Credit Rating - Moving In

dilemma10

Hi All,
Hoping you can help me. I will be moving in with my boyfriend at the end of February. To cut a long story short - we are actually neighbours but I rent my flat at a cost of £675 pcm excl bills whereas he owns his flat.
The difficulty is this morning he said he would like me to do a credit check as previously he has been unable to get loans etc when living with girlfriends in debt.
This has really worried me as I have not been the greatest of payers in the past with mobile contracts and gym memberships. In fact I am rather disorganised and it is time I got my act together.
What I want to know is will I affect his credit rating?
The setup will be that I will pay him my share of the bills and he will then pay those bills off - so I will not be named with the suppliers, although I imagine I will have to be with council tax?
Any help most appreciated!

anselld

You will have absolutely no affect on his credit rating so long as you maintain separate finances. You will only become financially linked if you take out joint bank account, mortgage, loan, etc, etc.

In any case there is no such thing as "doing a credit check". Each organisation has its own process and criteria depending on the circumstances.

Not wishing to give relationship advice, but is it not a bid odd for BF to want to credit check GF? What is the world coming to?!

Herbalus

Being named on council tax won't affect his credit rating even if you do go on it (and I'm not sure that's even necessary).

kingstreet

Obtain a copy of your credit file a couple of times a year just to make sure it's all accurate;-

https://www.noddle.co.uk

and avoid subscription services alleging they provide your credit score. They don't. The only time you have one is when you apply for credit and a lender compares your application data to its scoring system.

Pixie5740

Are you sure you want to move in with this guy?

Living together does not link you financially but having joint accounts will. Unless you're planning to open a joint account together then your credit file will have absolutely no effect on his credit file and vice versa.

If he has been unable to obtain credit in the past and hasn't had any joint accounts with his ex-girlfriends whom he is blaming then maybe he ought to be the one checking his credit files.

mgarl10024

kingstreet wrote: »

Obtain a copy of your credit file a couple of times a year just to make sure it's all accurate;-

https://www.noddle.co.uk

Noddle is good because it is free.
But Experian (and to an extent Equifax) are much bigger and more comprehensive, so I would get a £2 statutory report from them.

anselld wrote: »

Not wishing to give relationship advice, but is it not a bid odd for BF to want to credit check GF? What is the world coming to?!

I think it is sensible. I've worked hard for my decent credit report, so before linking finances with anyone I would want to know how theirs was shaping up.
Also, if I suspected/knew my report was poor, I'd definitely inform an intended partner before linking finances with them.

maniacmartin

Note also that some utilities such as British Gas will link your credit reports if you are both named on the same account

rpc

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Living together does not link you financially but having joint accounts will. Unless you're planning to open a joint account together then your credit file will have absolutely no effect on his credit file and vice versa.

But it used to and a lot of people still believe it does. I don't think the request is unreasonable. Knowing what your partner's credit record is could help answer some joint financial questions.

If he has been unable to obtain credit in the past and hasn't had any joint accounts with his ex-girlfriends whom he is blaming then maybe he ought to be the one checking his credit files.

If he wants to see hers, he should be prepared to show his. Quite a reasonable proposition.

If he is secretive about his credit record, that would be a financial warning sign for me.

TBeckett100

Did he credit check you before getting you into his bed? Or insist you draw up a list of ex boyfriends. Weird request.