Water bill on credit file, credit score dropped

Lizzie321

Got a notification that my credit score had updated and when I checked, it's dropped from good to poor. Nothing has changed - no new credit accounts etc - since my last update, so I was very puzzled. On checking my report, it appears that my water bill has been added to my credit file as a debt when my annual bill was produced last month.

I have paid this in instalments by direct debit for 20 years and never ever missed a payment. This is the first time it's appeared on my credit file. I've been in touch with my water company and they informed me that as of February this year they have been sharing information with credit reference agencies. The lady I spoke to said my credit score should improve as my monthly payments are made, but that when my new bill comes in next year it will negatively affect my score once again. 

I've worked so hard to improve my credit score, done everything absolutely correctly, and this has been a real blow. It seems that two decades of paying my water bill on time counts for absolutely nothing.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it possible to get this removed from my credit file? Should I complain to my water company?

TIA

PartyOfFive

No need to complain, and no, it won’t be removed.

Read the sticky at the top of this board to find out what the ‘score’ actually means (hint… meaningless).

Scores change at the whim of the company generating them - any change on your accounts will affect it.

I settled 3 credit cards in one month and closed them - effect on my score? Big decrease.

It’s meaningless.

Lizzie321

PartyOfFive said:

No need to complain, and no, it won’t be removed.

Read the sticky at the top of this board to find out what the ‘score’ actually means (hint… meaningless).

Scores change at the whim of the company generating them - any change on your accounts will affect it.

I settled 3 credit cards in one month and closed them - effect on my score? Big decrease.

It’s meaningless.

Thanks for replying:)

Unfortunately I do think it's affected my ability to get credit already. I've used Klarna and PayPal Pay in 3 for years with no issue, always paying off the balance before I buy anything else. For the last few weeks the option to use these as forms of payment has disappeared - for example today I made a purchase on Ticketmaster and the option for PP Pay in 3 wasn't available at checkout. I've been refused Klarna a couple of times too. The sudden drop in my credit score is the only thing I can think of that's caused it. 

MorningcoffeeIV

Lizzie321 said:

PartyOfFive said:

No need to complain, and no, it won’t be removed.

Read the sticky at the top of this board to find out what the ‘score’ actually means (hint… meaningless).

Scores change at the whim of the company generating them - any change on your accounts will affect it.

I settled 3 credit cards in one month and closed them - effect on my score? Big decrease.

It’s meaningless.

The sudden drop in my credit score is the only thing I can think of that's caused it. 

It can't be that as you're the only person who can see it. That, plus the fact it's not real.

Presumably, you haven't been phoning Klarna up to tell them that your score has dropped and should not be given credit?

Equally, Klarna won't be concerned by the fact you pay your water bill on time.

PartyOfFive

Think about it…How would a drop in your score affect what payment options are available in a website checkout?  How would Ticketmaster know about your ‘score’ to begin with?

penners324

Stop over thinking it. 

Maybe Ticketmaster stopped that payment option, maybe klarna have tightened up their lending criteria. Both far more plausible than because your water bill now appears on your credit file.

MEM62

Lizzie321 said:

PartyOfFive said:

No need to complain, and no, it won’t be removed.

Read the sticky at the top of this board to find out what the ‘score’ actually means (hint… meaningless).

Scores change at the whim of the company generating them - any change on your accounts will affect it.

I settled 3 credit cards in one month and closed them - effect on my score? Big decrease.

It’s meaningless.

The sudden drop in my credit score is the only thing I can think of that's caused it. 

It won't be.  You and the CRA are the only ones that see it.