Credit score basically ruined at 19.

TzarJay

Hi, I'm 19 and I have basically ruined my credit score. When I was 18 I had no idea about credit score's etc and started applying for credit cards I had no chance of getting due to my lack of credit history. For example American Express cards and Gold Mastercards simply because I wanted a credit card to have in my wallet, not that i needed one.

As of now I have 17 recent searches and a Experian score of 722, I'm so annoyed at myself, because i meet the guidelines for alot of cards now, but as soon as the lenders see that 17 they automatically decline me.

I have one credit card just now which is a Capital One Progress Mastercard which I pay off every month, and I dont have a history of bad dept and I've never missed a payment for anything.

But, for some reason my Cap1 card doesn't appear on my Experian credit report, like it doesnt exist. Which makes it even worse for me because it looks like I've never had credit.

Is there any advice to help me with my score, which is totally my fault, due to me trying to look cool when i was 18.

Saints2011

TzarJay wrote: »

Hi, I'm 19 and I have basically ruined my credit score. When I was 18 I had no idea about credit score's etc and started applying for credit cards I had no chance of getting due to my lack of credit history. For example American Express cards and Gold Mastercards simply because I wanted a credit card to have in my wallet, not that i needed one.

As of now I have 17 recent searches and a Experian score of 722, I'm so annoyed at myself, because i meet the guidelines for alot of cards now, but as soon as the lenders see that 17 they automatically decline me.

I have one credit card just now which is a Capital One Progress Mastercard which I pay off every month, and I dont have a history of bad dept and I've never missed a payment for anything.

But, for some reason my Cap1 card doesn't appear on my Experian credit report, like it doesnt exist. Which makes it even worse for me because it looks like I've never had credit.

Is there any advice to help me with my score, which is totally my fault, due to me trying to look cool when i was 18.

Checkout this link

- Your credit searches will drop of after 12 months.
- Ignore any score you think you might have from Experian, Equifax & Call Credit it's pointless they do not lend money each lender has set criteria which isn't for the general public
- Do Experian have your right address, when did you open the card? - it maybe on Equifax & Call Credit instead not all credit agreements and searches will show on Experian
Keep using the Cap One to build up a credit history

TzarJay

Just checked, for Experian my adress is 89/1.... and on my Cap One account it is just 89 1..... could this be the problem ? and if so how do i correct it ? I remeber when i applied for my C1 card it wouldn't take 89/1 as a valid adress so i had to put 89 1 instead.

Saints2011

TzarJay wrote: »

Just checked, for Experian my adress is 89/1.... and on my Cap One account it is just 89 1..... could this be the problem ? and if so how do i correct it ? I remeber when i applied for my C1 card it wouldn't take 89/1 as a valid adress so i had to put 89 1 instead.

Yes this is potentially the reason but potentially not.

Contact Capital One by secure message ask them what credit reference agency's they share your information with. Update the address.

Maybe also worth emailing Experian, they can sometimes search for accounts over the phone if you have the details (have done for me in the past)

My old capital one card showed on Experian

Eonel

Your credit sore is far from ruined. In fact, if you keep your existing card and pay it off regularly then you are in a better position than many other people.

The number of previous searches is used to detect people who are desperate for credit and have recently applied for everything they can. Old credit searches quickly become stale and of no interest.

Running_Horse

I'm sure I was worrying about far more interesting things at 19.

Relax and enjoy life.

esuhl

You might find it hard to get credit right now... but you're 19 with not much of a credit history, so that would have been the case anyway.

If you stay in control, don't overstretch yourself and never miss a re-payment, you'll probably have a great credit rating in a few years.

Enterprise_1701C

I am guessing that like a lot of 19 year olds you also have a mobile phone contract? That will also help building your credit. Don't worry about it, by the time you NEED credit for something like a mortgage then you should have built up a nice little credit record.

chanz4

cap 1 share with all 3

LPAL

remember that if or when things go bad and you have a balance outstanding, you have a whole new world waiting to close in on you. Credit cards should come with a health warning. Enjoy being 19 and collect the money before you spend it wherever possible.

cooltt

Awww mate i couldn't help but smile at your post. You haven't done anything bad, your 19 with no debt and a few searches on your file which will all dissappear in 12 months. If anything you've learned a valuble lesson about how credit and credit applications work, if i had made that mistake at your age i wouldn't have been paying back mountains of debt for the next 20 years!

Anyway think about applying for credit in general although it can be helpful at times never forget it's not your money and you have to pay it all back.