Can you be fined £1000 for not registering to vote?

[WildeWoman]

Received a flyer type thing in the door stating that someone called to the house but we were not in and they will call back, but we have to fill in some household form and if we don't, we can be fined £1000. It looks official.
Is this a new thing? Is it like a census or something?
There's no household form here that I can see (shared accomodation).
I'm not English.
AIBU to think that this is bizarre?

It's got a slogan/logo on the top with 'your vote counts'. Then it mentions the council we're in.

[squoosh]

No

[WildeWoman]

Well what the fuck is it then?

[squoosh]

Or maybe it's actually 'yes'!

www.gov.uk/electoral-register/overview

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I think it is an £80 fine for not registering, but they'll keep fining you until you do.

[WildeWoman]

Ok, I'll try to type out exactly what it says:

[WildeWoman]

Shite. Better register then. Shared accomodation here, so can only register myself.

There's tick boxes on it.
They've ticked the box 'Household Enquiry Form - If you don't complete and return this form you could be fined £1,000'

They have NOT ticked 'Individual Registration Form - If you don't complete and return this form you could be fined £80'.

Bizarre shit!

[Becca19962014]

It's to do with registering to vote. Yes you can be fined now (if eligible to vote and not registered). I don't know if they do or not but I live in a house with several flats and the council keep coming round about those who haven't registered.

It's to do with the amount of money from the government being dependent on the number of people living in the county being registered to vote (you don't actually need to vote) - or so ive been told (so that may be incorrect!).

I suggest phoning the number on this letter to see if you are eligible to register, some people aren't, if you are eligible they will keep coming to ask you to register. That's my experience in my area (very rural and losing a lot of government money so they are really chasing this).

[WeeHelena]

It says they do but iv only ever registered to vote once and that was for the referendum.
And I'm almost 25.
No big fines yet.

[WildeWoman]

It also says on the bottom:

Not registering can also harm your credit score, ability to get a mortgage, loan, mobile phone contract and other credit facilities.

WTF? A bit heavy handed eh?

[Becca19962014]

Sorry massive x-post.

Is your accommodation registered as shared/HMO (house of multiple occupation)? If not then that's why it says householder and you need to get that changed.

[Becca19962014]

If you aren't registered it does effect your ability to get those things, always has as far as I know.

[WildeWoman]

Wouldn't have a clue as to how the house is registered.

It's addressed to 'Occupier'.

[OurBlanche]

Yes, you can. If you are not on the electoral register there can be all sorts of knock on effects. It has always been like that.

It doesn't mean that if you don't register they will remove your right to have a credit score, ability to get a mortgage, loan, mobile phone contract and other credit facilities, etc. It just means that all of those check the electoral register, as part of their check on you. So not being registered can make it harder to prove your creditworthiness.

It is a legal obligation to register. Just tick the box that reduces the amount of data that is held publicly.

[squoosh]

Being on the electoral register is always something that helps your ability to get credit.

[LurkingHusband]

It also says on the bottom:

Not registering can also harm your credit score, ability to get a mortgage, loan, mobile phone contract and other credit facilities.

WTF? A bit heavy handed eh?

But true.

[OurBlanche]

WildeWoman are you eligible to vote?

If not then it becomes a moot point. You could add a note with your name and nationality and give it back to them. Then they will leave you alone.

If you are in a shared house, everyone should do that, or they will keep coming back.

[hellsbellsmelons]

Well my OH found out to his detriment that it helps your credit score if you are registered to vote etc... so that bit is absolutely true.

[NotMeNotYouNotAnyone]

It is true, they check the register as it's considered proof that you live where you say you do.

[differentnameforthis]

I would ignore the flier, and go through the official website!

[OurBlanche]

If you do that the person with the flier may still come back. They are given lists of addresses and those lists take time to update.

If they do come back just explain your situation and they will make a note and move on.

[SilverOldie2]

You can register online, takes about two minutes.

[sohelpmegoad]

I have done the visits for the electoral roll, we have to visit every one who hasnt registered twice. Its usually the same people who dont/wont register. Some people can be very offensive about the visit, or even about having their doorbell rang.
I dont do it now the aggro is not worth the pay

[wasonthelist]

Op you say you're not English (assume you are living in England), but if you are Irish, you can vote here.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

We had someone knocking on our door wanting to know why our 17 year old hadn't registered. They said a fine would be imposed if he didn't.

[Littlef00t]

I asked my local council, they had fined someone last year because he made a big song and dance about refusing to register, ordinary people who dodge the callers etc ar v unlikely to be picked on.

The credit rating thing is because credit agencies use your record on the electoral roll when checking your credit and your data. If you're not on there, it does affect your rating.

They give you a year or possibly 2 before you drop off the register, assuming you've not moved etc.

You don't have to have your details available for marketing etc, tick the relevant box.