Can mix up of first name and last name mess with my credit report? 20 September 2021 at 12:45PM in Credit file & ratings 9 replies 112 views

MagicAce1988

Hello everyone,

I am new to the website. I recently applied for a bank account upgrade with my bank and possible a credit card but got declined after a check. Something regarding my credit file.

I used Credit Karma and I found out there was a default on my account from EE which was transfered to Lowel.

I am reading a lot lately about what I can do about my credit file, but I am a bit worried as because of the fact that in the country where I am from we also used last name before first name when we say our name, I was saying my name wrong like LastName FirstName-SecondFirstName instead of FirstName-SecondFirstName LastName when asked for details.

Due to this on the credit file that I got from Credit Karma which gets the info from Transunion and on which by mistake I also put LastName FirstName-SecondFirstName, it does not show many things recorded under my credit file.

It does show the default from EE which is under the name (LastName FirstName SecondFirstName) and my basic bank account witht he correct start date which shows under this name FirstName-AbbreviatedSecondFirstName LastName.

However the credit file shows my last adress before the one I am at the moment and the first adress I had in the UK. Only 2 adresses. But it shows that I am not registered with the electoral register at the adress that is selected as the last one. However I am registered under this format of name FirstName SecondFirstName LastName. I applied just some time ago to be put on the register at the adress that I am now, but I should still show like I've been on th register at that adress right?

I am just wondering if the fact that I gave my name a bit wrong a few times and sometimes it was just put without the dash can affect my credit file as it now showing that I am registered at an adress when I actually am, or if it can end up in there being 2 credit files under different variations of my name. 

I would assume no, since on the current credit file I do have the 2 entries which have 2 variations of name, one with first name first and one with last name first.

I would really appreciate any input.

Regards, Marian

y3sitsm3

The variation will just be an alias.

Not really any different to John Smith, J Smith etc.

MagicAce1988

Any explanation on why it would show like I was not on electoral register at that adress then? Maybe they did not check all variations on electoral register?

y3sitsm3

MagicAce1988 said:

Any explanation on why it would show like I was not on electoral register at that adress then? Maybe they did not check all variations on electoral register?

Presumably because the ER can take some time to be updated.

MaryNB

It can take ages for the electoral register information to be updated. I've been on the electoral register at my current address since the end of November and after 7 months neither transunion nor equifax had updated my credit file. I had to send them an email from the council confirming it. 

Contact your local council, get written confirmation that you are on the register (either letter or email). Send this to [email protected]  to get your electoral status corrected. 

MagicAce1988

I see, thanks for that. Does it matter if in credit report I don't show like I've been on electoral register at my past adresses? Or does only the current address showing as being on the electoral register matter?

MaryNB

MagicAce1988 said:

I see, thanks for that. Does it matter if in credit report I don't show like I've been on electoral register at my past adresses? Or does only the current address showing as being on the electoral register matter?

I have no idea if being on the electoral register at past addresses matters. The key thing with your electoral register is that when you sign up to a credit agreement, the electoral register is seen as a good way to validate you. Lenders use it to confirm that someone with that name lives at that address. 

On a different note. Have you checked your credit report on MSE Credit club (Experian) and Clearscore (Equifax)? The three reports may not all be the same and a lender can check any of them. You need to ensure your info is correct on all three. 

MagicAce1988

I have not, I just changed to a new adress and changed to adress with my bank and registered on the electoral register at the new address. I also paid of a default which should change to satisfied. I'l probably wait for around 2 months before I check what the other agencies have on me ( giving time to some stuff to get updated )

MaryNB

Oh if you've only just moved you'll have to wait a couple of months for the ER to update. If it hasn't after about 6 to 8 weeks send a request to the relevant credit rating agencies. 

When I moved Transunion and Experian updated my accounts pretty quickly (even though the ER info took a while). Equifax deleted all my accounts - they presumed I was still at my old address but had closed all my accounts. Equifax didn't add back all my data until I got my ER status updated like  7 months after I moved. 

If you do end up sending change request to Equifax make sure to get them to remove a notice of correction after they updated your ER info. They have a habit of adding an NOC even if there is no ongoing dispute. You should get this removed, can cause issues with credit applications. 

MagicAce1988

Ah I see I'll probably wait first to see if my new adress will show up as being on the electoral roll. I would have assumed that since at the moment they only have the old address in their system which they probably got it from my bank, when I last updated adress, they would have checked that in the complete electoral roll, but I will see...I'll have to wait for a while anyway, this is a long road anyway since I have a default which will take years to clear anyway.