Moneysavingexpert.com/ Your Credit Rating discussion area

jooles18

hi, can anyone tell me the best way to repair my credit history. i only have two marks against my name and they have both been paid off in full last year. should i just write to them?
does anyone have any ideas
:beer:

jeninbrighton

Early last year, I stopped receiving my statements from O2. I phoned them to enquire, and they said that my address had been changed to somewhere in Scotland! (I live in Brighton). They apologised to me for their error, and corrected my address back to Brighton.

A year later, I have just checked my experian and equifax credit reports, and O2 has reported this strange Scottish address to both of them, and is reporting that I currently live there! I registered a Notice of Dispute with Equifax, but O2 wrote them back and told them that is indeed my correct address. When I phone O2, they claim that since they are sending my invoices to my correct Brighton address, there is nothing they can do.

I upgraded my complaint with O2, and a nice young man said he'd sort it out for me, but today I just recieved a voicemail from him saying that the credit department is saying their information is correct (whatever they think that is), and that they will not change anything with the CRAs.

I am going to phone him back at lunchtime, but is there anything I can say or do? Threaten to report them to Ofcom? Do they have any legal responsibility to correct my information?

justruth

You can complain to the information commisioner. The details are on the equifax and experian sites

Molpole

I want to take advantage of credit cards, but no-one will give me their card! I had never had a card (or any other debts) before. I tried applying for a Morgan Stanley cash-back card, but I was turned down (I was probably a bit ambitious!)

I checked my credit report, and it all seemed ok. I was accepted for one card, from Nationwide (I have my current account with them) back in March 2006. I pay off the full amount every month, and I thought that would help, but no.

I recently applied for cards with M&S, Abbey and Egg (with a suitbale gap), but was turned down for all of them.

I still live at home, but I earn an ok wage. I don't have a bad credit history. Is it becuase I don't really have any sort of history? Does this mean I have to apply for 'bad' cards and 'repair' my history, even though I've never had any problems?

dan1234_2

Hi,
May 2004, I was bankrupt. Now, I earn a decent wage, and am happy.
I am on the Electral role untill (well in a few days), If I sign the Electoral opt-out, will I get letters from the companies I onced owed money too?
What Im trying to say, is I dont want the companies who I once owed cash too, contact me.

I want a fresh start, but my credit report still shows the same companies on the list. They dont seemed to have cleared or changed my report.

what are your views?

arkie

"I want a fresh start, but my credit report still shows the same companies on the list. They dont seemed to have cleared or changed my report."

as far as Im aware , your bankruptcy will stay on your file for 6 years, so their is no fresh start, even removing yourself from the electoral roll will not stop you from getting the letters

sursq

Hi good people!

This is my first post, but this site and board is the best habit I've got, and I lurk most days, I would swoon if I ever met Martin.

Right, on to my topic. I am researching loans, and would like to know if catalogue (Kaleidoscope and La Redoute) arrears appear on credit scores the same way that credit card/loan/utility arrears would.

Every time I order with these catalogues I recite my debit card number, assuming I have paid there and then. However, Kaleidoscope recently phoned me about arrears that I have built up from September and I cleared the arrears on the phone then. They have never phoned me/left messages before.

Obviously I am at fault for not paying enough attention to my statements. I will search this board and investigate claiming any charges (does this affect my credit score?).

But as catalogues are the one form of debt I've never been in before, I'd just like to know how this credit facility was ever created, as I've never signed any form or contract like I have for every other credit or utility I've undertaken, apart from my overdraft (I guess as I’d already signed for the current account). It doesn't seem at all responsible and very misleading. (I'd like to say again that I do take responsibility for not catching this sooner) I’m just annoyed that my credit score could be affected by credit I never wanted.

Cheers to you all!

sapamm

I have completely separate finances from my wife, although obviously we share the same address (she owns the house and mortgage). She has always had good finances and has never gotten into trouble. She has a card and an overdraft and has never gone behind in payments of any kind other than the occasional Direct Debit bounce and a handful of those £30 fees!

She has just applied for a new bank account so that she can challenge her bank over these fees. However, the new account was declined due to her credit rating.

Conversely, I am currently going through debt remedy for significant sums. My question is, although our finances are completely separate is there any other way in which my situation could have affected her credit rating. I would like to know in case it saves her paying 12.50 for a credit report.

frugalpam

Can anyone tell me what the numbers mean - i.e. what figures are classed as good, medium, poor, etc?

thanks
Pam

xgingerx

Hi, please see below as requested....

Experian

0 560 Very poor
561 720 Poor
721 880 Fair
881 960 Good
961 1000 Excellent

Equifax
0 299 Very poor
300 349 Poor
350 399 Fair
400 474 Good
475 750 Excellent