What's on our credit file

hez1414

I have 4 credit cards which I couldn't keep up payments for due to being off work sick. They all went to debt collection agencies and I have set up payment arrangements with them all and I am making payments now.

They are all in my maiden name and I have been married for a year now. We are moving house next month and I will not be using this address as a previous address but will be using my parents address. None of the debts are registered there.

So I was just wondering, if I don't change my address with the debt collection agencies (they don't send me out statements or anything anyway and I will continue to make the payments) will my credit file be ok or will they still be able to link it back to me?

I know it seems a bit sneaky but if it helps my credit and I continue to make payments then eventually it would get better but I would rather not have it on my file at all obviously.

I tried to get my credit file from one of the credit reference agencies but we don't really get post here and they have to send you out something even if you want to look at it online so that's not really an option.

Does anyone know?

Hx

Storm

So, just trying to get my head around this, are you wondering if with your new name and address you'll effectively get a brand new credit file? I don't think this will really work to be honest as there's going to be something you have to transfer like your current account, so I think it will get updated.

hez1414

Yes I know it sounds a bit strange but I used to work for a bank, in the personal loans dept. and I credit scored people all day every day and credit information was always linked to their current and previous addresses.

I am not overdrawn and haven't defaulted on my bank account so they don't hold any adverse credit against me I don't think.

So yeah basically i'm wondering if they will be able to make the connection between my old name and previous address (which I won't be giving them) to my new name and address.

Hx

angelavdavis

Yes, usually its stored in a section called Aliases. Usually when you apply for credit you have to give your last address if you haven't lived in your current address more than 3 years so they can track down your previous history.

I'm afraid you have to wait 6 years for the defaults to be removed from your file and changing your name won't make any difference. Nice try though :rolleyes:

rayday2

Yeah but when you apply for credit you will have to show your old maiden name and also is it not an offence not to show all your details? I am not too sure with credit histories - I am glad mine is bad I don't want to get credit again, so I stick my head in sand working them out.

hez1414

Yes I would need to give a previous address but I will be using my parents address as my previous address. My husband is in the army and we move around a lot so to give them 3 years worth of address history i would have to give them 5 or 6 addresses. That's why I use my parents address where nothing is actually registered to.

I imagine I will need to give them my maiden name aswell but if i only give them the addresses where i don't have bad credit, even if they do need my maiden name will they be able to link it back to me when I won't be giving them the addresses where my bad credit is?

To be honest it's not a big deal to me as I have no intention of applying for credit anytime in the future, i just want to pay off what I have. But if my husband wants to apply for something i don't want my mistakes to affect him.

Hx

rayday2

You could do a free sign up trial offer to look at your credit history now I suspect they could have made the connections already - I have no idea how they do but years ago I requested my copy and the links with addresses and people they had were suprising.

If your hubby has a good history then chances are you being linked to him would only marginally effect and not prevent him getting credit.

Conor_3

hez1414 wrote: »

Yes I would need to give a previous address but I will be using my parents address as my previous address. My husband is in the army and we move around a lot so to give them 3 years worth of address history i would have to give them 5 or 6 addresses. That's why I use my parents address where nothing is actually registered to.

Where are you registered on the electoral roll? Your real address or your parents?
If its your real address, you can't get round it.

Burlesque_Babe

Some of the banks are now registering with the credit reference agencies. My Abbey account appeared on my credit file very recently and when I opened an account with the Nat West, it showed up from day 1.