3 credit scores in a week - credit rating help

[donaldm]

I recently turned 18 and think I may have made a big mistake - which affects my credit rating. 3 weeks ago, I applied for an RBS student account and since then I have heard no confirmation of a new account being opened. Since I needed an overdraft at the time, I decided to open a student account with HBOS and apply for a student credit card at the same time. I had appointments with HBOS and RBS yesterday, to sort my accounts out. I was at HBOS first, where I wanted to open a new student account and student credit card. They had to check my credit rating to open the account, and had a problem with the system and told me to come back the next day (today). I then went to the RBS, intent on closing one of my accounts and upgrading one of my accounts to a standard current account. However, the customer adviser there began talking about the student credit card and current account and I was impressed - RBS were the better offer. I told her about the 3 weeks I'd been waiting, and she simply upgraded my existing account to a student account with the click of a button, and I also applied for the credit card. I went back to HBOS today and found out my student account application had come through, but I was able to cancel the credit card application. Now, I have two student accounts and a credit card. I am hoping I can change the status of my HBOS account from a student to a standard current account and hopefully able to keep the same account numbers etc. But my worry is this - at the end of this month I will have opened 1 new account, upgraded 2 accounts, closed 2 accounts, and applied for a credit card. I have been told this week I have 3 credit scores. How does this affect my credit rating? My dad said not to worry as the credit rating is about your ability to pay credit cards and debt etc, but now I am really worried that I have ruined my life. Is it going to seriously affect my credit rating, and how will it affect me long term?

[clemma]

Your credit rating is based on how you manage your accounts not really by what you have. I used to have 3 credit cards and umpteen catalogues and was still able to obtain credit. That's not the case now - but only because I got into financial difficulties and could not maintain payments.

 

As long as everything is paid on time etc., then you will have no issues. A credit rating gives the lender an idea of how you run your finances - having zero balances on an account and credit card will show up as "satisfactory" on your credit file - nothing more.

 

Try not to worry about it!!

[sillygirl1]

The three scores mentioned are with the following main companies

 

Experiana

Equifax

Callcredit

 

Eaqch has a different 'criteria' depending on who is doing the asking and each are supposed to be independant - but I don't believe that.