Experian - name change

Rosy_Apple

Hi all,

Apologies for posting multiple topics today- I am full of questions!

It had been bothering me that my Experian score was only fair when my Equifax was high. I decided to pay to see why my score was low and it was because it doesn't think I am on the electoral role. I can see that the issue is around my name change when I got married in 2014, whist ClearScore has my name correct and notes my maiden name, Experian does not. Therefore, when it is searching the electoral role it isn't finding me.

I wasn't aware you needed to inform the credit agencies when you got married? I thought this information would have been passed through from the banks!

Has anyone else come across this? I am hoping that once I send proof of my name and therefore the fact I have always been registered to vote then my score will increase.

Rosy_Apple

Thought I would update, in case this helps anyone else (rather than me deleting my above post).

I spoke with someone at Experian and I need to send a copy of our wedding certificate and a copy of my passport in my former name. This will then update and show that I have been on the electoral register the whole time. The person on the phone was able to confirm she could see my new name on the electoral role whilst I was speaking with her. Once this is updated my score will reflect this.

I wouldn't have even thought to let credit referencing agencies know about my change of name, so hopefully this will help someone else.

[Deleted User]

Rosy_Apple wrote: »

Once this is updated my score will reflect this.

It may, or it may go down. Either way, your score doesn't matter - only the data on your file.

Rosy_Apple

To close this off, in case it helps anyone else.

Experian finally changed my name today, which caused a lot of new information to come through, all of which has had a hugely positive influence on my score.

If you are checking your credit score, it really is worth checking that all the information is correct!

MoneyG

Thank you for this, I didn't even think to change my name on Experian :j

Rosy_Apple

For clarity- when you apply for credit, the company will search on the name you give them.

My issue was that I wanted to understand my credit score and could only see the experian report for my maiden name (as that was the name my account was registered in), once I changed my name I could see all the latest up to date information and the link between my maiden and married name. Which, arguably, a credit lender would have been able to see all along.

For me, this was about being able to have an accurate view personally. Experian assured me that any credit lender would have got an accurate view as long as they used my current name.