Having credit at different addresses?

zmzn

Hello all, I'm usually a lurker here but hoping for some guidance. Please forgive the rambling length.

I'm mid-20s, was at uni a few years ago. Since leaving I've stayed in 4 private-let flats (with the same friends) in less than 3 years. It's not that we get bored easily, but incompetent letting-agenices, rent hikes, changes in circumstances etc. led to this. Because this situation came on the back of student digs changing every year, I still view my parents' house as my 'home' address, my permanent base; it's nearby, I visit often, and am on the electoral register there.

I've had one credit card only ever listed at my parents' address. Another credit card, a current account & a mobile phone contract listed at my parents' house, then 2 of the flats, then back to my parents. Then another current account & a third credit card only ever listed at the flats. Also had a store card (purely for discount on a large purchase) listed at one of the flats, then at my parents' before closing it.

My combined credit limit is £4000. I have never missed a payment and clear the cards in full each month. My only debt is student loan. I use one card and account (with same bank) as my main ones - the card gives rewards - so they are the only ones listed at my present flat, everything else I moved back to my parents' address to keep things simple (and through worry about mail going astray). The companies know it's my parents' house.

Should say I did most of this before knowing much about credit files. I don't need credit now (actually thinking of closing one of the cards), but after reading through this site, I'm wondering what effect all these moves/split addresses may have longer term? I've checked Experian and it's all there under linked addresses and everything seems ok.

I don't know how long I will be at my current flat, so would it be best to combine everything at my rented flat and move it if/when I do, or combine it all at my parents' address? In about 18 months I may be living abroad for a while, so everything would be moved back there yet again.

Thanks for reading this far down, any advice appreciated!

Scousebird_2

Hi Hun

Take my advice here. I have been in the same situation as you and I have not settled until Jan last year where I had a home of my own (that I didn't share and everything was in my name-bills, rent etc) and then I recently moved in with my partner now I have built up my history and accounts. From 2003-2006, I had all my credit in my parents address (i've lived with them all my life) because I was working away from home-staying with friends (much like being a student) and I have always run my credit through my parents address. I have recently took out a personal loan-in June 2007 and a credit card (in addition to the 4 I have been approved for and used from 03-06) last one was virgin money and my credit limit was awarded at £2000!

And the last thing is-i'm 20 (21 this year)

So based on my circumstances-it hasn't affected me!

All I would say is, as soon as you possibly can-get all your credit and accounts in your name at 1 secure address that you reside at

Then get your name on the Electoral Register-lenders love to see you on those

And finally keep up to date on your payments as you have done and let your address history settle. That way, credit should be absolutley no problem for you.

Hope this answers your question/post

emma396

i'm pretty much in the same position as you, i'm a teacher and during term time live away from my parents. for the last 3 years i've rented, but have never puy down the address i was staying at as my home address. all mail gets sent to my parents and i pick it up every fortnight or so. i find that its easier becuase i dont know how long i will be staying where i am. personally zmzn, i would put everything in your parents address as long as they don't mind. it looks good to have stayed in the same address for a long time.

zmzn

Thank you both for such thoughtful replies, very helpful. Scousebird, glad to hear it's been okay for you, hope I'm the same! emma396, I think you're right about bundling it all back at the parents', it's probably the easiest way, especially if I may be moving again fairly soon. (The pitfalls of being young and renting, huh?)

Although if I did that, given some of the cards have moved away from my parents then back again, would it be okay to apply for future credit at that address, even if I don't stay there most of the time, and what would I say for the "how long have you stayed at this address" question? I was thinking of closing one card and applying for the Nationwide one for free overseas use. Given the situation would it be best to apply in branch to explain in person? I don't want it to look like fraud!

Thanks again for all the help.