Credit cards missing from credit score

cakie174

I have three credit cards with large amounts of credit available on them that don't show on my credit file and a flawless history with.

Is it possible to get these included as I am trying to improve my score?

The_Boss

The score you refer to means diddly squat so no point trying to improve it. Indeed, having those accounts on there could worsen it.

Which credit file are you checking and which lenders are the 'missing' accounts with?
Does the address held on these accounts match that held by the credit reference agency?

izools

Just to clarify for the OP

Credit Score

A number generated by a credit reference agency which gives you an idea of how well they rate you for credit. This score, however, is not generated using the same criteria and data lenders use, so does not represent how an actual lender will score you.

A lender doesn't see your Experian / Equifax / Call Credit "Credit Score" when they perform a credit search on you, they generate their own using their own scorecard which may differ greatly.

Credit Report / Credit File

The data about you as an individual. Account history, Electoral Roll history, county court data, credit search history, etc.

This is the data a lender sees when they perform a search on you. They take this information, and the information you provide on the application form like employment status, salary, residential status, time at address, time with employer, time with bank, etc, and use their own criteria to generate their own score.


Why aren't your credit cards showing up on your credit file?

Three possible reasons:

1. The address your credit card companies have on file differs ever so slightly to the address the credit reference agencies have on file. Check how your address appears on your council tax bill - make sure this is the address you gave your credit card companies and the credit reference agencies verbatim - not a single character out.

2. The cards you have don't report to the credit reference agency you have obtained your report from. If you have a "Noddle" report or any other report from Call Credit you may find this an issue, as call credit is the lesser used credit reference agency. Obtain reports from Experian, Equifax, and Call Credit to see if there are discrepancies that might need addressing.

3. You've had the accounts for so long that they don't have the right to share your data with credit reference agencies. If the accounts are very old, you may have taken them out before detailed information was shared with credit reference agencies - if this is the case, the agreement you originally signed might not give the lenders permission to share your data with Experian / Equifax / Call Credit.

Hope this clears things up.

cakie174

izools wrote: »

Just to clarify for the OP

Credit Score

A number generated by a credit reference agency which gives you an idea of how well they rate you for credit. This score, however, is not generated using the same criteria and data lenders use, so does not represent how an actual lender will score you.

A lender doesn't see your Experian / Equifax / Call Credit "Credit Score" when they perform a credit search on you, they generate their own using their own scorecard which may differ greatly.

Credit Report / Credit File

The data about you as an individual. Account history, Electoral Roll history, county court data, credit search history, etc.

This is the data a lender sees when they perform a search on you. They take this information, and the information you provide on the application form like employment status, salary, residential status, time at address, time with employer, time with bank, etc, and use their own criteria to generate their own score.


Why aren't your credit cards showing up on your credit file?

Three possible reasons:

1. The address your credit card companies have on file differs ever so slightly to the address the credit reference agencies have on file. Check how your address appears on your council tax bill - make sure this is the address you gave your credit card companies and the credit reference agencies verbatim - not a single character out.

2. The cards you have don't report to the credit reference agency you have obtained your report from. If you have a "Noddle" report or any other report from Call Credit you may find this an issue, as call credit is the lesser used credit reference agency. Obtain reports from Experian, Equifax, and Call Credit to see if there are discrepancies that might need addressing.

3. You've had the accounts for so long that they don't have the right to share your data with credit reference agencies. If the accounts are very old, you may have taken them out before detailed information was shared with credit reference agencies - if this is the case, the agreement you originally signed might not give the lenders permission to share your data with Experian / Equifax / Call Credit.

Hope this clears things up.

Thanks very much for this so can you point me/give me SME advice as to how I might improve the criteria that a mortgage provider will see?

The_Boss

cakie174 wrote: »

Thanks very much for this so can you point me/give me SME advice as to how I might improve the criteria that a mortgage provider will see?

Stay in your current job
Don't move bank accounts
Don't apply for new credit prior
Continue to repay credit cards etc on time
Reduce your debt (this is where the accounts not showing may actually help).

Also if you found izools' post helpful then why not click the 'Thanks' button too?

You-kip

The_Boss wrote: »

Stay in your current job
Don't move bank accounts
Don't apply for new credit prior
Continue to repay credit cards etc on time
Reduce your debt (this is where the accounts not showing may actually help).

Also if you found izools' post helpful then why not click the 'Thanks' button too?

Boss you don't really care that someone Thanks a post or do you?

I've never took any notice of it and don't intend to.

The_Boss

You-kip wrote: »

Boss you don't really care that someone Thanks a post or do you?

I've never took any notice of it and don't intend to.

Me neither. You only have to look at some of the 'thanks' counts to see how pointless they are.

I just don't get why someone posts a reply saying thanks and doesn't use the thanks button.

cakie174

Sorry boss new to this.

Still not sure when is a good time to investigate a mortgage, I have zero debt good job but had a massive falling out with a bank about charges on two of my accounts which resulted in them defaulting me for several months.

Any more advice?

The_Boss

cakie174 wrote: »

Sorry boss new to this.

Still not sure when is a good time to investigate a mortgage, I have zero debt good job but had a massive falling out with a bank about charges on two of my accounts which resulted in them defaulting me for several months.

Any more advice?

You have a default on your file too?

cakie174

No, i have history of a default on the one account that i am still disputing with Santander. All accounts have been paid completely and are zero while i try and dispute this with them.

Experian_company_representative

Great advice from izools. If you get your full Experian report and find that the accounts aren't showing, give us a shout and we can investigate for you.

James