James
How can I improve my credit rating? I didn't have my name on the electoral roll because I wasn't interested in voting. Could this have affected my credit rating?
Daniel, London
Daniel
Did you know that it was against the law not to register to vote? You can be fined up to £1,000! And you are right, not being on the electoral roll can cause you problems when you apply for credit because lenders use it to check your name and address. I take it that you have now registered, but it may take a little while for this information to appear on your credit report. Your local council has recently published its annual electoral registers, as have all the other councils in the UK, and we are in the process of updating our records. This may take until the end of February to complete because there are a lot of records to check. As a result, if you need to apply for credit in the meantime, be prepared to provide alternative proofs of address and identity, like a driving licence or a utility bill. For some further tips on improving your chances of getting credit, visit our FAQ top ten.
James