Credit Reference Agencies - Who Really Uses Who?! UPDATE

noah271007

southcoaster wrote: »

Just to let you know - I applied for a Tesco credit card today and was declined as they checked Equifax (I have a fantastic credit score with Experian but terrible with Equifax). From reading previous posts on here I thought I would be OK with Tesco for credit card and not loan. On the decline statement they only stated that they had checked with Equifax, no mention of Experian at all.

Hmmm, i had mine accepted last week applying online and they search Experian - NOT Equifax.

Did you apply through the Tesco stores or online at tesco.co.uk?

never-in-doubt

noah271007 wrote: »

Hmmm, i had mine accepted last week applying online and they search Experian - NOT Equifax.

Did you apply through the Tesco stores or online at tesco.co.uk?

Tesco (RBS) search both mate, so they may decide to search Experian for you but Equifax for me, totally depends. Usually they stick with Experian and move to a secondary search with Equifax if all is not as it should be within Experian - maybe that is what happened to the guy above?

never-in-doubt

Bank of Cyprus UK search Equifax.

Linky to current account here mate: http://www.bankofcyprus.co.uk/main/main.aspx?id=20816

Their credit card is underwritten by MBNA so usual MBNA rules apply, i'd assume.

A photo of the BoC debit card is below and I confirm it is a full card, i.e. it works perfectly fine at Tesco [EMAIL="P@P"]P@P[/EMAIL]

System

Cheers for that n-i-d

Looks like at last there is a bank that only searches Equifax for current accounts!

Smart looking debit card too

Regards
UNDERGROUND

never-in-doubt

UNDERGROUND wrote: »

Cheers for that n-i-d

Looks like at last there is a bank that only searches Equifax for current accounts!

Smart looking debit card too

Regards
UNDERGROUND

Well Cif and others got declined but I never - how weird!

Mate you haven't seen the best of it - we're waiting for Mr P to confirm but looks like N&P only search CallCredit - god I hope so lol - we needed one like that!

See here for details: Norwich & Peterborough Gold Account? (page3)

benoit

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Well Cif and others got declined but I never - how weird!

Mate you haven't seen the best of it - we're waiting for Mr P to confirm but looks like N&P only search CallCredit - god I hope so lol - we needed one like that!

See here for details: Norwich & Peterborough Gold Account? (page3)

Norwich and Peterborough searched my Equifax file. I got turned down.

PROLIANT

benoit wrote: »

Norwich and Peterborough searched my Equifax file. I got turned down.

When? Today?

benoit

No, that was a few weeks ago now. All i do know is they searched my Equifax twice then declined me.

NORWICH & PETERBOROUGH BUILDING , a Building Society company, has made an inquiry against your credit report on 22/12/2009 . If you were not aware of or did not consent to this search, contact NORWICH & PETERBOROUGH BUILDING or Equifax for clarification.


NORWICH & PETERBOROUGH BUILDING , a Building Society company, has made an inquiry against your credit report on 06/01/2010 . If you were not aware of or did not consent to this search, contact NORWICH & PETERBOROUGH BUILDING or Equifax for clarification.

karatedragon

Benoit:

It is interesting that you say that N&P searched your credit file twice in relation to your application for a Gold Current Account. This in fact happened to me in 2006.

Are you aware that organisations sign up to a contract called "The Principles of Reciprocity" which is the overarching rule book on the use of Credit Reference Agencies?

The rules state "only one search per applicant per application can take place".

In my case 2 searched took place one after the other. In effect N&P broke their agreement to the Principles of Reciprocity in my case. I complained to their Customer Services who said the people who report information to CRA's "Don't speak to the public".

I wrote to their Data Protection chief at the time was Shaun Cubitt. He made one of the searches be removed and I got £100 in compensation! In his letter he was adamant that steps would be taken to ensure such occurences would not be repeated. We are now in 2010 - 4 years on and clearly I was dealt lip service!

karatedragon

Also for information UNDERGROUND:

I banke with the Coventry Building Society using their Coventry First Account and they only use Equifax to search and none of the other CRA's.

Further, the account is not "reported" in the same way as some other institutions do which I prefer. In fact that was the reason I changed to them.

I left Nationwide for the very reason they reported my Current Account activity to CRA's and was the reason I gave them for leaving. It ws not because I was naughty as I never go O/D but simply because as far as I am concerned my Current Account activity is no ones business. Reporting its activity to me is as intrusive as reporting my savings activity.

KD