Credit check reports affordability

nportland

My father's credit checks both experian 999 and trans union 608 but MSE affordability one says only 44/100. Since he pays less than half his income in rent 750 , which been told he could pay 830 is retired so can't b made redundant or hours cut has both serps and sainsbury pension i don't understand it at all. He has one credit thing for phone which only 10 month anyway and only 2 months left.  No bad credit things at all.  Can someone explain this ? Also has no credit cards only debit card has been suggested that he get one to improve his credit score is that actually worth it?

Thanks for any advice/info 
N sims 

fatbelly

Has he been turned down for anything? Will he be needing credit?

I suspect you are worrying unneccesarily

Paying by credit card has advantages as long as the bill is cleared in full each month. See if he can get one.

sourcrates

As above, why does this matter? what`s Dad looking at achieving here?

Desmond_Hume

There seems to be a real flurry of these “credit score” questions recently. 

Anyway. There is no explanation. The scores are junk. Designed to do exactly what’s happening here. Question them and work out how to improve them by looking to obtain different credit products. The end. 

nportland

He will need to rent flat soon and needs good credit to do so. At moment moving between b&b till finds long term let

MEM62

nportland said:

He will need to rent flat soon and needs good credit to do so. At moment moving between b&b till finds long term let

Referencing for an AST only checks publicly available information (i.e. CCJ's etc.)  They cannot see his financial info or assess his credit rating.     

Nasqueron

nportland said:

He will need to rent flat soon and needs good credit to do so. At moment moving between b&b till finds long term let

Credit checks are done on the data on the file, not the gimmick score which lenders don't see 

It would be worth getting a credit builder card and just spending on it say 1x shopping or fuel, ensure a direct debit is set up to pay in full every month and just let it run, it will improve his credit file in terms of credit assessment, ignore the fake score

nportland

Have been told by 2 estate Lettings agencies that they will check his affordability that it has to be 30X times monthly rent about 830 month.  third monthly income.  And no higher.  If he fails the test he will have to pay for check or maybe has 2 pay for credit check anyway.?

eskbanker

nportland said:

Have been told by 2 estate Lettings agencies that they will check his affordability that it has to be 30X times monthly rent about 830 month.  third monthly income.  And no higher.  If he fails the test he will have to pay for check or maybe has 2 pay for credit check anyway.?

If the letting agents have their own visible formulae to determine affordability, why would a number invented by MSE (or the credit agencies) matter?