Credit agreement I’ve never heard of on my credit file

joeygraham95 · 16 April 2020 at 1:51PM

Today I received an email from ClearScore notifying me that there is a new alert available to view on my credit report. I clicked onto it to see what it was and there has been a new agreement set up with a company called Link Financial who I have never heard of before, but after searching them online it has become clear that they are a debt collection company. I don’t have any debt that I’m aware of, but I do have a twin brother with the same initials as me, and of course, the same date of birth. Could it be possible that they are getting our credit reports mixed up? To make things worse, I’m in the late stages of purchasing my first property, and due to the Coronavirus pandemic it has been put on hold at the moment. The downside to this is my mortgage offer is due to expire soon meaning that I am more than likely going to need to reapply for a mortgage. Now that I have a debt collection company showing on my credit report, is this likely to prove reapplying for a mortgage more difficult?

[Deleted User] · 16 April 2020 at 2:10PM

If the account isn't yours, you need to dispute it with each CRA where it appears.

MallyGirl · 16 April 2020 at 3:06PM

It is quite likely that 2 people with the same initial, surname and date of birth - and who probably have a previous address in common such as the parents' home - would be assumed to be the same person by a computer. Parents these days would hopefully consider such a thing when choosing names but you are probably old enough that awareness of credit history was lower. You need to contact any CRA that has this debt incorrectly against you and get it removed.

PaulW922 · 17 April 2020 at 12:32AM

Also bear in mind that if you contact a debt collection business and say 'that debt isn't mine, it is my twin brother's account' they probably will not believe you. If I worked for one (which I don't) I don't think I would believe it! So given you have the same initials and date of birth and probably a common previous address, be prepared to provide some kind of proof. It might not be your debt but I would think that it will be less hassle for you in the end.