Credit problems and the Electoral Register

There may be a number of reasons why you have been refused credit. The Electoral Register is not produced to record who can or cannot get credit, but Credit Reference Agencies are entitled to this information and use the Electoral Roll to confirm identity and counteract fraud. Sometimes the records maintained by the credit reference agencies are not up to date or incorrect. You have the right to see what information they hold on you but you may be asked for a fee.

Please note that we will not be able to confirm or give out your details over the telephone.

The Full Register including information of those who ticked the "opt out" box, may be inspected in person (under supervision) at Richmond Reference Library or the Electoral Services Office in Twickenham. You may not photocopy the register, but you can take hand written notes if the information is not to be used for marketing purposes. Contact the Electoral Services Office for further details.

We cannot alter the register after it has been published, but additions deletions and amendments to it may be published at monthly updates during the year. If the record of a person who used to live at your property is preventing you from obtaining credit, you should contact the credit reference agencies to ask for a "disassociation".

You can obtain an official certificate confirming that you are on the register for a fee of £22 plus £5.40 for each additional year you may wish us to certify. We can include all the names of the people from one address for this fee. Please note that we will only be able to certify your registration once you are actually registered, not as we receive your application. To request this certificate you should send a cheque with a covering letter including the full names of all the people you want us to certify, and your full postal address. We will only send these certificates to the registration address. You may also obtain one by visiting our offices, where we can accept payment by credit or debit card.