Hi Tiredmama007.

We're really not lending or credit file experts. Being a debt adviser or insolvency professional is quite different, though I guess you pick up some information on these topics along the way.

The golden rule with credit status is that you'll only ever find out if you qualify to get something by applying for it.

Remember that a credit reference agency only tells you what it thinks a lender might think of you. What each lender actually thinks of you will depend on their own unique analysis of your credit report and the information that you provide in an application.

I think sometimes people think the scores provided by the reference agencies count for more than they really do. At best they're an indication.

I'm afraid none of us here are experts on credit files. I'd have thought that your previous file would simply be updated to reflect your new surname, otherwise people would just change their name to get around a bad credit history.

Looks like we're all competing to announce just how little we know about credit files again!

Hi, thanks for this. I suppose the reason I ask is that there is no records of the trust deed on the file? Or any of my previous debts? I would have expected some sort of history? It's almost like a clean slate! Bit strange and confusing.

My wife had an excellent rating with Experian in her maiden name but when she changed to our married name it went back to good....but it never affected our mortgage application which was ultimately successful.

Hi Tiredmama007.

I think for many major credit applications (like a mortgage) you'd probably need to provide previous recent names as well?

I just wouldn't read too much into a "credit score" provided by a credit reference agency. It's more important to make sure that your credit file (or credit files) are updated and accurate.