Job lost due to illogical Scottish Power 'alleged debt'

TeenageQueen

My son interviewed for a job yesterday for which he has been told he has been successful, pending credit checks.

They have now come back (today) to say that he failed the credit check, as one of the 'alleged' debts is to Scottish Power for almost £1k from November 2022.

HOWEVER, HIS 'alleged' debt is for MY address despite ME being the sole bill payer, and have been since I moved in in 2009. Plus, my son doesn't live with me (though occasionally stays when he and his gf have a fallout.)

There have never, ever been any letters addressed to him from Scottish Power or any debt recovery company working on their behalf in regards to this supposed debt, so I am really concerned about this. (Concern for him too, as it's just taken a job away from him!)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I (or he) can do, please?

Thanks

flaneurs_lobster

Is/was there a debt (in your name) that was notified to the credit reference agencies in 2022?

Was your son living with you at that time?

TeenageQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071787#Comment_82071787

No, no debt in my name and no, my son wasn't living with me at the time.

As I say, he occasionally stays when he and his gf fall out, but then it's only for a week or two max. Absolutely no reason for any bills to be put in his name at any time as I'm the sole bill payer.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071792#Comment_82071792

You (and your son) need to check all the credit reference agencies' reports, and if there is incorrect information showing you will need to raise a dispute with them.

eskbanker

They have now come back (today) to say that he failed the credit check, as one of the 'alleged' debts is to Scottish Power for almost £1k from November 2022

He needs to contact Scottish Power as a matter of urgency, using whatever reference numbers, etc, are on his credit files, and get them to correct the record.

However, when you say 'one of the debts', that implies that there are more - are the others factually correct?

TeenageQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071805#Comment_82071805

One was a bank loan, but checking through Experian, and he has been able to show (to the company) that is showing as cleared, and another was for a £20 phone bill outstanding. My main concern, though, is the Scottish Power 'debt' that's in his name at my address, when he has never, ever, not once been a utility bill payer at my address (mainly as this isn't his main address - the lease/tenancy is solely in my name).

The company (which is actually a debt recovery company, lol) who he had the successful interview with had stated that they only allowed a max of 2 outstanding debts

eskbanker

Easy to say with hindsight I suppose, but, given that stipulation, it would have been worth checking his credit files before applying - anyway, as above, has he now done so with each of the credit agencies?

TeenageQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071841#Comment_82071841

This really isn't the reason that I'm posting. It's because there is a Scottish Power 'debt' in HIS name at MY address, when he has never been the bill payer here.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82071996#Comment_82071996

Sure, but you'd already been pointed in the direction of what to do about that!

Grumpy_chap

He needs to check all the CRA details that are recorded for him and issue notices of correction for any that are erroneous.

I assume the employer would not want to lose a good employee, so can he call the employer and explain that the data they have seen is an error?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82072417#Comment_82072417

I disagree - notices of correction are typically used to explain adverse (but factually correct) items on credit files, but in this case the entry shouldn't be on there at all, so IMHO the focus should be on getting it removed rather than explained.

If the employer is prepared to take OP's son's word for it that it's a mistake, to the extent of reversing the retraction of the job offer, then that would indeed be ideal, but seems something of a long shot…