By This Is Money
Updated:
I have recently had my son staying with me. He now has a bank account, two credit cards, a mobile phone and driving licence all with my address on them.
Blacklisting: Will my son's debts affect my credit history?
Though he only stayed for a short period, he has incurred a lot of debt. What can I do about this and does it affect me in any way?C.M., Norwich
Can I or my address be blacklisted due to my son's bad debts? Doug, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
James Jones, consumer education manager at credit reference agency Experian, replies:
This applies to both the fathers. Your own credit history is not in danger, so don't worry about that. These days, credit checks are carried out on people not addresses, so addresses cannot be blacklisted.
Your credit history could be affected by your son's debts if you've applied for credit together at some stage, creating a link on your credit reports. But I'm guessing this is probably not the case, so you won't be affected by his debts or arrears.
Assuming you know your son's new address, I suggest you forward his post on to him and encourage him to tackle his debts head on. If you think he's in a financial pickle you might also urge him to contact one of the free debt advice charities for help, such as Citizens Advice, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service or National Debtline. They will help him get his finances back on track and limit the damage to his own credit history.
If you want to check whether you have linked your credit history to someone else's, simply order a copy of your credit report and check the section of your report entitled 'financial associations'.
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