Understanding linked addresses

ibz75

Just trying to understand how linked addresses work. When a lender carries out a search, are reports created for each linked address? i.e. if some accounts were settled while you were at first address. Or, are all existing/previous accounts aggregated and show in a single search at your current address only.

rb10

There's just one credit report (it's done by person, not by address), that will show all accounts (whether currently open or settled) at any address you've lived at.

jamesd

They are aggregated across all addresses.

If you have an account and change address with the account provider, that creates a link between the two addresses that can be used in combination with your name and date of birth to keep the records together.

If you were to close all accounts and change address that might create a break that blocks normal linking. This can happen when you do things like living abroad for many years.

These approaches are occasionally deliberately used to hide past bad credit histories. For that reason it can be regarded with suspicion when opening new accounts unless there is a clear reason why it happened.

neil_999

Something worth mentioning...if you don't add all your additional addresses in to Experian, it doesn't bring up accounts from those addresses (unless you kept them open when you moved)

It sounds complicated but basically if i had an account with O2 and live in West St, never pay it, close the account, THEN move to East St - Experian will not show you that account unless you tell them your previous address. However, lenders can see it, so don't think you've got away with it!

redonion

neil_999 wrote: »

It sounds complicated but basically if i had an account with O2 and live in West St, never pay it, close the account, THEN move to East St - Experian will not show you that account unless you tell them your previous address. However, lenders can see it, so don't think you've got away with it!

That is bizarre. Makes you wonder what the point of checking it is - obviously it is still worth doing, but :mad: