Address history clarification

hoodman123

I'm hoping for some guidance on what I should be doing about my address history information.

Throughout university and since beginning work I have kept my bank details registered at my Mother's house where I was only present during the holidays and now not at all. My primary reason for doing this is that I typically move to a new rented place every year so this saved updating my information so frequently. This has also been the address for my payroll information at work and other payments such as my mobile phone direct debit also are registered at this address.

I have however been registered on the electoral roll at my various addresses where I have rented and also been a named bill payer for council tax etc. I am now the primary bill payer in my current shared rented accommodation.

I have just checked my credit rating on Experian and for address history I've put my mum's addresses to cover the 3 year window, which I now feel may be an error, and it returned as 'Excellent'.

I'm now applying for a credit card and it is asking what my current living arrangement is and how much my monthly housing cost it. I am in private rented accommodation and therefore will enter this address though at present my banking/employment information is not registered here (I shall be moving this across) and historically it's never been registered where I rented.

For consistency I think I should put my other previous rented accommodation as an address history but I'm worried that, whilst my electoral roll history and some billing information will be picked up, my financial information/employment details might not be and I may be refused credit.

Can anyone shine any light on the way the process works and what the best way forward is?
Any guidance on this would be much appreciated.

Dobbibill

Your history up til now is as you described....all at your mother's address.

Changing your history with the CRAs won't change your report.

Now that you are a primary bill payer for council tax and other utilities, it may show in future months as a linked address.

As for the ER - when you are a student it is possible to be registered on the ER at 2 addresses. This allows you to vote in both local elections but only one general election.

The fact that Experian view you as 'excellent' means very little....they don't process CC applications.

For consistency use the same address history that shows on your CR for an application, change your address with the CC provider if/when it's been issued or don't apply until you have updated everything and it's reflected correctly on your CR.

Don't just check Experian, make sure you check Equifax and Call Credit too. These can be done free with Clearscore and Noddle.

hoodman123

Okay, thank you.

Just a quick follow up, I tried to put in my previous rented addresses and sure enough the Clearscore check is showing my address history as different to what I input. It's showing my current address as the one I am currently rentuing and the other two as my mum's previous address, none of my other previous rented addresses. So going forward I'll enter these as my address history.

What is driving the address history, is it where my bank details are registered to? I presume its showing my current rented accommodation as its picked up my gas and electricity direct debits being set up here (which show on my timeline).

GingerBob_3

hoodman123 wrote: »

Okay, thank you.

Just a quick follow up, I tried to put in my previous rented addresses and sure enough the Clearscore check is showing my address history as different to what I input. It's showing my current address as the one I am currently rentuing and the other two as my mum's previous address, none of my other previous rented addresses. So going forward I'll enter these as my address history.

What is driving the address history, is it where my bank details are registered to? I presume its showing my current rented accommodation as its picked up my gas and electricity direct debits being set up here (which show on my timeline).

Address history is driven by all account providers that report you to the CRAs. Don't inform anyone of all the other addresses you mentioned. Address history, which is NEVER deleted by the CRAs, is a major cause for concern, causing frequent problems, so keep it simple. Try to find providers of utilities and telecoms that don't report you to the CRAs - e.g. EDF and Sky. This reduces the chances of error. Other points; council tax is not reported. Nor are employment details. Don't ever have joint names on anything, until such time as you genuinely are financially associated with someone - and even then, think carefully about it.

Dobbibill

GingerBob has summed it up pretty well there.

The only other thing I would add is to be mindful who you are applying for a CC with - your bank will know your account activity and so a change of address will be less important to them. A different provider will be looking for consistency and so a recent change of address may be a little more important to them.

If you are not sure who to apply to, have a view at the eligibility checker here.......it's only a guide though and nothing is guaranteed.