Notice of disassociation but still happily married?

Eclecticmermaid

Hi,

Does anyone know if it is possible to apply for a notice of disassociation if you've separated your finances, but are still married?

To date, my credit rating has been fine, but my husband's is not great, due to a couple of defaults that are now four years old (all cleared up and o/s balances paid). I added him to my bank account when we got married (I know better now!), and so we are now financially associated. I'd like to split our finances up, so that my credit score recovers (we are rebuilding his). I've no intention of divorcing him!

All the advice re: notices of disassociation seem to be if e.g. you split with your partner. However, my understanding is that you are only financially associated if you have joint (credit) products - i.e. you could be married, but not financially associated.

Grateful for any advice.

Many thanks

EM

JohalaReewi

You can do better than that. If there is no longer a financial link between you, you can ask for the link(s) to be removed.

The notice of disassociation is more for when you have separated but are still financially linked.

YorkshireBoy

JohalaReewi wrote: »

You can do better than that. If there is no longer a financial link between you, you can ask for the link(s) to be removed.

Just to add...if you order your credit reports they will show who "confirmed" the association (there may be more than one lender). If you write to them they should 'unlink' you by updating the CRAs (obviously you'll have to sever the joint account ties first). If they refuse, or drag their heels, you can ask the CRA to intervene. They won't take your word for it though...they'll contact the lenders to confirm.

A word of warning though...whenever you order your credit reports from now on, DO NOT enter your partners name on the form as that will re-create the association.

The notice of disassociation is more for when you have separated but are still financially linked.

I don't think that's correct...prove me wrong?

JimmyTheWig

Are the four year old, cleared up and paid defaults actually causing you problems?
I wouldn't have thought, though I may be wrong, that unless you're applying for something big like a mortgage that these would have had much effect.

Presumably when/if you go for a mortgage it will be a joint mortgage - which will link you again anyway.
The defaults should clear from the credit file in two years time.
Quite possibly, organising your finances the way you want to (e.g. with joint accounts) is worth more to you than the option of getting a good credit deal on your own.

JohalaReewi

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I don't think that's correct...prove me wrong?

Good call!
Have dug a bit deeper and these two sites seem to clear things up a bit.
http://www.abacusfinance.co.uk/correcting-credit-reports.htm
http://www.fivepencepiece.com/2009/09/notice-of-disassociation/

In the past, I have just reported dead or wrong financial links to the CRA as an error. They have investigated and just removed the link.

The Notice of Dissassociation sounds like the dead link remains on file along with the notice. Is that right? :undecided

Eclecticmermaid

Thanks everyone - motivation for trying to sort it out now is that I have recently become self-employed and our current bank would not let me open a second account - and only referred to Experian when I asked why. Am trying again now with a local building society but if that doesn't work, then will go down the link-removal line.
Many thanks to all
EM