getting credit

[123bernadett]

Why cant i get low credit rates for cards/loans in my name? I have no problems with money but my husband has ccjs and never pays his debts cos hes a gambler.

[xrayspecs]

Credit reference agencies tend not to identify individuals as a credit risk but in terms of property. The house in which you live ironically has the poor credit rating, so unless you move your chances of improving your own rating are limited.

It sounds very strange but there are examples of where individuals moving into property where previously people with very suspect credit ratings lived find it difficult to get credit due to the "houshold" history.

[Gadgetman]

123 bernadette If your husband still lives at your address it might be the case that the bad debts are against the address, not just the person. It may cost to have them removed if he does not live there though.

[Ethel]

If your husband somehow gets a loan in both your names, you will be jointly liable for the debt.
Loan companies are aware of his debts.

[sherryberry]

Nowadays, the credit reference companies should not look at the property postcode of the applicant - they should look at the individual. They do not always do this but they should.

It is more likely that you are "financially associated" with your husband in that you have one or more joint accounts (this can be loan, mortgage, current account), This means that when you apply for credit it will automatically pick up on your husband's credit history. If you don't have any joint accounts you would have to write to the agencies, Experian, Equifax and Call Credit to create a "notice of disassociation" between you and your husband. However, in a married situation this would be difficult to prove.

You might like to request a �2 statutory credit report from Experian or Equifax and see the information that they hold about you. They have website's where you can apply on-line for the search but beware that you ask for the statutory report otherwise they automatically charge you about �8-�9 for an online report and there's not much difference other than one is obviously instantaneous and one take's about a week to come through the post.

Another useful website is www.moneysavingexpert.com. Martin Lewis the journalist and other subscribers gives answers to questions just like yours.

[Oneeyedvic]

I'm sorry xrayspecs but you are talking absolute cr@p. There is absolutely no credit reference agency that work on houses - it is all on individuals.

That said, the reason you are having problmes is because there will have been a 'financial link' made between you as you will have had or applied for credit together at some stage.

Becasue you are financially linked, the finance ompany will automatically look at both your searches, not just yours. Because he is not paying his debts, the lenders (being responsible people) will not want 'the partnership' to get into more debt which can't be serviced. There is also the possibility that your husband may have things repossessed which will of course affect you.

If you are no longer with your husband, then you need to contact www.experian.co.uk" target="_blank">http://www.experian.co.uk">www.experian.co.uk and www.equifax.co.uk and file a "notice of disassocaition" so that his credit is no longer taken into account when you apply.

If you are still with your husband then I am afraid there is very little you can do.