New stickies for this board

fermi

OK. Lovely new board, and hence room for some new stickies regarding credit files.

I already have quite a few ideas on what could possibly useful?

- Obtaining credit reports etc. Probably a refresh of the one currently on the credit card board.
- One with all useful links, categorised. e.g. links to the CRAs, their FAQ/help sections, data protection guidance, relevant main site articles, etc. Basically all those links that when replying to a thread you think, "where did I see that said?"
- A FAQ thread with the really common questions that get asked time after time.
- Perhaps a thread specific to queries to CRA reps? Would be nice if Equifax/Callcredit had one here, but I don't know whether that has ever been broached?
- One on credit ratings from the CRAs. I know opinion on here, but I think it would have to be balanced with input from the CRAs and other source. Then people make up their own minds.

So those are my initial ideas. Not saying I'll do any of those for definite, but food for thought and I would love some feedback.

Thanks

fermi

Any input?

matttye

Love the credit rating and ask a CRA rep ideas.

Maybe one about positives and negatives that can affect creditworthiness?

WantToBeSE

I think it would be useful to let people know exactly what goes onto their credit file.
So things like council tax missed payments, payday loans etc that are only a recent addition (i think), as well as the usual things.

Also, the difference between credit score/file/rating.

I agree with having a CRA rep on this board too, i think it'd be really useful.

fermi

WantToBeSE: I think they would be suitable items to go on any FAQ thread.

fermi

Any more feedback & suggestions?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

I would suggest advice on how to sue companies for compensation when they report incorrect information to CRAs that affect life changing credit applications such as mortgages. Higher rates on loans and cards.

jamesd

Some thoughts:

1. Please, not lots of stickies. How about one that links to as many topics as needed, as an index? It takes up less space at the top of the topic list and can have more things, while being easy to update and keep in priority order. Topic titles are long enough to give a summary of what it contains, mentioning the best key words.

2. For CRA scores, the introductory post on this topic can and should cover the easy and mostly uncontroversial ground:

2a. They are based only on the credit record part of your information.
2b. Lenders also use income, expenses and other details.
2c. Lenders want different types of borrower, some looking for the safest possible borrowers who have plenty of lenders to choose from, others picking areas with less competition where they might think that they could make more money.
2d. So if you use a CRA score, do be sure to use it only as a guide to how the CRA part looks, not the whole picture.

fermi

jamesd wrote: »

1. Please, not lots of stickies. How about one that links to as many topics as needed, as an index? It takes up less space at the top of the topic list and can have more things, while being easy to update and keep in priority order. Topic titles are long enough to give a summary of what it contains, mentioning the best key words.

Yes, I was thinking along those lines with my 2nd point on one with a collection categorised links of all the useful sources of info/topics/guidance/articles etc. Would include board topics as well. Basically, as said, a sticky where someone who is thinking "where have I seen/read that?" can go and look and hopefully find a link to the most common stuff.

As this looks like it might end a reasonably busy board, the number of stickies can't be huge anyway. Will try to keep it to a reasonable minimum anyway.

fermi

Final call for suggestions and comments.

The_Boss

Hmm, I thought I'd already contributed...

I'll add :

The thread about Experian, Equifax etc credit scores being worthless