Tenant Assessment Application Form/credit Referance Agency File

[angry cat]

Hi Guys- I am hoping that someone out there on the forum can help me? I am in the process of selling my house, just about to exchange contracts and....will have to move into a rented house. Now, I havn't rented for many years and need help on the best way to fill out the "Tenant Assessment Application Form". Okay, I know that it is quite straightforward, but I am trying to look at the issue from the letting agents view, because obviously I don't want to be turned down because of my credit reference agency file. Recently I have been defaulted because of my claiming back unfair charges- The amount of the default notice is less than the charges (money owed to me) and I am in dispute having issued a county court claim. Nevertheless, when the letting agent makes the Experian search of my CRA file the Default will show up! plus there are late payments showing on anothe credit card (MBNA) who I am also in dispute with. I havn't any CCJ's and my credit file was fine until I started trying to claim back charges! I do not have any other option, other than to rent, therefore any advice will be most welcome. Thanks Angry Cat

[Nightmare4banks]

Hi all!

angrycat,in reply to your post:

1.The possible way around your problem would be is to offer 2 or 3 months rent in advance plus the say 1 month rent security deposit.

2.Speak to 1 or 2 letting agents and be frank with them and see what they say.

3.Another possible alternative option would be not to use a letting agent at all.

4.Visit the following site as there are loads of properties up for rent and advertised by both agents and the owners throughout the country and also ads for overseas:

Flats to rent London, jobs in London, flat rent, classifieds, UK jobs

If you are based in Kent,type

Kent Classifieds - Free advertising in Kent on Gumtree.com

Then you will see the section on property to let.

5.Make contact with the owners that have placed ads and forget the agents(in the event that you get a negative response).

6.When dealing with the owners directly,make sure that you get proof that you have paid the owner in the form of a receipt.

7.If you had a mortgage on the property that your selling and you had no arrears on the mortgage throughout the last 12 months you could show the landlord/landlady/letting agent this if needed.I cannot say what the outcome would be because letting agents are fairly rigid in their criteria.However,the fact that you would be in a position to offer say 2 months or 3 months rent upfront would probably put any agent/landlord/landlady in more comfortable position to grant you a tenancy.

8.One final comment,letting agents use three main criteria to qualify potential tenants:

1.Credit Rating.
2.Previous Landlord Reference.
3.Income - This would be your income x a factor less your outgoings deducted.

Anyway,I hope you find this information useful.

If you need more help,just ask.

Keep us posted.

All the best!

[barracad]

In addition to this, landlords and letting agents deal with tenants differently - some will not be too concerned about a CCJ as long as it doesn't relate to mortgage or rent arrears, or if there are several CCJs spread accross different addresses.

Some are far more strict, but at least the landlord/agent will usually take a look at the file rather than "computer says no" like when applying for credit.

If one turns you down, try someone else - you may get more luck with private landlords who may be more interested in character references etc.

[angry cat]

Thanks Nightmare4banks & barracad for your help/suggestions
I feel a bit like a fish out of water with the renting position. However, I am trying to decide how to proceed? As previously metioned I recently discovered that Morgan Stanley had registered an unjustified Default against me, therefore I considered that it would be prudent to telephone Experian to find out what could be done about the Default, prior to filling out the tenant Application form, but shock..horror!!! Experian said that I have two Defaults now, the first from Morgan Stanley and guess who the other one is from? MBNA Groannnn. Anyhow, I managed to get the fact across to Experian that I am in Dispute with both firms, Exp. informed me that they would make an 'In Dispute' record on my file and then write to both MS & MBNA. Hopefully? that will make my CRA file look a little better.
Angry Cat

[Nightmare4banks]

Hi all!

Angrycat,I just thought about the credit file issue:

1.From my personal experience,Experian WILL ALWAYS insist that no information can be amended or deleted without the blessing of the finance company.The fact that Experian has agreed to add the in dispute comment on your file show that Experian is worried about potential litigation - about bloody time as well!

2.You are entitled to add up 200 words on your credit file - "Notice of Correction" that explains your version of the situation.You cannot use derogatory comments - pity though!

I actualy did this almost 10 years ago regarding a store card company that had missold me PPI that would not pay out resulting in the company putting negative late payment history records on my credit file at the time.


