Credit Report - what to do?

carpetbelly

**Amy** wrote: »

I have quite a few loans on the report that are complete and showing as settled but still there. Is that ok?

This is fine. Even better if they have a good payment history on there but there's nothing wrong with settled accounts staying on for a period of time.

**Amy** wrote: »

I also have a debt to Next (which i have had no idea about) for £96. I can clear that today, so im going to do that.

How long do you think it will take for my credit report to show i have paid next?

Whenever next update the file, generally on a monthly basis most companies seem to do.

**Amy** wrote: »

What sort of things can i do to increase my score?

Best things are normally the following... pay on time, even if it's just the minimum amount. Regular payments made on time over a period of time are a good thing. As long as you dont have to much credit available then this should help.

**Amy** wrote: »

(sorry for all the silly questions!)
x

Not silly at all... You'd be surprised how many people dont know how credit works to well.

MrsTinks

Yes if you have a CCJ it should be on there (not to mention you should have had letters etc about it) - are you on the electoral roll where you live? If not then get on it ASAP as this will make a difference.
Don't panic about the score itself - this doesn't really mean anything and is just an indicator really for you personal reference as much as anything...
If NEXT can't find this debt and the DCA can't either then I would lodge a dispute and have it removed - worst that can happen is that they "find" the paperwork and come asking you for the £90 odd quid - best it'll at least be removed of your record till then and it might get the ball moving a little quicker... Alternatively WRITE by recorded letter to NEXT saying that you have found an unsettled debt on your credit record for x amount, you phoned them on x date and they informed you it had been passed to company x for collection. You have contacted them and they have no knowledge of this debt.
Please can they send you details of the debt, how to pay it or by return mail confirm that this debt has been written off or settled. If you get that letter DO NOT THROW IT AWAY!!! Apart from framing it you need it in case they change their mind later

Over all your credit score will improve as you repay your debts. If you are only able to pay off £50 a month then havign further credit available to you is probably not a good thing yet anyway

Best of luck!

**Amy**

tine wrote: »

Yes if you have a CCJ it should be on there (not to mention you should have had letters etc about it) - are you on the electoral roll where you live? If not then get on it ASAP as this will make a difference.
Don't panic about the score itself - this doesn't really mean anything and is just an indicator really for you personal reference as much as anything...
If NEXT can't find this debt and the DCA can't either then I would lodge a dispute and have it removed - worst that can happen is that they "find" the paperwork and come asking you for the £90 odd quid - best it'll at least be removed of your record till then and it might get the ball moving a little quicker... Alternatively WRITE by recorded letter to NEXT saying that you have found an unsettled debt on your credit record for x amount, you phoned them on x date and they informed you it had been passed to company x for collection. You have contacted them and they have no knowledge of this debt.
Please can they send you details of the debt, how to pay it or by return mail confirm that this debt has been written off or settled. If you get that letter DO NOT THROW IT AWAY!!! Apart from framing it you need it in case they change their mind later

Over all your credit score will improve as you repay your debts. If you are only able to pay off £50 a month then havign further credit available to you is probably not a good thing yet anyway

Best of luck!

Thanks Tine. Ok, i will find my customer reference number for next, and then give DCA a call tomorrow. If they still have no record i will send a letter to Next as above.

:beer:

carpetbelly

tine wrote: »

are you on the electoral roll where you live? If not then get on it ASAP as this will make a difference.

I'm sorry to say but this is a myth... Being on the electoral roll makes no difference as you now can't be penalised for not being so. Though we all have the right to vote not everyone wants to exercise this and as such you cannot be penalised for this.

What being on the electoral roll helps with is when they do address checks on you and might stop you needing to supply proof of address and that's basically it I'm afraid.

MrsTinks

It's not a myth a LOT of lenders will not lend to you regardless of your credit score if you are not on the electoral register - this happened to me and as soon as I was on the register there was no problem getting credit. Providing proof of address cut no mustard with them in the least - being on the electoral register did. Did it directly affect my "score"? Well as the score isn't official anyway then it's a theoretical question but several things were organised that month so I can't tell you which of these actions cause my score at the time to go up - I just use it as an indication to me on how I'm likely to come across if I were to ask for new credit...

carpetbelly

A LOT of lenders? Are we talking major high street lenders as if thats the case I don't want to sound arrogant or twatish but it's still not the case. You say it happened to you but without delving into your own personal experience was that the only thing that changed that month thus allowing you to get accepted elsewhere? Was it just a months difference from applying to somewhere?

I've programmed a lot of credit scoring systems in my time for various companies and not once used electoral roll for anything other than an address check.

**edit**
I reread it and tbh, I don't want to sound like a know it all as I don't. I know what I know from my experience as you know what you have from yours. I'll agree to disagree

There's definately no harm in putting yourself on a voters roll, whether it improves your rating is another mater open to debate