I use a PO Box for my mail because it is safer. All my creditors know my real address but send the bills to the PO Box at my request. All three CRA's list my PO Box as my residence. I have tried to get them to change it, but every time a creditor does its monthly report, I'm back to living in a PO Box. I am concerned that it makes me look unstable to potential creditors. Plus, my address on an application never matches what the CRA has on file. And, it is almost impossible to get my credit report because I never know what address they have me living at on the day of my order. Would using a PO Box affect my score in any way? I am not planning on applying for credit until I get my other problems worked out, but I would like to tackle this problem now.
I can't imagine it could affect the score--time at address means a lot more than the actual address, doesn't it? (I have nooooooo idea if I'm in the ballpark on this assumption) I've used a pseudo-PO box (MBE type place) for years, it's the only address on any of my CR's [since I disputed the rest of them off]. I tend to move around the city every year when the lease comes up for renewal, it's much better (for me) to have the stability of the same address rather than a new one every 12 months. Would a PO box really affect scores? I wonder if there's any factor in FICO for that. (BTW--Experian terms my mailbox as a single-family residence, while my old apartment was considered a "Non-residential address--business service," go figure!
it doesnt appear to affect your fico at all, its just identification info. although some creditors will see it as a sign of instability it isnt figured into FICO itself. just like your time on the job isnt figured in the FICO formula. so to recap...some creditors will manually look at this, but the FICO formula doesnt compute it. And I've read some creditors base approval on the 'code' of where you live..IE they can tell if you live in the ghetto as opposed to uptown yuppieville. id be screwed if it was part of FICO..because I've got about 30 different addresses listed on one of my reports. by the way, I prefer using a PO BOX..because I'll always have the same one, and I move ALOT. Just some stupid places wont let you use a PO BOX (my sprint pcs phone for one, bastards) from myfico.com: What a FICO Score Ignores FICO scores consider a wide range of information on your credit report. However, they do not consider: Your race, color, religion, national origin, sex and marital status. US law prohibits credit scoring from considering these facts, as well as any receipt of public assistance, or the exercise of any consumer right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Your age. Other types of scores may consider your age, but FICO scores don't. Your salary, occupation, title, employer, date employed or employment history. Lenders may consider this information, however, as may other types of scores. Where you live. Any interest rate being charged on a particular credit card or other account. Any items reported as child/family support obligations or rental agreements. Certain types of inquiries (requests for your credit report). The score does not count "consumer-initiated" inquiries â?? requests you have made for your credit report, in order to check it. It also does not count "promotional inquiries" â?? requests made by lenders in order to make you a "pre-approved" credit offer â?? or "administrative inquiries" â?? requests made by lenders to review your account with them. Requests that are marked as coming from employers are not counted either. Any information not found in your credit report. Any information that is not proven to be predictive of future credit performance.
imlost by the way, I prefer using a PO BOX..because I'll always have the same one, and I move ALOT. Just some stupid places wont let you use a PO BOX (my sprint pcs phone for one, bastards) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAN'T YOU TELL THEM THERE IS NO MAIL DELIVERY WHERE YOU LIVE??? I work with people who live in the "COUNTY" (THE STICKS)...THE POST OFFICE MAKES THEM HAVE A P.O. BOX!!! NO P.O. BOX~~~NO MAIL!!!
hey you are right..never thought of it that way. Im going to call and tell them that ;p hehe thanks. on a side note: i laughed out loud reading that post jr
I've been living in a PO box for almost 15 years now. It has never been a problem. In fact, it has been very helpful. You get half the junk mail you used to get. Many soliciations screen out POB addresses because they assume you are a scum bag. Great. I even have my PO box listed on my California drivers license. It took a fight with the DMV to get it done, but they did it. I don't want anyone to know where I live. It it none of their business. If they want to get a hold of me, write a letter to my PO box. I'll get it, someday. It is nice to be able to go out of town on vacation or business and not worry about some neighborhood thief stealing your mail out of your mailbox. Or them noticing the amount of mail and concluding you are not home, therefore they can break in. Occasionally I run into a business that demands a home address. Unless they are doing a service at my house and need to be on site, I refuse to give it to them. Usually this is a clerk that demands this. I get into a fight, the manager gets involved and finally grants me a "wavier" to their policy. BTW.... I'm a big advocate of consumer rights and privacy, if you can't tell. What else? I still get into fights with the DMV from time to time. They ocassionaly insist on knowing where I garage my vehicals. I tell them my PO Box, and get into a long fight again. Last time I simply told them I was homeless and that I park them on the street all over town. They did not know what to enter into their computer, so they relented and allowed the PO box. What jerks. Why do they have to know where I live (I know why.... so they can share it with the police). They can compute my tax basis from my PO box zip code, so it can't be that. I don't feel the police need to know where I live either, unless I need their services, have comitted a crime, or am on probation. But that is a subject for another thread on another board. Cheers.
The DMV in California wants your address because they, too, are in the business of selling information, just like the CRA's, credit card companies, you name it. Take a look at DMV website, particularly the part about how private your information is. After you've read about how good they are at protecting your information, read about who CAN buy your personal information from them. Just about anyone who cares to go to the expense of posting a bond with the State of California. Very interesting.
