Failed Credit Check?!

chocolatelover93

Hello,
I'm currently living with my husband and we've decided to move from our property into a bigger one (renting) obviously when moving into the current property the credit check come back fine.

However I've just recieved a call from the letting agents saying that I failed my credit check. My hubby has passed so we can still get the house but it will be in his name and I will be someone that is "allowed" to live there.

I don't understand why I failed, I've never had a loan, never had a credit card (except an Argos card, that I paid off in full) and have always been ok with getting phone contracts and the house we're currently in.

I applied for finance on a car when I was 18 but that failed too because I was too young. Could this be the reason that it's failed now too? I don't want to get a bad credit. I'm only 21!!

Thanks

[Deleted User]

What do your credit files show?

chocolatelover93

Deleted_User wrote: »

What do your credit files show?

I don't know how do I find out?

[Deleted User]

You can check your files at Noddle (free), Equifax (or Clearscore for free) and Experian.

More details here - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4895825

20aday

Could it be a case of too little credit history?

GingerBob_3

Letting agents carrying out a "credit check". That doesn't sound right. Of course Experian's Check My Tenant maybe harvests credit-related data and discloses it. It's unethical to do so, of course, but I suppose it happens.

chocolatelover93

7x81 - thank you will check them out
20aday - why would that make me fail though? Surely it's better to have a tennant thats not in debt? The only debt I have is to my dad

JKSandy

Landlord checks only cover Public record information so they wouldn't be able to see what's on your actual credit file. If your not on the electoral role this may have had an impact.

20aday

chocolatelover93 wrote: »

7x81 - thank you will check them out
20aday - why would that make me fail though? Surely it's better to have a tennant thats not in debt? The only debt I have is to my dad

It's better not to be in debt, yes, but if you've a limited borrowing/account conduct history it wouldn't give people a general idea of how you'd repay those debts.

jamesd

chocolatelover93 wrote: »

However I've just recieved a call from the letting agents saying that I failed my credit check.

Ask them what you really failed, since it wouldn't have been a check of actual credit.

If they still claim that it was really a credit check ask them to tell you the main reasons why you were declined. They are required to tell you, though they may not even know that.

It's most likely that you don't have any visible credit record at all if you're not on the electoral roll. So you'd fail the tenant check on the basis that you don't really exist. Or so the computer says. Or they may want a certain score with each piece of information adding a bit to the score and you might not have enough bits to reach the "yes, that's really them" score that they want to see. A score for bits of information like that is commonly used for identity checking.

The reason that tenants who can't be found matter to a landlord is that they could be someone who's skipped bad debt by changing address in the past and who's giving bogus information to avoid being found out. A major potential issue for landlords who could lose months of rent if an eviction was needed.

You can see an example of a basic/instant tenant check or a more detailed one.

One way that you may be able to help in the future is to check whether the gas, electricity or water suppliers to the property report to a credit reference agency. If one does, get that bill put into your name so it'll start to build up a history for you.

chocolatelover93

When I spoke to them they said that I didn't "score enough" to pass the check.

Hubby passed and thats fine I was just concered why I didn't.

I'm on the electrol roll as I voted in the last election.

It seems a bit silly that someone can be peanilised for not getting themselves into debt. I can understand that obviously it means they won't know if I would pay but I've been renting for almost 2 years and all the bills are in my name as hubby works long hours so I'm the one that set them up and speaks to them.