Don’t fail credit checks because you’re not registered

Forms will begin arriving this week and anyone who wishes to vote in next year’s elections also needs to ensure they either confirm their details or correct or send in any amendments.

Elections next year include those for the new West Northamptonshire Council, the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, and Parish Councils.

Francis Fernandes, Electoral Registration Officer at Northampton Borough Council, said: “It is a legal requirement to register and failure to do so has an adverse effect on credit rating, which can hamper all manner of things, from mortgage applications to mobile phone contracts.

“Also, anyone who wishes to vote in the first elections for the new West Northamptonshire Council must ensure they are registered to do so.

“Even if people’s details haven’t changed, they might still need to confirm this to us, through one of the simple methods available.”

The process has changed this year, allowing existing electoral register details to be matched against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database.

Once that process is complete, properties will be put into one of three categories, or routes, as follows:

Route 1 properties – if all people in a household can be matched with the database, a letter will be sent confirming this and no further action needs to be taken unless any of the information in it is incorrect.

Route 2 properties – if there is anyone in a household who does not match with the details on the database, a letter will be sent requesting a response.

Route 3 properties – with properties such as care homes and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), a letter will be sent to the single responsible person to find out who the residents are.

Any household which receives a letter requesting more information can do so in several ways:

• Visit www.householdresponse.com/northampton and log on using the security codes supplied on the letter
• Complete the form supplied with the letter and return it to the address provided
• Call 0800 197 9871 and supply the security code from the letter (mobile providers may charge for this service) – this service can only be used to confirm there are no changes to your information
• Text NOCHANGE followed by the security code on your letter to 80212 (mobile providers may charge for this service) – this service can only be used to confirm there are no changes to your information