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[MSE Andrea]

Credit reference agencies know a huge amount about us; and the info held informs almost every financial product application we make. One small error can cause havock.

There are three reference agencies: Callcredit, Equifax and Experian; how often do you check? Which is the nearest to your situation?

A. All'n'Often. I check the 3 agencies annually.
B. Often but not all. I check one agency a year
C. Occasionally. I've checked all 3 over the last few years
D. Rarely. I've only ever checked once or twice
E. Never. I've never checked my files


Please vote here or click reply to discuss.

If you don't check, read Your Credit Rating: How to check for free and improve it

[redjim]

I never check my credit score!!!! My credit rating is shocking, by checking your credit rating is it possible to improve it in a short space of time?

[NatFeerick]

I am registered with Experian and they email me whenever there is any activity on my credit file. In less than a year I have had 2 entries removed - one turned out to be the result of using an Insurance Quote comparison site of the sort MSE recommends - one of the companies returning a quote had done a search on my file even though I hadn't contacted them directly & hadn't taken their product. This means these sites are sharing our name & address details with the quoting companies - something they do not make clear. Another was a catalogue company who performed a search after sending me a catalogue through one of those online 'reader request' services where you have to select an offer to be entered in a prize draw. I argued that since I hadn't asked to purchase from them they had no right to do a credit search. They claim this is stated on their terms and conditions but as you would not have access to these through a third party site it was on this technicality that I finally got the entry removed. But a lesson for us all - knowledge is power, so get clued up!

[cantfindmywayhome]

Have tried to get credit ratings using free trial sites, but get refused access due to never having had a credit card!

Lack of credit card can also prevent you from getting storecards too.
Presumably everyone thinks that you aren't eligible for them due to lack of resources or previous debt problems.

In my case, I've never needed one......if I haven't got the cash, I don't buy.......but now I'm being penalised for being careful!

I would really like to see my credit rating as, like one of the previous people posted, I often get quotes that I then don't take up due to finding a better deal elsewhere. If these all count against me, then my rating must suck bigtime!

[COPPERHEADJACK]

I never check my credit scoring but perhaps I should as not so long ago someone showed me a credit print out of me at my mums address and there had been 2 credit cards applied for in my name and i don't even live there.
how would i get these removed

[1012donna]

I've never checked mine..... got me thinking now though!

[James]

I suppose the main reason for checking your file is to find out if there are any 'accounts' you don't recognise. Could you be the victim of ID theft.

If you want to obtain FREE warnings of possible attacks on your Credit Files held by all 3 agencies.

And

If you want to make sure if there is an account that's been opened in your name it isn't attributed to you,

OR

If an account has been opened by a crook and you want to finger that crook OR hold the lender accountable.

Then:

Have a look at www.freeidprotection.co.uk and read the media links on the home page.

The choice is yours FREE Indications & Warnings of attacks on your files and person protection for nowt.

[LouBlue]

I did it for the first time a couple of weeks back cos I am in the middle of a major overhaul re my finances.

Very easy to do.

Could not BELIEVE the number of credit cards and loans I have had in the past, forgot all about them! But was pleased to see I had a credit rating of 999 out of 1000. I have never defaulted payments and always settled everything. So I can now see why I get everything I apply for, perfect customer, long credit history, who always pays.

That makes me sound like I have no debt....I have quite a bit..

Oh and another good thing about it? Going to write to all the companies I had a CC with and forgot about. Going to reclaim charges.

[James]

I believe the yanks are entitled to a FREE credit report every year.

As fighting crime is supposed to be a non-competitive issue, and our details are sold the credit reference agencies by the council, then surely we should received the same - a Credit Report, supplied annually FOC?

[momisa]

I check all 3 annually. Whilst it's interesting making comparisons of all 3 reports at the same time, I find that having a gap in between ordering them helps me focus more on each individual report to ensure it's correct. The amount of phone calls I've had to make in order to have corrections made always surprises me. I definately feel better knowing that my report only contains valid information.

[James]

Further to my last:

Experian rejects ID theft notification

Anna Fielder, policy consultant at the National Consumer Council, said the UK should follow the example of California, where companies who expose individuals’ data have to contact and notify the individuals concerned.

Story click here.

[digerati]

I request a credit report (£2) from a different company every four months (e.g. Experian, Equifax, Callcredit, Experian...). Think of it as cheap insurance!

This way I monitor my credit reports at each company at least once every 12 months (annual cost £6 for three reports/year). I'll normally notice any problems or errors within four months of them appearing on my credit report. Also there is a variation in information between the different companies so it pays to check all three reports for errors or inaccuracies.

[James]

Originally Posted by digerati

I request a credit report (£2) from a different company every four months (e.g. Experian, Equifax, Callcredit, Experian...). Think of it as cheap insurance!

This way I monitor my credit reports at each company at least once every 12 months (annual cost £6 for three reports/year). I'll normally notice any problems or errors within four months of them appearing on my credit report. Also there is a variation in information between the different companies so it pays to check all three reports for errors or inaccuracies.

The point about checking your credit file monthly for the purposes of spotting and stopping fraud, is that it is reactive. The fraud has usually taken place.

It's much cheaper and simpler to take PROACTIVE steps to fully protect yourself 24/7.

www.freeidprotection.co.uk

[MSE Lawrence]

Poll started 10 July 2007.

Credit reference agencies know a huge amount about us; and the info held informs almost every financial product application we make. One small error can cause havoc.

There are three reference agencies Callcredit, Equifax and Experian. So how often do you check? Which is the nearest to your situation?

IMPORTANT WARNING!. It's important to check your files, for more info, after voting, read your credit rating: check for free and improve it

A. All'n'Often. I check the 3 agencies annually. 3% (142)

B. Often but not all. I check one agency a year 6% (312)

C. Occasionally. I've checked all 3 over the last few years 4% (218)

D. Rarely. I've only ever checked once or twice 27% (1311)

E. Never. I've never checked my files 59% (2887)


Total Votes: 4859

Thanks to everybody that voted

[jowie]

...That there is a way of checking your credit rating without any free loopholes:

http://www.annualcreditreport.co.uk/

It only updates once a year, but you don't have to worry about signing up and then remembering to cancel because it is completely free.

cheers

:-Joe

[Manty]

Originally Posted by James

The point about checking your credit file monthly for the purposes of spotting and stopping fraud, is that it is reactive. The fraud has usually taken place.

It's much cheaper and simpler to take PROACTIVE steps to fully protect yourself 24/7.

www.freeidprotection.co.uk

I like this, it looks excellent. One question though; when applying for credit, do you thumbprint anywhere on the form or supply a thumbprinted letter with the form?

[jowie]

Originally Posted by James

It's much cheaper and simpler to take PROACTIVE steps to fully protect yourself 24/7.

www.freeidprotection.co.uk

So does that mean if you wish to buy a washing machine on 0% credit or anything like that, you have to try and explain to the gormless Saturday sales staff in Currys that you'll need them to take an inkless thumbprint?

Good luck

Although I guess it would be very useful if you do not intend on taking out any credit accounts in the future and want full peace of mind.