Not on the electoral roll? You must register to get credit!

rickbonar

caela wrote: »

Hi all,

Bit of a weird one here but I don't want to be on the electoral register because whilst they say they don't give out your information (as long as you tick the right box), I'm pretty sure they still do. I don't vote and I don't want people knowing where I live cos they are only going to share this with my banks and other people who wish to harass me.

The letter is addressed 'to the occupier' so I am assuming they can't prosecute someone whom they don't know the name of. Apparently there is a £1000 fine if you don't fill out the form, much like the who census thing. I know at our last address I never filled it in and nothing happened but I was only there for 6 months and the landlord probably did it in the end.

I know the form is also to vote so please don't all get mad about that cos I don't vote (I'm sure everyone has an opinion about this but please save it for another forum sorry!)

I called the number on the form and they said it was illegal not to return it under the 'Representation of the People Act'. Never heard of it but going to look it up.

Anyone know anything about this?

Absolutely right caella.

irishjohn

rickbonar wrote: »

John ...my first hand experience, the safeguards of data you talk of did not protect mine...OK.


Bear in mind everyone else what has been shown here.

Rick
If I were in your position with irrefutable evidence that a third party had misused your personal data then I would be taking direct action to have that party prosecuted for breaking the law. I have first hand experience of the procedures used to safeguard data.

Of course you can give an opinion on whether or not people should register - all I am doing is providing another view on that opinion and leaving individuals to decide.

rickbonar.

John,

Although the evidence exists that someone is taking my personal data and indeed other peoples data, the problem is actually proving who?

Following this up is a pointless impossibility.

There's the rub.

(sorry I seem to be having problems posting)

irishjohn

I would have to disagree with you there

rickbonar.

OK John we will agree to disagree.

Decanted

MSE_Natasha wrote: »

To get credit, be it a loan, mortgage, credit card or even mobile phone contract, it's essential to be registered on the electoral roll before applying.

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This is absolute rubbish, I'm sorry but I just got accepted for a mortgage with Nationwide and I have never been on the electoral roll. I have 3 credit cards also.

Its simply another scare tactic.

rickbonar.

Decanted wrote: »

This is absolute rubbish, I'm sorry but I just got accepted for a mortgage with Nationwide and I have never been on the electoral roll. I have 3 credit cards also.

Its simply another scare tactic.

Absolutely!

jpb77

rickbonar. wrote: »

Absolutely!

I also agree, not on the electoral at my current address but I was at my previous address and still accepted for credit. So the ER business seems to be somewhat flawed. As long as you have credit history and you can prove where you live - thats all they care about not about being on the ER etc...

DarlyPaws

Apologies for bringing this thread back up but I have a question about this that hasn't been answered.

I am a citizen of the USA and a permanent resident of the UK. However, I am not eligible to vote so can't be on the UK Electoral Roll. How do I have this noted on my credit report so it doesn't negatively affect it? My credit here is excellent as I pay my mortgage and live within my means.

Who do I contact to have this information noted on my credit file? If I am not legally allowed to vote, I shouldn't get a red mark on my credit file for not being on the electoral roll. Any help is much appreciated! Thank you!

gglaze

DarlyPaws wrote: »

I am a citizen of the USA and a permanent resident of the UK. However, I am not eligible to vote so can't be on the UK Electoral Roll. How do I have this noted on my credit report so it doesn't negatively affect it? My credit here is excellent as I pay my mortgage and live within my means.

Ditto for me. In 2-3 years of this discussion, this question seems to have been asked several times and still no one has found a good answer?

From the lender's point of view I can see why someone who hasn't taken British nationality might not seem a good bet for a long-term loan.

Seriously? What does willingness to convert to British nationality have to do with credit worthiness? If you are from the USA, I believe this would require giving up your American passport to get a UK one. Surely, willingness to switch nationalities halfway through your life is more of a sign of less credit worthiness, if it has any bearing on credit at all?

I would hope that having gone to the trouble to earn a HSMP/Indefinite visa, for example (which requires the same "life in the UK" test that Nationality would require) should also show as good a commitment to be "British", even if that really has anything to do with creditworthiness.

Anyway, rant over - seriously, can no one help us poor non-Brits out?

A few people have said this really doesn't affect your credit score at all - and perhaps, based on my experience, that might be the case. I have a number of UK credit cards with quite a high combined limit, and I also had no trouble getting a mortgage in the UK, even as a contractor, which is apparently particularly difficult. So to be honest I haven't seen much adverse effect due to not being on the electoral roll. But I am still curious, if I am missing out on a slight credit improvement, and if there is anything I can do about it.

For the record, I have also tried the trick one person mentioned - I think I "accidentally" filled out myself on the electoral roll form that came to my home one time, and accidentally selected British as my nationality...and I have even seen subsequent forms where that was still listed, for me to confirm any changes, which I did not bother to try to correct - and so just used the online code to confirm. However, on all the credit reports I've ever done with Experian, Noddle, etc - I'm pretty sure this fact still has never been properly registered, and I am still listed as not registered on the electoral roll. What gives??

Funamentally this is just a ridiculous rule, and excludes some people who are surely more credit worthy than the average person with British nationality, for an arbitrary and irrelevant reason. It makes no sense at all if my credit score in the UK is 30% lower than my credit score in the US, for no good reason.