Refused Mobile Phone Contract - Good Experian Score

nick3young

Hi All,

I was refused a mobile phone contract with Vodafone today for failing the credit check... which has shook me up a little bit. I have always been very careful with my credit and proud of my credit score.

The first thing I did was come home and reactive my Experian account to check what was going on... but my score is 956 out of 999! I rang Vodafone and they confirmed that they do indeed use Experian as their credit check agency. So how can they refuse me with that score?!

One thing to note is that I'm currently not registered on the electoral roll at my current address (for which I have lived in 8 months) - could this be it?

Finally, my Experian credit file seems to be missing a lot of information. It currently doesn't show my current bank account with Halifax, a credit card that I have with Halifax and two other credit cards that I have with MBNA. They are all registered at this address. Why are they all missing?

The whole experience has got me a little worried as I'm considering applying for a mortgage very soon.

I'll be very grateful for any replies of ideas.

Thanks
Nick

19lottie82

your "score" is meaningless. no one sees it apart from you.

yes, the electoral register issue could make the difference between being accepted and refused, it's quite important.

apart from this, potential lenders will look to see if your have any black marks on your credit history, like late payments, or defaults.

matttye

Forget about what your credit "score" is - no lender gets to see your credit score, only you do. Vodafone will score you based on the information in your credit report (not the score) and also the information you provide in the application form.

Not being on the electoral roll is a biggie.

Your credit report seems to be missing a lot of data, but what does it actually show? If it appears that you have limited or no credit history (because of the missing info) then this could be a reason for the decline.

The addresses on your accounts need to match precisely the address on your credit reports I believe. Certain addresses can be formatted differently, but you need to make sure they're the same.

E.g.

Flat 22
Some House
Some Street
Some Village
Some City
Postcode

22 Some House
Some Street
Some Village
Some City
Postcode

These are the same addresses but probably wouldn't get linked to a single credit file.

nick3young

Thanks for your replies.

I have always understood that the score is only meant for me, but surely it is a good, 'at-a-glance', overall indicator of the health of my credit file? If, like you said 19lottie82, I had any defaults, black marks etc... surely my score wouldn't be so high would it?

Anyway, aside from that, I don't have anything negative. No late payments... nothing! Showing on file is a £12k car loan which I took out 3 years ago and has now been settled, a mortgage which has been settled and an old bank account. Nothing negative at all. It's all very good!

I just can't understand why all of my current financial information is missing (credit cards etc). All of which I've made no late payments on either. But I would like to see them on there!

I currently rent and a few months back had an unpaid bill letter for the previous tenant from Scottish Power... could this be worming its way into my credit file somehow? Do utility bills count? Should I be able to see it on my Experian report?

Finally, I like your point about the address formatting Mattye. I have seen this kind of behaviour online. The only thing is, there is no record of my current address on Experian, despite all my finances being linked to this address. Thanks agin

matttye

nick3young wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.

I have always understood that the score is only meant for me, but surely it is a good, 'at-a-glance', overall indicator of the health of my credit file? If, like you said 19lottie82, I had any defaults, black marks etc... surely my score wouldn't be so high would it?

Anyway, aside from that, I don't have anything negative. No late payments... nothing! Showing on file is a £12k car loan which I took out 3 years ago and has now been settled, a mortgage which has been settled and an old bank account. Nothing negative at all. It's all very good!

I just can't understand why all of my current financial information is missing (credit cards etc). All of which I've made no late payments on either. But I would like to see them on there!

I currently rent and a few months back had an unpaid bill letter for the previous tenant from Scottish Power... could this be worming its way into my credit file somehow? Do utility bills count? Should I be able to see it on my Experian report?

Finally, I like your point about the address formatting Mattye. I have seen this kind of behaviour online. The only thing is, there is no record of my current address on Experian, despite all my finances being linked to this address. Thanks agin

Yes it's fine as an at-a-glance indication of what's in your credit reports, but lenders take far more into account than just what's in your credit report. You could be scored 999 but be unemployed, for example. Even with an exemplary record a lender would question how you'd be able to pay back the money with no job.

When you said "So how can they refuse me with that score?!" it seemed like you thought Vodafone saw the score.

Have you checked your other credit files (Equifax, Noddle) to see if the other accounts are showing on those?

nick3young

I haven't checked the others yet. I will sign up to Equifax and report back.

Still, Vodafone used Experian to check me. I am employed... Experian doesn't show that though does it? I wonder if it's because my current account isn't listed on there. They wouldn't be able to see my monthly wage..... perhaps? Could it be the utility bill that I mentioned in the previous post?

matttye

nick3young wrote: »

I haven't checked the others yet. I will sign up to Equifax and report back.

Still, Vodafone used Experian to check me. I am employed... Experian doesn't show that though does it? I wonder if it's because my current account isn't listed on there. They wouldn't be able to see my monthly wage..... perhaps? Could it be the utility bill that I mentioned in the previous post?

Not if that utility bill isn't showing on your Experian file.

I think it's probably the lack of information in your credit report and the fact that you're not on the electoral roll.

Buzby

Firstly from what you sag you failed the ID check (the ER). Rather than kiss VFs butt, try another network that does value your custom. Lastly you don't 'sign up' for anything. Pay your £2 for the Stat Report - nothing else.

You credit CRA's with mythical powers. They have none. Treat them with suspicion and contempt and you won't go far wrong.

James_Robertson

Hiya

Listen , just pick up a Pay as you go phone.
This will avoid all this mullarkey!!!

Pay for what you use, whn you use it , with the cash inyour pocket!!!!

Thanks

nick3young

Buzby and James.... it's not the phone contract I'm worried about. I'm thinking about applying for a mortgage in the near future and am worried that this application has highlighted a black mark in my credit file.

I called Experian today and they told me that I just need to update my 'current address' on the website - its always something simple isn't it?! They could see my 'missing' data at their end so I'm guessing that once my address change has gone through (24hrs), I will be able to see it too.

It still doesn't get to the bottom of why I was refused the contract. I'm going to put it down to not being on the electoral roll. I never would have thought it would make such a difference though!

Thanks for your help

The_Boss

nick3young wrote: »

Buzby and James.... it's not the phone contract I'm worried about. I'm thinking about applying for a mortgage in the near future and am worried that this application has highlighted a black mark in my credit file.

I called Experian today and they told me that I just need to update my 'current address' on the website - its always something simple isn't it?! They could see my 'missing' data at their end so I'm guessing that once my address change has gone through (24hrs), I will be able to see it too.

It still doesn't get to the bottom of why I was refused the contract. I'm going to put it down to not being on the electoral roll. I never would have thought it would make such a difference though!

Thanks for your help

It kind of does explain (in conjunction with the electoral roll issue) as this is a key factor in proving that you are who you are.

BUT

Just be glad this was spotted and sorted now and not after you had been rejected for a mortgage(s).