I tried signing up recently to both Experian and Clear Score to check my credit rating, and neither could confirm my identity. There isn't a lot of info on the website to explain why that is, but it seems like I'm just not on the system at all, like I don't exist. I've been working on and off since I left school 15 years ago, I've lived at the same address for the past 8 years, and am on the electoral roll.
I've always assumed I had a dodgy credit rating. In my 20's I was the only one of my housemates who was actually on the lease so everything went through me, and I lived with some terribly unreliable people who never paid their rent on time. As a result I was frequently overdrawn (and with no arranged overdraft - I got charged about £30 a time by the bank.)
I made a couple of other stupid decisions - I had dental treatment once and they had to chase me a bit for the money as I lost my job at the worst possible time. (I paid the bill in full within a couple of months, I just panicked and didn't handle it very well). That was 12 years ago. I've always been on a very low income, usually zero hour and close to minimum wage. I was self employed for a bit but not any more. I've applied for an overdraft maybe 3 times in my adult life and have always been refused. I've never had a mobile phone contract either - never applied as I assumed they'd refuse.
In the past 8-10 years I've been far more reliable with my money. I still don't have much of it, but I live well within my means and I've had no debt or anything. In January I applied for an Aqua credit building credit card and was accepted, and I've been really good about paying it off. They've increased my limit to £2500, which I never get near. So I applied for the first time for a mobile phone contract, as I can definitely afford the £50 a month now and I hoped I might have done enough to prove that. However, I was refused. I assumed this was down to lingering bad credit which is why I tried signing up with Experian and Clear Score in the first place, but now it seems I'm just not on their radar at all which I think might be worse! I have no idea how to fix this.
Can anyone shed light on the situation please? I would like a decent credit rating and access to it so I can see it for myself and know where I'm at.
Thanks