We examine the importance of the gauge dependence of model calculations of transverse electric form factors coming from the violation of the Schrödinger equation by the model wavefunctions. This is done by comparing Tamm - Dancoff approximation (TDA) and random phase approximation (RPA) calculations of transverse electric form factors for collective states of negative parity in . In our discussion we isolate the term responsible by the gauge dependence and clarify its physical meaning. We also point out some general properties of the RPA currents which help us to understand the behaviour of the gauge dependence in RPA model calculations.