Credit Report refused (lots of addresses)??

Decorian

Hi Everyone,
I'm relatively new to the forums, although I've been on MSE quite a lot.

I have been refused credit when trying to get a mobile phone (which I thought was a lot less strict than a loan or something), so I decided to look at my report.
I'm looking at Experian if it makes a difference.

At first glance I couldn't see anything wrong with it, no late payments, only one credit account (student bank account with overdraft), but then I noticed the number of addresses.

It seems that since April when I moved into this flat (and we are moving again in 3 weeks!!). The credit report has linked me to 11 addresses, although to a human these addresses are all the same, (it's a strange address, with flat number, building number, flat name AND building name), and they are all written in a slightly different order. Would this look like I have moved 11 times in the last 9 months? Would the computer just look at the number of entries recorded for associated addresses?

I'm also wondering whether my girlfriend (living with me at this same address) has this same problem because she recently was refused a current account (even though she is not a student, and earns a salary).

If anyone knows, this would be very helpful, thank you.

Decorian

Just thought I should also mention that on my previous house (before April) I'm on the electoral register. But this current house, I'm not according to the credit report, even though I voted from here in the local elections last year!

Thanks again!

geordie_joe

Does your block of flats share a post code with another block?

I used to live in a block like that and got refused credit many times, until a nice man from the Halifax figured out what was happening.

Suppose I lived in flat 7 Posh House, which also share a post code with Bleak House, another block of flats.

When I apply for credit some does a check. They type in my post code and comes a list of addresses. Bleak House flats are listed first and the person, knowing I live in flat 7 just clicks the first flat 7 on the list. So the do a credit check on me living at flat 7 Bleak House instead of flat 7 Posh House.

Since then I have been refused credit twice more and both times it was for that reason. When I rang to query their decision both said they could find no record of credit check for my address. When I mentioned flat 7 Bleak House they said there had been a check on that address.

It may be worth you going to the post office web site and using the address finder. Type in your post code and see what comes up. Is it possible someone looking for your flat number could pick a flat in the wrong block, or even a house in the same road?

Decorian

Thanks for replying so quickly,

No, there is only one block on this postcode, I was thinking more of the number of addresses registered to my file. I know if you move a lot your credit rating goes down, and to a computer (which can't tell they are the same addresses), it might look like we've lived in 11 houses in the last 9 months.

Thanks for the help though, on a couple of places, this particular flat hasn't existed on their postcode search, but it's on the Post Office one.

geordie_joe

I find almost every where searches for your address by post code and then the system automatically fills out the rest of the address. If you post code isn't on someone's list then this could be why you are refused credit. Because to them your address doesn't exist.

Southern Electric had the postcode for my address wrong when I moved in. When I gave them my correct post code they couldn't find my address. For two months they refused to believe I had gas and electricity. I even took photos and posted them, but got a letter back asking to check if they actually belonged to my neighbour.

Eventually they sent a man to look at them, and he agreed I did have gas and electricity. It turned out someone at SE had typed a "K" instead of a "J" when my house was registered with them in 2002. So when I was giving the correct post code nothing was coming up. Everyone at SE believed the database and not me!

If there's something "odd" about your post code it can lead to all sorts of problems believe there system is right and you are wrong.

Decorian

Ok, thanks, I believe it is a relatively new postcode (as in the first part is not geographically correct, it's S3 here, S1 just over the road, and S6 the other side, but the rest of S3 is the other side of Sheffield!

Zebedee69

Hia mate!

Iv had a similar problem to this but nipped it in the bud very quickly!

The problem is not that your missing from the auto postcode search, its more than likely companies have been incorrectly reporting your new address leading to a broken file.

I live in nurses quarters and have a room and flat number. Problem is banks/mobile phone/cards always get the address wrong. Luckily I knew that this would impact my credit score so I tailed every company/electoral officer until they correctly reported the address. It doesnt help that you have to ring India for half of them but Iv found sending a letter with the address clearly stated helps. This sorted the problem before it even started and my CRA has updated this month with new address perfectly.

In your case its probably done a few odd things on your report:

Linked Addresses

Flat 1 Room 20 The House
The Street
The Town
County
Post Code

Flat 20
1 The House
The Town
The Street
Post code

1 The House
Flat 20
The Street
The Town

---

As you can see these are all realy the same address but to a computer they are different addresses and it looks fishy.

My advice is in two parts:

Make a list of all Cards/Bank Accounts/Mobile Phones/Loans that report to Experian CRA's. Send them all letters confirming a change of address to the correct address. A week later double check they have correct address 100% perfect no errors. If you find errors send another letter, another letter......and another...! They eventually report it correctly but it takes time.

Once you have this sorted get in touch with Experian and say that these false address details need to be taken off. Experian will contact everyone who put a wrong address on your file and they should all say "Yes thats wrong please take it off". This might take some time and ear bashing/letter sending to do but its worth it to sort out any errors.

What your aiming for is one address. If your moving soon but have been reported at this address already then its worth doing a rolling registration even for a few months just to show you definately lived there.

As a last thought your rating will be low now anyway as you have moved house. Your meant to apply for new credit/phones etc before a move so you can obtain anything your likely to need before the decrease in your rating post move. Atleast you will know this next time!

Hope this helps!:D

Decorian

Thank you very much, that seems to be exactly the problem.

However there is another element to my particular problem, I am moving house on the 15th of Feb, will the "linked Addresses" be removed automatically, because I no longer live here (and as such am no longer linked) or will they stay on (as incorrect) as a past history of where I lived or something?

If you think I should change the addresses anyway, then move house and just change the actual address, I'll get on it quickly. But if you think the old addresses will be removed anyway, then I'll leave it till I move.

Sorry to be even more confusing!
Thanks for all your help though.

Zebedee69

Linked addresses stay on your file as a record of where credit has been applied for or someone has done a check on you (job application, car insurance etc etc).....

Your best bet is to get the false addresses taken off, make sure the address you are at now is reported correctly and do a rolling electoral registration even if its only showing a month or two's residence.

That way when you move again your CRA file will show a seamless move from address 1 > address 2 > address 3 - with no dodgy linked addresses or errors and all reported correctly on electoral register.

Some more advice, if your moving into an address for a short period of time (month or two) in the future I would do a royal mail letter redirection to new address and not tell companies about the move until im in a permanent residence. Unfortunately in this case the temporary address has been reported so your best course of action is to make the moves as seamless as possible, correct any errors and wait for your rating to improve once your landed in your permanent residence.

Get to it....... now! lmao!

Decorian

Hehe, thanks.
Looks like I've got into a bit of a mess, I'm sure it can be sorted with some work though.
Unfortunately I'm in the middle of revising for exams!
I'll talk to the electoral register as well, so they know what is going on, and it looks seamless.
The house we are moving into, is still rented, but will be more permanent!
However we weren't expecting this house to be so short.
Oh well, thanks ever so much for your help.

Zebedee69

Its not too much work its a sort of 5 mins every other day on internet checking your addresses on banking and stuff. And sending a quick letter when you need to.

Good Luck with exams!