Lots of different addresses

melantha_faline

Hi
I am about to make an application for a new balance transfer card. I did this about a year ago with success although I was asked for further proof of my identity. My question relates to my addresses. I've provided quite a bit of detail below, but the list of questions is at the bottom of the thread.
In the last 18 months I have moved by bank accounts to 4 different addresses, and the 3 years prior that I moved to about 3 different addresses. I do not own my own home so this is all renting and lodging. I had a secure job with the same employer for 7 years and moved house every year or so. Then moved to a new city and new employer, stayed there for 18 months but moved home 3 or 4 times.
Now I have moved to my home town and another new employer and hope to be here for a good while. However, as I rent and could move again in 6 months I decided to keep my bank accounts (and just about everything other than household bills) registered at my parents addresses. I am registered to vote at my flat. I have a good history credit wise, no missed payments, always meet bills and so on.
My questions are:
Will this constantly changing number of addresses count against me?
Will having my bank accounts registered at my parents address and my bills/ vote registered at a different address count against me?
Should I make the application with my own address or my parents address?
And finally, should I just move it all to my own address?
Any help would be really great,
Thanks
Melantha

GingerBob_3

In the mad world of financial services and CRA surveillance, yes, multiple addresses is likely to be a problem.


Your best bet is to set your address to that of your parents, and register to vote at that address. Leave that as your "official" address until you really do have a stable address of your own.


Don't ever provide utility companies with previous addresses, full name or date of birth. Use your parents' address for a mobile phone contract.


For council tax it doesn't matter - they are not linked in to the financial surveillance systems.


When everything is sorted as though you live at your parents' address, apply for the new card from there.

than_prutt

GingerBob wrote: »

Don't ever provide utility companies with previous addresses, full name or date of birth. Use your parents' address for a mobile phone contract.

Just out of curiosity, what to do in cases they ask for these info? Or are they not supposed to?

GingerBob_3

than_prutt wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, what to do in cases they ask for these info? Or are they not supposed to?

Yes, they are allowed to, and do ask for this information. The best way is to deal with them in writing and don't supply it if they send you a form requesting it (e.g. the water companies do this - you just ignore it).


It can be a bit tricky dealing with gas and electricity suppliers. Ask them why they want the data and they'll say "for security". In other words, if you call them you can identify yourself via your DoB. In stating they want this data "for security" they are lying. In fact, they want it to link you to the CRA data files. So when they say "for security" simply respond by saying, "ok, if it's for security any memorable date will do. In fact, such a protocol will be more secure". Then give them some other date. They'll huff and puff about this but in my experience they do accept it (call centre workers ultimately don't want the hassle of an argument). The strategy is to bollox up their attempts to put data about you on the CRA files. The reason for this is that utility companies are more than likely to compromise your ability to get credit, due to mistakes, misunderstandings, complex tariffs, T&Cs and the rest. If utility companies ask for a previous address and won't put you on a good tariff with it, give them your parents' address or something like that.

than_prutt

Many thanks, GingerBob. The info is very useful and will use it for future dealings with these companies!!