Electoral roll and antiquated processes

dontexist

This post is part rant, part hoping for some useful advice.

I recently returned to the UK after 8 years abroad, I naively closed all my UK accounts not long after I moved abroad and have essentially returned to find that credit wise I don't exist. I was able to open a basic bank account and a Mycashplus card which have given me a footprint and are hopefully gradually building up my credit. I moved back in August so have 2 months of this showing on my report now, given I have no debt, defaults, CCJs etc I would have thought I'd be okay but unfortunately the fact I'm not on the electoral is absolutely killing my score making it around 200 on Equifax.

I applied to go on the electoral roll in August when I arrived and was told that as it is "canvassing" period I won't be added until December, the council wrote me a letter confirming I had been accepted and will be visible on the electoral roll when it's next published on the 1st of December but none of the credit rating companies are accepting that as enough to add me. Given we're in 2015, a 4 month period where people can't be added to the electoral roll seems ludicrous but when I try to challenge the council on the lack of common sense of it they just say "it's the way it's always been".

My problem now is that I've moved back with next to nothing due to a separation from my partner and badly need a car asap, I'm currently hiring one and it's extortionate. I have things in my favour like no debt and a decent job but with moving costs on top the car hire fees to get to work are killing me, due to shifts and location unfortunately public transport doesn't help.

I guess my question is twofold.

1) Is there anywhere I can complain about the council's ludicrous rules which prevent me getting on the electoral roll until December given it's causing me financial hardship?

2) Is there anywhere who will give me car finance, a leasing deal or decent long term rental prices before I'm on the electoral roll.

Any advice much appreciated, this situation is really getting me down after what has already been a horrible year.

[Deleted User]

The selectoral will certainly be a problem when applying for credit, but to be honest, 2 months of credit history is nothing and will be a bigger stumbling block.

Ignore the score they give you - CRA scores still don't mean anything more than when you last lived here, and they didn't mean anything then.

How much do you have spare a month? You'll probably need to look at buying something for a couple of hundred quid and making do with that for a few months.

ashp_2

Yeah unfortunately a you will have to play the waiting game with the council but as above your lack of any credit history is your biggest problem.

In regards to your car you could certainly get finance for one using company's that will look at your ability to repay and not so much your credit history. This will obviously come at a higher APR but it would be worth calculating the hiring cost v getting a not too expensive car on credit with a high APR.

Candyapple

1. Nope, as they have stated, it's always been that way. You just have to suck it up I'm afraid.

2. Given that you've only been back for 2 months, I doubt you'll find a lender, even the ones who offer ridiculous APR's.

Can you not ask your employer for an advance on your salary or a short term loan?

Have you tried going to your bank with a copy of the letter from the council and also your last 2 months wage slips and ask them to upgrade you to a current account instead of basic? That way, you might be able to apply for an overdraft with them.

Thrugelmir

dontexist wrote: »

I recently returned to the UK after 8 years abroad,

No recent history. Limited access to any form of credit. That's the nature of finance these days. You cannot really expect to be treated any differently. As you are an unknown quantity.