17-year-old got credit by accident with NEXT, now at 22 can't get any kind of credit

DCFC79

antrobus wrote: »

Mmmm, I'd say not.

Fraud is a type of criminal activity, defined as: 'abuse of position, or false representation, or prejudicing someone's rights for personal gain'.

http://www.sfo.gov.uk/fraud/what-is-fraud.aspx

It doesn't appear that the OP made any illicit gain as a result of misrepresenting their age to Next. They "paid for the jacket" after all. No gain. No crime.

Still a bit naughty 'tho.



If by "trouble", you mean, criminal trouble, then I'd say 'no'. Fraud is basically theft by deception. You may have 'deceived' Next, but you didn't steal anything.

Yes I agree, maybe I went too fat with the comment. Was naughty yes and he did pay for it.

SuperHan

While I agree, there's unlikely to be any criminal consequence, it may have been flagged as fraud as there was a misrepresentation to get a line of credit, which may or may not be perceived as financial gain (they got to pay later for the jacket?!)

novysprite

Thanks everyone for your advice and reassurance.

I had read somewhere but forgotten that records drop off after 6 years, so this will give me a real clue where the problem lies if in another year or so this might be the issue. Will get on and check out the other 2 credit reference agencies.

I closed my Next account pretty soon after I bought the jacket ages ago I think.

Anyway, yeah if anyone has any other bright ideas then please do say so, but this is a good starting point. Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply to quite a tedious question!

bargainbetty

You could also consider requesting basic bank account - sevral banks offer them, including Nationwide and Barclays. This offers no overdraft, no cheque book, just a straight account with a debit card. Use it properly for three months and then ask to upgrade to a regular account with a small overdraft, or a credit card with your bank wth a low limit. Use it for a couple of small things per month and then pay it in full each month.

Good luck

PaulW922

The most likely issue is the mis-matching of dates of birth - nothing more. You paid for your jacket so really you have little else to worry about there. There is no point in speculating until you have seen all of your credit files and looked particularly at the links and aliases section. As you are already signed up to Credit Expert you could check that section with them right now

novysprite

bargainbetty wrote: »

You could also consider requesting basic bank account - sevral banks offer them, including Nationwide and Barclays. This offers no overdraft, no cheque book, just a straight account with a debit card. Use it properly for three months and then ask to upgrade to a regular account with a small overdraft, or a credit card with your bank wth a low limit. Use it for a couple of small things per month and then pay it in full each month.

Good luck

Thanks - this is exactly what I tried to do about 10 months ago! I was applying for literally the most basic account with no credit card or overdraft or even cheque book with HSBC and then tried with Natwest. They got through all of the main details etc then at the last minute they would say 'sorry there's been some kind of issue with your credit report' and then I would ask 'surely it doesn't matter because I'm not asking for any credit' and the member of staff would just say 'I really don't know why this has happened, I agree with you, but there's been some red flag so I'm afraid we can't open you an account.'

They advised me to check my credit report, which I did (again) and still nothing odd there, and a pretty high score.

NatWest were slightly more helpful. The exact same thing happened, but I made a bit more of a fuss, and I gave them more photo ID and more proof of address, occupation etc. which they then sent off to their main offices with a query and I was eventually accepted for a regular account which I then converted into an account with a small overdraft, just like you said.

Having this account has raised my credit score with experian and has hopefully made me 'more legit' as it were!

I have just requested to see my Equifax credit report but they 'can't find my records with the information I provided' or something, so I'll have to call them up and no doubt provide more proof of ID (like I did when getting Experian to show me their credit report on me). Currently abroad, so this will have to wait a couple of weeks...

Thanks anyway

novysprite

PaulW922 wrote: »

The most likely issue is the mis-matching of dates of birth - nothing more. You paid for your jacket so really you have little else to worry about there. There is no point in speculating until you have seen all of your credit files and looked particularly at the links and aliases section. As you are already signed up to Credit Expert you could check that section with them right now

Thanks very much for the reassurance Paul!

Nothing on Credit Expert section about any aliases/links. All that's on there are previous addresses (including the one I was at when I bought the infamous jacket), electoral roll records, and the one current account I hold with Natwest. I've been trying for some time to get my settled Virgin Media broadband account to show up but not having much luck so far.

Waiting on Equifax at the moment.

At least it was a good jacket.

ET51

novysprite wrote: »

1...4. Any idea if I'll 'get into trouble' because of this? ...

You appear to have avoided any for the past 5-6 years :cool:

Thrugelmir

novysprite wrote: »

NatWest were slightly more helpful. The exact same thing happened, but I made a bit more of a fuss, and I gave them more photo ID and more proof of address, occupation etc. which they then sent off to their main offices with a query and I was eventually accepted for a regular account which I then converted into an account with a small overdraft, just like you said.

Why the requirement for a new bank account?

redpete

DCFC79 wrote: »

Forgot to say as you bought the jacket 5 years ago it will drop off after 6 years, whether its the cause of the problem isnt definite but you can try to put it right.

But there's no suggestion that the Next loan is any problem, the amount was paid of as far as we know when due.

The related problem with the date of birth is probably not something that will drop off the records after 6 years, it forms part of the basic info about the person, not related to a particular debt.