Electoral roll inclusion could be ‘compulsory’ to obtain credit score
INCLUSION on the electoral roll may effectively become compulsory for any Guernsey residents wanting to make use of banking services, the president of Economic Development has said.
Neil Inder used his update statement in the States to highlight what his committee was doing to alleviate ‘a deteriorating situation’ whereby individuals and businesses were struggling to obtain credit card and other banking services – a problem he described as ‘a material economic risk’.
A banking sector review had been going on since April, he said, tasked with identifying ‘actions to increase the number of domestically-licensed banks’, as well as tackling other issues.
However, he warned there was ‘no silver bullet’ which would be capable of addressing the issue in respect of the availability of domestic credit cards.
Nevertheless, he said his committee was aware of ‘the inability for credit reference agencies to access electronic electoral roll data as part of their credit scoring processes’.
Deputy Inder said he had discussed this with the Registrar General and Home Affairs and a policy letter on the issue should be taken to the States next year.
‘The intention is to mirror the situation in the UK whereby the credit reference agencies can access domestic electoral roll data within an agreed legislative framework’, he said.
‘We are going to have to advise people who want these services that they are going to have to be on the electoral roll.’
Online services may have to invite islanders to ‘hit this button and give permission for your data to be used elsewhere’, he said.
Enabling data to be accessed by third parties via the Guernsey Registry was also on the cards. But he told members to manage their expectations. ‘I can’t see anyone looking at this until the middle of next year.’
