Returning from Spain

geoffllo

I have lived in Spain for 15 years. Prior to that I lived in UK for 55 years with an unblemished credit history.
During my time in Spain I have continued using two UK based credit cards and a NatWest current account, again without defaulting on a single penny or making a single late payment.
Can anyone please tell me, if I return to live in UK and acquire a UK address, how do I go about reinstating my credit record?
I am 71 years old and have never defaulted on any financial commitment all my life, so it would be very unfair if, for example, I were unable to take a mobile phone contract.
TIA
Geoff

[Deleted User]

If you’ve maintained the bank account and credit card (despite being destined for uk residents only) then this will reflect on your credit history as positive.

DCFC79

You should be fine. There are other options if you weren't able to get a phone contract so dont worry there.

geoffllo

Thanks for your reply. But how do I get that credit history assigned to my new address, which won't follow on from my previous UK address, due to the 15 year interval?
Geoff.

[Deleted User]

Register on the electoral role.

What address are the bank accounts and credit cards registered to?

geoffllo

For the last 15 years my bank and credit card accounts have been registered to my address in Spain.

A person moving to Spain can take their UK accounts to their Spanish address, but once living in Spain, they can't apply for new UK accounts.

Geoff.

[Deleted User]

Then I doubt they’ll be reported to a UK CRA then

geoffllo

Thanks Gary.

Geoff.

PRAISETHESUN

If someone with more experience can correct me, please do - but I feel that it doesn't matter what address the credit was registered to, if the account was a UK account then it should be reported to the UK CRAs. As such, if they have remained open for the last 15 years, then at least the last 6 years of history should be on your credit files - anything older then that will drop off anyway, regardless of if you were in the country or not.

If you update your registered addresses for each account, and re-register on the UK electoral roll at your new/current UK address, then these changes should then filter through to your credit files. Keep in mind that credit is assigned to a person, not an address so it shouldn't really matter at the end of the day what address was used for the accounts