My Notice of Correction (more or less) read as follows:

"The late payment history shown on my credit file is due to the fact that I was missold a Payment Protection Plan which never paid out when I needed it to do so thus causing me to fall in arrears on the account.
I feel this information is important for any potential creditor to know that accesses my credit file."

3.I managed to get the negative records removed by confronting the company and the credit file was amended accordingly.

4.Then after doing what you have already agreed with Experian and together with The Notice Of Correction,any letting agent/landlord/landlady doing a credit search may be more understanding.Nobody can really predict the outcome in this sort of situation.

Anyway,I hope you find this information useful.

If you need any more help,just ask.

Keep us posted.

All the best!

[angry cat]

Hi Nightmare4banks and thanks for your view.
I have just been on the phone to Equifax because I feel sure that the defaults are recorded with them as well. I informed them that they have no statutory legal right to process my personal data and basically went mad at them; apparently a manager is gping to call me back, (bet he/she doesn't) also I have again 'had a go' at the Information Commissioners Office, as you know with them, the only option is to make a complaint. Therefore the only real option for the consumer is to issue claims for damages and defamation.

I'm hopping mad, because I like you paid out for PPI, my Ins. Claim was accepted but I was constantly fined due to the late payment from the insurer. I was fined an astonishing amount of times and when I 'Exercised my Right' in requesting refunds and Issue of a CC Claim, they relatiated by registering the Defaults!!!Which of course, will now have a knock-on effect with Letting Agents.
Still all that I can do is to fill out the assessment form....but if I do get turned down because of bad data, then I will have evidence to issue a Defamation of Character Claim. Not a very nice situation to be in, when one is attempting to find a home to live in.
Re:The Notice of Correction issue, I am quite uncomfortable about doing that. Because, I have done nothing wrong, that should be amended, the Bank has by its Unlaw actions.
Love AC

[Nightmare4banks]

Hi all!

angry cat,this was only a suggestion to use a temporary measure until you sort things out with these companies.In my view,if you do resort to adding the Notice of Correction it shows how much the incorrect data has affected you for you to have to do it in the first place.Anyway,my 2p's worth.

In my case when the PPI failed to pay out I did the following:

1.I complained within the company(Lombard Tricity Finance - as bad as MBNA! or worse!). to get a refund of instlaments + interest and was of course fobbed off.

2.Then I complained to then Insurance Ombudsman who after around 5 months arranged for me a fully refund of all my monthly instalments dated back almost 5 years plus interest on the instalments.

3.This amount of money (almost £600) was credited to the card account balance.

4.Then I approached the company to remove the late payment records on the file - amazingly the company agreed due to the fact that I highlighted that data was misleading and inaccurate.

This may be a possible route you should take if you have not already done so in order to make you credit file look the way it should.

Anyway,I hope you find this information useful.

If you need more help,just ask.

Keep us posted.

All the best!

[angry cat]

Hi Nightmare4banks,
I thank you for your advice & assistance

In my particular case, I have been advised by both Tinkerbelle & Surlybonds that it would be inappropriate for me to add a Notice of Correction to my Credit File. Instead of which, I am going out 'All Guns' to get the unjustified Defaults removed!

However, in the meantime I am still left with the problem of a letting agent accepting my tenancy!
Fortunately, I have managed to overcome this problem by paying six months rent in advance Ouch!!
Still, it at least means that I will have a roof over my head, plus giving me time to clean up my unfairly blighted credit file, as well as sorting out my PPI difficulties.

Love Angry Cat

[Nightmare4banks]

Hi all!

angrycat,the folks that suggested that are better in the know about the specifics of your problems.

However,I would just like to add one thing.If you put the Notice of Correction and get progress in removing the negative information you could then remove the Notice of Correction as its main objective is to give any company that has your consent to carry out a credit search your version of the events.

Anyway,just a thought.

The main thing now is you have got around the rent problem.6 months rent is a lot of money but then again MONEY TALKS!

On a seperate note,go for it regarding the PPI!

I was recently taken to court by one company over 2 loans and I counterclaimed for the PPI plus contractual interest and won.More details can be found under my thread in the Insurance and Assurance section.You may find my experience useful in "grilling" the companies that you have had PPI problems with.


Anyway,if you need any more help,just ask.


All the best!