Gender Transitioning And Your Credit Report

We know how important it is to make sure your financial accounts and credit report are updated following your gender transition. After all, your financial records should reflect the real you.

Our gender transitioning support service will help you understand your options. We’ll break down exactly what’s on your credit report, and how we can help update your credit information.

What is your credit report?

Your Experian Credit Report contains information on your financial behaviour over the last six years. It also includes electoral roll information, public record financial information (such as county court judgments and insolvencies), anyone you’re financially linked to and any other names you’ve been known as.

When you apply for credit, it gives lenders a summary of how well you manage your finances. This will include accounts like mortgages, credit cards, overdrafts, loans, mobile phone contracts and even utilities like gas, electricity and water.

There are three credit reference agencies in the UK: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each agency has their own credit report for you.

How we can help when you transition

Because your credit report may show a link between your current and former names, we and the other credit reference agencies have arranged a service to help you manage the information on your report.

If you contact one of us about updating your gender, we’ll contact the other agencies on your behalf. (Of course, we’ll ask for your consent before doing so).

When we notify the other agencies, they’ll also begin the process of updating any credit report information, including former names. This might mean they’ll need to contact you first, to make sure they’ve got the information they need.

Get your advice pack

Ready to update your credit details? We’ve produced an advice pack that contains all the information you need. It explains your options and what we can help you with.

If you’ve not already done so, we’d urge you to get an advice pack straight away. Once you’ve followed the steps in the pack, contact us and we’ll be able to help you.

Download your advice pack.

Or if you’d prefer a printed copy of the advice pack, you can email us and we’ll post one to you.

Get in touch with us at: disclosureteam@experian.com

FAQs

Will I be able to remove all references to my former name?

We understand the importance of deadnaming, so we’ll work with you to make sure references to your former name are removed from your report.

There are a few cases where this might not be possible though, as we don’t have any control over certain parts. For instance, if you have any public financial information against you (such as a court judgment or insolvency), we won’t be able to remove your former name from these.

Of course, you can also choose not to remove references to your former name if you wish.

We’ll help you through this process and discuss which option is right for you.

Will changing my name affect my ability to get credit?

No, not once your credit report has been updated with your new details.

It’s a good idea to contact all your lenders directly first. This will speed up the process of getting your name updated on your accounts, and with all the credit reference agencies.

Do I need a Gender Recognition Certificate to update my report?

No, you don’t need to have a Gender Recognition Certificate before your credit history can be updated.

However, having a certificate can make the process quicker and easier.

You don’t have to wait for your Gender Recognition Certificate to be issued to contact us. In fact, we recommend you contact us before you get your certificate if you can, so we can update your details as soon as possible.

If you already have your Gender Recognition Certificate and haven’t yet contacted us, please let us know as soon as you can. This is so we can check your credit report accurately reflects your new details.

I’m getting marketing material addressed to my old name – what can I do?

If there’s any information on your credit report in your old name, we recommend you register that name with the Mailing Preference Service and the Telephone Preference Service. We will also add your former name to our marketing suppression list.