is something I haven't ever previously seen!

Then it all came flooding back to me (although I can't actually vividly remember - the joys of being a daft foolish 20 year old!). I believe I was a guarantor on one of his previous loans (silly me I know!) and it would appear that he defaulted so many times it went to a CCJ in Feb 2007. I haven't (as of yet) ever heard anything and its not like I have been in hiding. I have since been approved for credit cards elsewhere/had several credit checks after moving back home to my parents house which was my previous address. I would of thought they would of found me by now if they were trying? Other companies searching for me definitely did!

What I find confusing is that on my report it states I have 0 CCJ's however linking to a seperate address there it is, for £1900. Does anyone understand how this works? I would of thought they would link together?

I am not in contact with my ex any more and not sure what to do? I know he left our old address a few months after I did as I was stuck paying off various bills in that time. All I can see is that he is on Facebook and I know the area he is living in, but thats it. I'm not sure if I should look into it as I don't want to open up a can of worms as I am desperately trying to save towards a deposit for a house.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Many thanks

king100

What you need to do is go to http://www.trustonline.org.uk/ and double check that you have a CCJ.

Jas5000

Thanks for the advice. Do you know if I do a search will it show as being logged anywhere/as in will it mean the case will be revisited as there has been some kind of activity logged etc? Just I am concious I don't want to open a can of worms if possible as its not showing on my credit report. I'm unsure what generally happens after a CCJ has been outstanding 4 years - as in is it just in a file somewhere/is someone actively chasing the outstanding ones down etc.

Very bizarre as my credit report shows 0 CCJ's in my name. Just the link to a previous address shows my name and 1 CCJ.... Its just not very clear.. Doesn't tally up! From what I have read a CCJ is against a person, not an address? Thanks again.

Tixy

Doing a search on the registery trust is anonymous - you can search for any person and address on there - so there is no way of anyone knowing you would have searched yourself.

dancingfairy

From what I recall from reading on here it's not you as a person generically you are searching but whether you got given a CCJ at that particular address. From what you've said it sounds like you may have a CCJ at that previous address.
You need to check the registry trust for you at that particular address as a starting point.
df

Jas5000

Thank you, thats something I will think about.

In a way I'm not sure if it would be better to carry on as I am, if I ever get anything sent to me then I can deal with it, I'm not sure of the advantages of being proactive as the only real outcome I suppose is that I will be lumbered with paying the debt... Especially as I have only noticed it now - 4 years after the CCJ date. Its difficult!

Advice from family has been that you would of thought they would of found me by now if they tried and that a bank wouldn't refuse a mortgage based on quite a small amount from so long ago(obviously this will vary). They think it would just mean a higher interest rate would be applicable - bearing in mind my credit is vastly improved now. If it is a problem at the mortgage application stage I suppose I could address it at that point?

Also Experian do not show me having a CCJ, only this other report - so would they actually see it? Some have advised the mortgage company would look at the last 24 months?

Ultimately in my eyes (I know this is different to how it would officially look) it is my ex partners responsibility to pay as it was his loan, I am not in a position/wanting to bail him out. He was very unpleasant so helping him is the last thing I would like to do! Money can be so traumatic!

Tixy

If there is a CCJ on any of your 3 credit files then its likely that this could impact on a mortgage application. Many high street lenders won't accept any CCJs (in the last 6years). And so you may need to try to find a independant broker who can advise you of which other mortgage co's might consider you (and yes the rate is likely to be quite a lot higher). There are probably brokers that would accept people with CCJs but I'm not sure about an unsatisfied CCJ for such a small amount - it might be they think if you cannot afford to settle a small balance then your finances are not actually that strong.

Have you only searched experian of the proper agencies? not equifax or callcredit? The data on them can vary quite a bit. I don't know where 'creditscorematters' get their data from but it could be from say equifax.

If it was me I would say its worth an £8 search on the registery trust online to find out for sure.

Jas5000

Its all so difficult! I haven't done credit searces with any of the other major agencies. Would you recommend? I see Equifax have a free trial at the moment. One thing I have read on here on a seperate thread is that when you check your credit report, the debtors can see that and are therefore more likely to chase you down/try and contact you? Are you aware if that is true? Also, would it damage me doing a check bearing in mind I did one through another website yesterday?

Looking on Equifax's website I have found some information on the "linked address" which is where I found the illusive CCJ -

What is a Linked Address?

Your credit report includes the current and past address(es) that you gave on your application form. It could also include other addresses, such as previous homes linked to you.
When a company runs a search on your previous address straight after a search on your current address, this creates a link between them. And after you let a lender know you've moved, the next time they update your account information with us the account will move to the new address and create a link between the two.
The linked address information shows that you or one of your financial associates have lived at the address(es) listed on your credit report

If this is the case, as I haven't lived there for 4/5 years would they dealve into previous addresses/would I have to divulge? Normally on applications they ask for previous addresses if you haven't lived at your current address for 3 years. Just as on my report it states I have no CCJs, it only shows via the linked address....

PNPSUKNET

the linked address will flag on a credit search, when you signup for equifax or experian trila you have to input the addresses or they wont display the full info

Tixy

Yes applying for your credit files can trigger action from a creditor/ debt collector etc. Which is why it might be better to start by using the registery trust online- which won't.