Credit check from mortgage threw up issues

carmabelle

The past weekend my partner and I went to a bank for a mortgage advice appointment. Everything looked good but the advisor was surprised that our score was lower than expected, and hinted strongly that I might want to sign up with one of the three free credit report providers to check on a certain mobile phone company's status of debt.

I signed up to Experian on the free 30 day trial today, and besides the fact that I'm apparently not on the electoral roll (which I've now rectified), the only negative aspect was not having non-mail credit orders or something to that effect (can copy that word for word if it matters). No mention of the mobile phone company or a defaulted debt.

The contract ran from September or October 2011 for 24 months, and I know I struggled with the payments because I had no income during that time save a monthly grant from my family. Searching through my email I had correspondence with a collection firm (Sigma Red Limited) in April 2013 from which it follows that I paid the amount up for collection. No further contact thereafter, and no money issues thereafter.

I had Frederickson International, and then Bryan Carter get in touch about my Vodafone account in December 2013 and January 2014 get in touch by letter with demands (at first £202, then £268 with added fees), which I ignored given that I believed I had no arrears issues (didn't know I had to send a letter amounting to "Prove It").

I don't want to poke the bear that I don't believe exists with FI/BC by getting in touch with them now about the potential issue on my credit check from the bank for the mortgage, so I have reached out to the mobile phone company to chase if there's any debt still associated with my name. They unfortunately apparently had a system change and my number has been reassigned so it will take a while, which is annoying as my partner and I want the best possible mortgage deal.

Do let me know if I'm approaching this sensibly by chasing with the mobile phone company first? Also how come the Experian check didn't come up with the defaulted debt? I've now tried to sign up with Equifax and Noddle (Call Credit) but it's proving more difficult to verify my identity to them (just another thing I need!) so I will work on that the next few days.

Thrugelmir

carmabelle wrote: »

Also how come the Experian check didn't come up with the defaulted debt?

Electoral roll registration most likely. Hence why it's key to mortgage applications. As this ties your credit history together. CRA's operate a system called GAIN. (Gone Away Information Network). As soon as you resurface the DCA's are notified.

carmabelle

Thanks, sadly an update on the credit report may take up to a month so we will see what difference that makes down the line. Does it matter though that I firstly wasn't on electoral roll when the contract with the mobile phone company existed, and secondly that I had been registered on the electoral roll at premises between my current address and the last known address associated with the contract?

Edit: Have sent the Experian report to the mortgage advisor we saw as she is also thoroughly confused. In her words Experian usually is the most thorough, so she wants to have a crack at it. In the meantime Noddle won't let me sign up and Equifax has asked for supporting documents like my passport and a bank statement with my current address on it. If these are the hoops for me...