How long does it take to see improvements?

bacchants

So my rating is pretty poor right now.
I have 1 missed payment (last month, caused by a DD mishap with ex), then Experian says I have 3 missed payments earlier this year, but Noddle has those three payments marked as arrangement to pay (I need to speak to Natwest about this, by the by is it better to write to them or go in branch and speak to them?).

In the next year or so I should have enough for a deposit on somewhere small, catch being that I'd need a 95% LTV single person mortgage.

I was planning on getting one of those bad credit cards and buying stuff/paying it off each month. I can afford it and won't get into trouble by doing so.
Would this have helped to raise my score in a years time? Or is there no point trying to get a mortgage while I still have missed payments on my file (even if it's only 1-4 and I plan to not have any more).

Also my experian report shows that I have 24 linked addresses. Apart from two incorrect ones they're repeats of the 5 addresses I've lived at in the last 8 years. Is it the number of the links that matter or the number of addresses? I've had to move in the last few months and likely to moved again in the next 3-6 months!

Tixy

The number of linked addresses shouldn't be an issue. The oncirrect ones you should work on getting removed.

What existing credit accounts do you have? If you already have a number of accounts then a credit card isn't necessarily needed to maintain an active credit history.

A few missed payments from what will be more than a year ago shouldn't mean that you can't get a mortgage. Obviously don't miss any more now.

The arrangement to pay could have more of an impact so definitely try to get this altered if you can. I'd usually go for writing to them but you could try speaking to them first to see what they say.

As you mention an ex - do you have any financial associates on your credit files (e.g. if you previously have a joint account with an ex). If so then assuming all accounts are closed file a notice of disassociation with each agency.

bacchants

I'm working on some letters to send out to get the stuff corrected so they should be off soon.

I have £910 left on some DFS sofas, then I have an unused £2000 overdraft for Natwest, which I've asked to be removed, but phone/in branch seems to achieve nothing so I'll send a letter.

I tried in branch to speak to them but the person on the counter said I'd be better off booking an appointment to speak to someone. I think it was a bit of a fob off though as it was 5 mins before closing, as they don't open late and I have to run from work in order to be able to get there at all.

Well I shouldn't anymore but I have a feeling Lloyds haven't told the credit people. As I sent a letter to lloyds closing the account, so it's closed and apparently after 6 weeks it should have updated with the agencys. I'm waiting till my next noddle report to check and if it's still got me associsated and if I am then I'll be sending out the letters.

As he has about 15k of none student debt which can't be helping me if I'm associated to it.

Thrugelmir

4 late payment markers may well restrict the options available to you. Best advice in any adverse situation is to save more and increae the size of the deposit. As it's this that will give a mortgage lender comfort than other credit activity.

bacchants

True, I'm just worried that in I spend another few years saving that the prices will have started to go up out of my reach.

Plus I feel like the money I'm paying on rent is being wasted