Credit File doesn't include linked addresses/accounts

UserTom

I recently had cause to check my credit report(s) and I have a question I’d like to ask the forum relating to my rating, which is quite good as it stands, but could maybe be better.

I’ve lived in rented accommodation as a private tenant where the utilities, phone line and council tax are all in my name and paid up on time or in credit. My ER entry, bank accounts, credit card, past loans and mobile contract are all still registered at my parents address, again all paid up with no missed payments, so all good. I never bothered to register on the ER or move any of these accounts from my parents address as I’ve been in and out of various rented addresses like this over the years and haven’t really considered any ‘my home’ and won’t do until I actually buy somewhere of my own I suppose. My parents on the other hand are likely to remain where they are until the bitter end, so it’s something of a constant, convenient contact address for me. Also, all rented addresses I’ve been at over the years are local to my parents’ so I frequently visit them and collect mail when it arrives, which it rarely does anyway in this age of paperless ebilling and payment portals etc.

My credit reports all reference my parents address and the accounts there but have no link whatsoever to any of the accounts I have at the rented address. The section of the report which specifies any utilities in my name is therefore blank – I don’t know if that looks good or bad really. So, my question is as I look to move on from my rented property, certainly within the next 6 months, if I do so without doing anything am I throwing away potentially valuable credit score data by not somehow linking the two address and accounts together on my credit file? If so, I wonder; is it possible for me to add the accounts and address in a manner that all the history (about 2.5 years’ worth) of up to date payments and good behaviour carries over too?

Hope that makes sense, I did try asking the Money Advise people, but the chap there didn’t really seem to grasp what I was asking, so finger’s crossed.

Candyapple

First thing, there is no such thing as a credit rating or credit score, only your credit history.

If you have no utilities listed it makes no difference.

If you start adding/linking addresses on your credit file now it will look suspicious, especially given that all your bank/cards/loans etc. are registered to your parents address.

Also, you don't get to choose what accounts get added to your credit file.

You also cannot backdate your credit history. If you want your accounts to appear on your rental address then you would need to contact the companies and change over your bank/credit cards/ER registration over to your current address and then do this every time you move. Note however that if you do move every 6 months/1 year, your address will not look stable to lenders.

UserTom

Understood, thank you for the input.