Does anyone find the new credit reference agencies are holding predominantly disabled people back? — Scope | Disability forum
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Does anyone find the new credit reference agencies are holding predominantly disabled people back?

Lolipopjunior
Lolipopjunior Community member Posts: 4 Connected
Does anyone find the new credit reference agencies are holding predominantly disabled people back. Being disabled has a profound effect on our finances and the road to finding ourselves with a disability is a rocky road strewn with unpaid bills, untill we receive the correct benefits which limits us to paying the due bills but not allowing us to pay any historical debts leaving us stuck in credit reference agencies bad books. There are no checks to see if our limitations should be taken into account.Whsts your feelings towards this people.

Comments

  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,127 Connected
    How are credit reference agencies holding you back, can you explain further? 
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    The biggest con of all is that CRA's produce so called "credit scores" nobody has a credit score it's a made up number, we all have credit history and if you have a bad one it will probably stop you getting more credit.
    I'm not sure how  CRA would hold back a disabled person @Lolipopjunior perhaps you could explain?
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  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,127 Connected
    woodbine said:
    The biggest con of all is that CRA's produce so called "credit scores" nobody has a credit score it's a made up number, we all have credit history and if you have a bad one it will probably stop you getting more credit.
    I'm not sure how  CRA would hold back a disabled person @Lolipopjunior perhaps you could explain?
    Yes, fully agree. On another forum I use, there is so many misconceptions around the score. 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,911 Disability Gamechanger
    According to my credit score its  149 out of 700   which says its poor but still allowed credit 
  • woodbine
    woodbine Community member Posts: 11,521 Disability Gamechanger
    @lisathomas50 as above no one has a credit "score" it's a made up number that no one else sees, your credit history is more important and lenders do see that e.g have you had a ccj or have you missed payments.
    I have to admit that since I became disabled I have never had a problem obtaining credit.
    2024 The year of the general election...the time for change is coming 💡

  • Lolipopjunior
    Lolipopjunior Community member Posts: 4 Connected
    It's the lost job and the getting put onto the correct benefits I worked and was self employed got jammed between two cars overnight my income stopped my savings lasted a year then had to try and sell my stuff including car it took 2 years of being paid 72 pounds a week to be properly assessed by the dwp, my mp had to be brought in and social workers to finally get me sorted out so if u havnt yet worked out how my credit score was affected it was directly affected by becoming disabled thus impacting my credit rating. You say the scores or numbers are there to show lenders were somehow inept at managing our monetary obligations loosing a job becoming ill and disabled all contribute in their own way to further hinder a persons health and wellbeing to be somewhat punished for having an accident are you saying an accident and injury causing disability has nothing to do with paying ones debts i think you personally are being a wee bit harsh on the disabled community. If u have no job and are left penniless please explain how we could possibly not fall into debt I'm not a rich man I'm a working man always paid my dues untill as a say I had the accident and now the disability it's pretty much commonsense woodbine. 
  • Lisatho11987777
    Lisatho11987777 Scope Member Posts: 5,911 Disability Gamechanger
    @woodbine I have found it easier to get credit since I had a disability and more do in the last year where I havent worked 
  • MarkM88
    MarkM88 Community member Posts: 3,127 Connected
    It's the lost job and the getting put onto the correct benefits I worked and was self employed got jammed between two cars overnight my income stopped my savings lasted a year then had to try and sell my stuff including car it took 2 years of being paid 72 pounds a week to be properly assessed by the dwp, my mp had to be brought in and social workers to finally get me sorted out so if u havnt yet worked out how my credit score was affected it was directly affected by becoming disabled thus impacting my credit rating. You say the scores or numbers are there to show lenders were somehow inept at managing our monetary obligations loosing a job becoming ill and disabled all contribute in their own way to further hinder a persons health and wellbeing to be somewhat punished for having an accident are you saying an accident and injury causing disability has nothing to do with paying ones debts i think you personally are being a wee bit harsh on the disabled community. If u have no job and are left penniless please explain how we could possibly not fall into debt I'm not a rich man I'm a working man always paid my dues untill as a say I had the accident and now the disability it's pretty much commonsense woodbine. 
    I cant totally understand the connection that you re making. 

    In the sense that you have debt and you ar finding it harder to pay because of reduced income, than yes, I totally see that. 

    The CRAs still have to record an accurate record of your payment history and credit history though, regardless of a health condition or disability, otherwise that would put you at an advantage over other people. 

    All I can suggest is ig you are struggling you work with your debtors to come up with an affordable payment plan or you seek more specialist and professional advice from a debt charity such as step change. 

    https://www.stepchange.org/

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