This article explains why an Experian credit report may fail with address validation errors and what advisers can do to resolve it.
Overview
When running an Experian credit search, Smartr365 validates the client's address history. Two common errors are:
"Address History: Country must be either UK or IE"
"Address History: Please enter a valid UK Postcode"
These errors occur when the client's address history contains a non-UK or non-Irish address, or when an address has a country or postcode format Experian does not accept. Experian requires all addresses submitted in a credit search to be within the UK or Ireland.
Step-by-Step
Open the client's Fact Find and go to the Address History section.
Review all address entries for any addresses outside the UK or Ireland (for example, addresses in India, USA, or any other country).
Remove non-UK/non-Irish addresses that are more than 3 years old, as Experian typically requires 3 years of address history and addresses outside the UK or Ireland cannot be included. Save the Fact Find after removing them.
Retry the Experian credit search after removing the non-qualifying address entries.
If only UK addresses remain and the error persists, contact Smartr365 Support with the case reference and affected client names. Support can investigate the address data and resolve the issue.
Common Issues
All addresses shown are UK but the error still appears: Contact Smartr365 Support with the case reference. Support will investigate the underlying address data and apply a correction to allow the credit search to proceed.
Removing an overseas address would leave a gap in address history: Contact support to discuss how best to handle the client's address history for the Experian submission.