Can't get a credit rating ???

tenchy

Is this a new imposition on people trying to rent, as if it isn't difficult enough already? So now the agent expects you to get a copy of your credit report so he can see what otherwise would be unavailable to him? Never heard of that before.

MSE_Chris

eddyinfreehold wrote: »

No, no credit cards for either myself or my wife, shared current account, shared savings account, all utilities paid by direct debit, rates up to date by direct debit, voted at every election since 1976 and have been on the electoral role all that time including 20 years at the most recent address. I will be really cheesed off if the Agents won't accept me as a guarantor, nor my wife.

Hi eddyinfreehold,

If you have an overdraft on your current accounts and are on the Electoral Roll, Experian should hold some credit info on you. As you've had little credit, it sounds like you have what's called a "thin file" with the agencies.

Also, if the only current account you have has been open for some time (prior to 2000/1998), it might be the case that your bank doesn't have your permission to share account information with the Credit Referencing Agencies (Experian etc). After 1998, banks had to get your permission to share this as part of the Data Protection Act (1998).

The permission to share your data with the CRA's now lies in the small print of an account application form.

If you're unable to register for Credit Club (as a result of having a thin file), not to worry, you can go to Experian directly to see if it holds any info on you at all. You can request a copy of your Statutory Report (one off charge of £2). Experian will be able to manually retrieve any data it holds on you from it's system and provide you with your report:

http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html

I hope this helps!

Candyapple

The free versions to check your credit files are below:
Experian: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub
Equifax: https://www.clearscore.com
Call Credit: https://www.noddle.co.uk

If you have a bank account then write to your bank and ask for your account to be added to their monthly updates of sending data to the credit reference agencies.

If you have a mobile phone then this should show up on your files. Same goes as being on the electoral roll.

It's all well and good having no debts and lots of savings, but why not make your money work for you? If you holiday abroad, a travel credit such as Halifax Clarity card can save you money. Your weekly shop, petrol, travel or even buying presents - why not put that on a 0% purchases card and the money you would have spent in a savings account - that way when the 0% term ends you will have made money from the savings interest and can clear the balance no problems.

It also means that you would have another 'credit' product on your files and in turn if ever you needed to help out your children in the future again or if you wanted to apply for credit elsewhere - you know that you should have no problems rather than being an anomaly despite your status.

Shakin_Steve

tenchy wrote: »

Is this a new imposition on people trying to rent, as if it isn't difficult enough already? So now the agent expects you to get a copy of your credit report so he can see what otherwise would be unavailable to him? Never heard of that before.

This has always been the case with students. There was a very unhappy poster on a while back who objected to being a guarantor for their student offspring, plus the other five students who were sharing. It was explained that it was the norm for all students in the accommodation to have a guarantor, each guarantor being jointly responsible for all the occupants.
I’m not sure if there’s some confusion here as to whether the OP needs to provide a copy of their credit file, or whether the agent is drawing a blank when trying to search the credit file.

tenchy

Shakin_Steve wrote: »

This has always been the case with students. There was a very unhappy poster on a while back who objected to being a guarantor for their student offspring, plus the other five students who were sharing. It was explained that it was the norm for all students in the accommodation to have a guarantor, each guarantor being jointly responsible for all the occupants.
I’m not sure if there’s some confusion here as to whether the OP needs to provide a copy of their credit file, or whether the agent is drawing a blank when trying to search the credit file.

I've had two childen go through uni, living in shared, rented accommodation and there's never been the need for a guarantor, nor less for the agent prying into someone's credit report. The agent wouldn't be able to search the credit file, except perhaps for an identity check.

cjmillsnun

Shakin_Steve wrote: »

This has always been the case with students. There was a very unhappy poster on a while back who objected to being a guarantor for their student offspring, plus the other five students who were sharing. It was explained that it was the norm for all students in the accommodation to have a guarantor, each guarantor being jointly responsible for all the occupants.
I’m not sure if there’s some confusion here as to whether the OP needs to provide a copy of their credit file, or whether the agent is drawing a blank when trying to search the credit file.

It certainly wasnt the case when i was a student. I was able to rent without a guarantor and definitely without providing my credit file which contains information that I would not want to share with a letting agent.

Shakin_Steve

Ok.........I’ll try to find the thread in question, maybe this is a more recent thing.

Shakin_Steve

Can’t find the thread, it was a good while ago. Found this though:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/student-housing/students-in-private-rented-accommodation/student-housing-using-a-guarantor/

tenchy

Shakin_Steve wrote: »

Can’t find the thread, it was a good while ago. Found this though:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/student-housing/students-in-private-rented-accommodation/student-housing-using-a-guarantor/

Citizens Advice don't appear to know precisely what a credit check is. I assume they are talking about what is normally referred to as an identity check.

Shakin_Steve

tenchy wrote: »

Citizens Advice don't appear to know precisely what a credit check is. I assume they are talking about what is normally referred to as an identity check.

Probably.:)