Roommate's electoral roll info appearing on my credit report?

Pixie5740

Thrugelmir wrote: »

If the data is provided then it can. As there's a financial association between the parties.

A joint tenancy agreement does not financially link the tenants. Furthermore tenancy agreements are not reported to the CRAs.

Pixie5740

stclair wrote: »

When a lender searches consumers credit files they see all the people registered to the address.

No they don't. They'd see people you have a financial link with (people you have joint accounts with) but just living at the same address doesn't mean that your credit files are linked.

Lum

To add some clarification.

We moved in together at the start of August. I used up my free trials with the three agencies starting around October 10th. There was no link between me and my friend, but the electoral roll info wasn't on there, even despite raising disputes and sending copies of my confirmation letter.

We have no financial products in both names, and the credit report shows no financial links between us. Even the utility bills are in my name only, she just sends me a fixed amount each month to cover her share.

We both have the same first name, and are female, so my best guess is they assumed one is my maiden name or something, though I'm not sure how that would let me register to vote twice.

It's also a little concerning because seeing two registrations could be perceived as an attempt at fraud?

stclair

Pixie5740 wrote: »

No they don't. They'd see people you have a financial link with (people you have joint accounts with) but just living at the same address doesn't mean that your credit files are linked.

I do apologise I may have not been clear in my previous post.

When a lender views a persons credit file the lender can see the names of all the people on the electoral register who are registered to the same address. Just in the same way you can on 192.com for example. The electoral data does not link people together financially so they would not see each other's financial information etc.

stclair

Pixie5740 wrote: »

A joint tenancy agreement does not financially link the tenants. Furthermore tenancy agreements are not reported to the CRAs.

You may find these links useful they detail rent payment data sharing. If the tenancy was in joint names I would imagine Experian would financially link them both.

http://press.experian.com/United-Kingdom/Press-Release/millions-of-private-tenants-to-get-credit-where-its-due.aspx

http://www.experian.co.uk/rental-exchange/

However in this instance the OP as detailed I would assume Experian think its the same person and one the surnames is a maiden name for example.

Lum

Key thing on that link is the "with permission" text.

Unlike some people I actually read the entire tenancy agreement (and made several amendments) before signing it. It did not include anything about sharing info with a credit reference agency, or words to that effect.

It kind of bugs me that data can leak like this so easily though. My real name is Sarah, it's not exactly an uncommon name. Did they honestly never think that two people called Sarah might end up living together?

Pixie5740

stclair wrote: »

You may find these links useful they detail rent payment data sharing. If the tenancy was in joint names I would imagine Experian would financially link them both.

http://press.experian.com/United-Kingdom/Press-Release/millions-of-private-tenants-to-get-credit-where-its-due.aspx

http://www.experian.co.uk/rental-exchange/

However in this instance the OP as detailed I would assume Experian think its the same person and one the surnames is a maiden name for example.

That first link is from back in 2012 when there had been some talk about recording rent payments to the CRAs but nothing really came of it. Certainly nothing is reported to the CRAs for private rentals.

The second link looks like Experian have partnered with the Big Issue and managed to sell the idea (continued flogging the dead horse) for social tenancies but not private ones. Although it seems to be optional as to whether social landlords participate or not. I'd be interested to know if have a joint tenancy would financially link someone. I might ask Experian to find out.

Pixie5740

Lum wrote: »

Key thing on that link is the "with permission" text.

Unlike some people I actually read the entire tenancy agreement (and made several amendments) before signing it. It did not include anything about sharing info with a credit reference agency, or words to that effect.

It kind of bugs me that data can leak like this so easily though. My real name is Sarah, it's not exactly an uncommon name. Did they honestly never think that two people called Sarah might end up living together?

I had a similar problem when I lived at home as my parents and I all share the same first initial and surname. When I got my first Experian and Equifax reports there were details about my parents' mortgage and other borrowing on them.

If you have a private rental then details of rent payments and your tenancy will not have been passed to the CRAs. Just check your Staturory £2 reports from Experian and Equifax and the free report from Noddle in case Check My File has got muddled up.

Creditcalm

There is absolutely no way a tenancy agreement would create a financial association on any of your credit reports.

A financial association will appear on your credit report ONLY in the financial association and alias section, not on your electoral roll section.

The electoral roll section will list anyone picked up as being on electoral roll at your current address (not any previous addresses, otherwise you would see current occupants of your previous addressed, which would be pointless - but still not a data breach). This section could of course include anyone you are ALSO financially associated too, but also anyone else who is registered to vote.

This is simply electoral roll information from your address. This is publicly available information and is not any kind of data breach.

Checkmyfile have not made any sort of error or mix up by showing this information, and it doesn't affect your credit rating AT ALL.

If you want further clarification then just pick up the phone to them (freephone 0800 612 0421). An actual person will answer straight away, and will give you all the info you need within about one minute.