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Relationships and credit ratings - Ask our expert

Dear Chris, I broke up with my boyfriend last year but I’m worried he might still be affecting my credit rating.

He was awful with money and kept getting red letters from credit card companies. We took out a joint loan for a holiday and I ended having to pay it all off by myself.

I’m thinking of applying for a mortgage soon, but am worried he might have damaged my credit rating. How can I sort this out?

Ruth, via emailTuesday, 27 October 2009

On the subject of relationships and credit ratings, our expert says...

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for getting in touch. I’m not surprised you are worried about your ex damaging your credit rating.

Based on your taking out a joint loan, you will be linked with him on your credit report, and so his current financial status could now be adversely affecting yours.

It’s easy to check whether this is the case – you simply need to check your credit report with each of the three credit ratings agencies – Experian (www.experian.co.uk), Call Credit and Equifax (www.equifax.co.uk).

Read our guide to checking your credit report

As the loan has been paid off, assuming you have no other joint account, you are no longer financially linked. So there is no need for this connection still to be detailed on your credit report.

What you need to do therefore, is contact each to the credit ratings agencies to inform them that the loan has been paid off and you are no longer connected to your ex.

Once you have checked the link has been removed from each report, you are free to apply for new credit, without worrying about your ex’s bad habits tainting your record.