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Original poster

My dick of a husband has just destroyed our credit rating!

13 replies

Brambles34 · 02/05/2015 08:40

We have recently moved house but stayed with the same energy providers. I opened a letter yesterday which was a "we'll send the big ugly boys round unless you pay" etc etc.

basically my husband had been ignoring the final demand letters as he assumed that they would just take the money out of our account (we've always paid by direct debit) so did nothing about it. (It's for the final bill from last house). I had no idea as he deals with the bills etc.

It's all been paid now but was told that it would be on our credit report as an unpaid bill.

We've always had a great credit rating so now slightly annoyed. Confused How will this affect us? We don't take out loans or HP or anything but concerned that it will affect us in the future when we want to change mortgage or move house again?

Is there anything we can do to build it back up quickly?
Thanks

OP posts:
ihatethecold · 02/05/2015 09:08

Why don't you take some responsibility for doing the bills then?

I think you're being quite harsh and nasty about your DH.

sooperdooper · 02/05/2015 09:12

If you've always paid by direct debit why didn't they take the payment? I'd be putting in a complaint with the company!

One late bill isn't the end of the world unless you want to apply for a mortgage or loan within the next year, carry on and it'll be fine

thornrose · 02/05/2015 09:13

Have you looked at your Experian credit file? You can get a free trial. It's really interesting.

If you take out a credit card and pay it off every month. Pay more than the minimum and don't reach your credit limit this can improve your rating.

One unpaid bill won't destroy your whole credit rating, there will be positives too.

sooperdooper · 02/05/2015 09:13

Oh and if you're so concerned about your credit rating you should take some respnsibility for paying bills, like an adult

avocadotoast · 02/05/2015 09:16

Unless it's been passed to a debt collection company it may not be on your credit file (energy bills often aren't; it depends on the company). Is the bill in joint names or just yours/his?

Get the bill paid, give it a few weeks (as credit files only get updated every 4-6 weeks) then get a copy of your credit file from each of the three credit reference agencies (Callcredit, Experian, Equifax). You can do it online, it's pretty straightforward.

Unfortunately if the debt has been recorded on there then there won't be anything you can do about it as it'll be an accurate report of an unpaid debt. But it should update to show that it's been paid off once you clear it.

Things stay on your credit file for six years, so if you're not applying for credit or to change the mortgage etc in that time then it won't have an effect on you. It should automatically drop off after that time.

Original poster
Brambles34 · 02/05/2015 09:16

My DH does the bills and I do do other stuff in return. It's how our marriage works for us. Came on here to ask advice on credit scores not on what roles I play in my marriage thank you. Think I'll be logging off now bye :-)

OP posts:
Original poster
Brambles34 · 02/05/2015 09:18

But thank you to the others that have been helpful :-)

OP posts:
Jackieharris · 02/05/2015 09:35

You are massively overreacting.

NotCitrus · 02/05/2015 09:41

Calm down. Cock-ups by utility companies are so normal everyone probably has one on file. If it's all paid now, just check your credit file or get dh to, and get the company to confirm payment if necessary.

Possibly it will improve your credit rating as companies like lending to people they can make more money from (ie the odd late/not full payment) as long as they do actually pay up!

CactusAnnie · 02/05/2015 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CocktailQueen · 02/05/2015 09:56

Imagine what would happen if someone posted 'my wife has been a dick, she's cocked up our credit rating' - doesn't sound good, does it?

Mistakes happen. You're overreacting. Either take some responsibility for paying bills or forget about it.

wickedwaterwitch · 02/05/2015 14:26

Sorry people have been rude to you OP.

Energy companies don't always share their debtors so I wouldn't worry too much for now, especially if it didn't get as far as a debt collector.

If you want to improve your rating:

Whoever said get some cards (but not too many) is right. Pay them off in full every month. But do use them a bit, zero balances won't build your credit profile

Make sure you're on the electoral roll

Close accounts for cards you don't use though

Get your own file from experian and check it's accurate

Fluffycloudland77 · 03/05/2015 08:59

I'd take over the bills. He isn't managing them is he?. I'd say this shows he doesn't know what he's doing.

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