Move to first house threatened over card debt

Aug 30 2009 by Mr Justice, Sunday Sun

I asked why and was astounded to hear what had happened. Emma said: “Our credit record said we owed £4 on a store card but it had paid in full by that time

“I have now spoken to the store and they have stated that this will be wiped from my credit report but can’t be done immediately. I cannot bear any more sleepless nights worrying that we do not have a mortgage.”

Emma said there was a second reason why her mortgage application failed. She said Halifax made several mistakes when they carried out credit checks. They did not include her middle name and even got her date of birth wrong.

In addition a request by Emma to ring her solicitor, who would have been able to verify the store card was now clear, went unheeded.

I passed the complaint to Halifax and asked them to investigate. They admitted their records did not include Emma’s middle name or her right date of birth.

They are currently investigating with their IT department why her date of birth was apparently changed after the application was submitted.

And they apologised that staff did not contact her solicitor when asked to do so.

Within days they agreed to issue a new offer to the couple, of Penshaw, Tyne and Wear. A spokeswoman said: “It would appear that an unpaid entry on a card - together with a keying error caused by us - was at the root of this case failing our credit checking process. When the company cleared the payment and we amended the keying error, we re-keyed the mortgage.

“I'm pleased to say that the case passed and a new mortgage has been offered to the customers.

“We have apologised to our customers for the distress this episode must have caused them and offered them £100 together with a gift.”