Credit checks and the Electoral Roll

Er... are you checking for where a person has lived or his credit history... they are not the same thing.

I regularly move flats... and countries... it does not mean that my (UK) bank acounts also move.

If you have a question about a person's credit history... why not ask him? There can only be one legitimate reason and that is if you wish to lend him money.

The purpose of the Electoral Roll has nothing to do with credit scoring.

Axel

if you are not on the electoral roll it can have a serious effect on credit scoring, but most companies will ask for 3 months proof of address and for you to show 3 years of where you have lived

Well, both really; but the major issue is the credit history. (I'm happy he currently lives where he says he does.)

Ask him? As in, "Do you have a good credit history?" "Yes, absolutely!" "Oh great, that's OK then". Don't think so...! The reason I'm check ing is almost as above; I want to rent a property to him.

Maybe I should rephrase my original query. I've given the guy's name, DOB, NI number and address for the last 4 years to the credit checking agency (Equifax actually, not Experian); the report shows he's not on the Electoral Roll at that address and he has no credit history other than one account closed 6 months ago. That cannot be an accurate reflection of his activities over the past 25 years... so assuming it's not related to his presence/absence on the electoral roll, how do I find out about it?

I should add that the guy has very good references and my instinct says he's fine; I'd just like to reassure myself over this odd credit history thing.

Thanks David

Opting out of the public Electoral Roll means that it is not available to the public. It is still available to the credit reference agencies. You cannot opt out of this.

Ha, ha ha...

I was quite able to open a Dutch bank account without proof of my UK address and a Finnish and US one. I think I will stick with those.

Axel

You don't necessarily need to have a positive credit score to open a bank account as it can run on a credit only basis. But in the UK Banks make a loss on you if you never borrow any money from them so they aren't interested in giving accounts to people if they aren't prepared to lend to that person.

tim

In that case you will probably find that as he has been renting he will not have a great credit history based on the electoral roll.

I cannot answer that question... but would the more important point be to find out what job he is doing and then make a judgement on that?

Just ask for 2 months deposit instead of the standard one month.

Axel

As one of the many mismanagements of NuLab... why on Earth any private agency should be able to access my details without permission is beyond me.

Axel

Get your tinfoil hat back on you prick.

g.

Assuming you are not paranoid or have anything to hide exactly what specific benefit do you feel that you would get from being able to withhold the information from them? Or is it just sheer bloody mindedness?

Peter Crosland

"Paul Nutteing" wrote

The leaflet that came with our forms specifically stated that the local libraries would only hold the *edited* register, and would not have the complete register. You need to visit the Council Office to see the full register, and only specified people are allowed to have copies etc etc.

"Peter Crosland" wrote

When you walk down the road, do you put a sticker on your head saying (eg) "I have 500 in my wallet - it's in my left inside jacket pocket...."?

Any possibility that might attract pick-pockets?

When faced with that much bureaucratic incompetence, sheer bloody mindedness is often the only weapon available. Of course, once we've all got ID cards then we'll all be perfectly safe from credit fraud and identity theft.

Dave

It may be sheer bloody mindedness... but why the hell should certain private organisations be allowed to gather data on me without my permission and have that right enshrined in legislation?

They have no business knowing anything about where I live.

Axel

I would assume that throughout life you've been lucky enough to be able to pay for anything you need with cash only?

the only alternative is you are a 'swampy' type character for whom money has no meaning, and credit is an evil cast about the place by a government who just want to control you and everything you do (cue twilight zone theme).

g.

My father was over 60 when he first applied for credit. He was appalled to be turned down because the lender assumed, as you do, that nobody can have such a credit history. Lending money is a gamble, you have to decide whether the information that is available to you about this person is such that you wish to take that gamble. Credit scoring and credit histories are only a part of the picture.

Can you not distinguish between a bank having an address and a totally outside body having access to records. For your information I have bank accounts in several countries... none of the addresses would match a UK electoral address... if I had one.

But I do prefer to deal in cash, that is true.

Axel

All noted. So it might be inferred that you do have something to hide!

Peter Crosland

Appreciate all that; but there's no doubt that there must be credit information for this person but that I'm just not seeing it. Eg, I know he had a mortgage at one time; he has a current bank account - certainly the former, and possibly the latter, should feature in his credit history. I just don't get why I'm obviously not seeing the full picture!

David