Credit just "appeared" on Equifax report

WSO

I use CheckMyFile.com to keep an eye on my reports and have just noticed a new account appear on my Equifax report. Unfortunately I am only able to determine that it is a mail order company.

What I find confusing and slightly worrying is the fact that I don't have any mail order accounts as such. I was a reasonably sucessful Freemans agent at my first address but my account was closed after I didn't use it for 5 or 6 years at the second address so they would not have my newest address to reopen it.

The only mail order company that has my new address is LX Direct after I bought furniture online and paid it by credit card. I get catalogues from them and have been "assigned" a customer number, but as I never used it I don't have an account on their system when I try to access it online...

I can't think of any other mail order companies that I have bought from recently... but what is rather odd about this new account that has appeared is the fact that it appears to be in credit!

Should I be worried about the new account? If I really am in credit with one of my old mail order accounts I'd like to know!

I have asked the staff at CheckMyFile for more info about the company that posted the details if it is available as I don't want to have to pay again to Equifax for the info if it was made available to CheckMyFile...

tattooed_lady

It may well be lx direct as they do credit check you even if you pay by card as far as I know, but if I were you I'd double check with the CRA's incase of possible fraud?

AndrewSmith

If the dates are about right I would say it is almost certainly LX Direct. Check the smallprint in their calaogue, it will say about consulting a credit reference agency.

BTW Love LX Direct, get some cracking deals with them. Look out on the forums for discount codes. My other half just used a 10% off code. Saved her £££s

WSO

I got the furniture back in Feb and LX Direct didn't do a credit check at the time... the only searches on my files for this past year are the audit footprints left by requesting my reports back in May, and the ones left by CheckMyFile.com (I can see them even though they don't count as searches).

I agree that LX Direct do some nice things, most of our new furniture came from them (a good £2000+ worth) - however, I don't like the fact that they assume you want all their sales materials (catalogues, offers, brochures)... Unfortunately a botched order (where I used the old postcode with the new address) means I get two copies of the material and this is getting annoying in the run up to christmas as they don't arrive at the same time... just annoyed I have to write to them to cancel the unwanted mail.

The staff at CheckMyFile have given me a list of companies they know that use the "mail order company" heading... Freemans is in this list but not LX Direct (although Littlewoods is listed). I think it is unlikely to be the old Freemans account since they shouldn't have the new address and the account has been marked as closed on my files.

Guess I'll just have to order the paper copies and see which company put the account on my file because even if it is Freemans or LX Direct, neither has had any recent activity.

grumbler

WSO wrote:

I use CheckMyFile.com to keep an eye on my reports and have just noticed a new account appear on my Equifax report. ...The only mail order company that has my new address is LX Direct after I bought furniture online and paid it by credit card.

ruyareece wrote:

It may well be lx direct as they do credit check ...

ruyareece wrote:

It may well be lx direct as they do credit check you even if you pay by card as far as I know...

Credit account and credit search (check) in a credit file are absolutely different things. Yes, LX Direct state: 'We will make searches about you at credit reference agencies'. However, only if they 'enter into a credit agreement with you' they 'will also supply details of your agreement with us to the credit reference agencies'. I don't see any credit agreement if amount is paid in full by credit card at the time of purchase.

WSO wrote:

...The staff at CheckMyFile have given me a list of companies they know that use the "mail order company" heading...

Isn't it SHOP DIRECT FINANCIAL SERVICES (LTD) MAIL ORDER (AGENCY)? Accidentally I have an account with this company reported to both Experian and Equifax. Allegedly 'full' list of corresponding brands is here: http://www.shopdirectgroup.com/shopdirectgroup/OurBrands/mainpage.htm. However, I know that my account originates from http://www.discount2door.com, that is not mentioned in the above list despite using Shop Direct Financial Services ...

WSO

Thanks for the reply Grumbler, this is the detail for the account that CheckMyFile present me with (edited of course)

Account holder name: [My Name]
Account holder DOB: [My DOB]
Company Type: Mail Order
Account Type: Mail Order Agency
Last Update: 06/11/2005
Start Date: 04/02/2005
Start Balance: £0.00
Current Balance: -£26.00
Credit Limit: Not Applicable
Regular Repayment Amount: Not Applicable
Number of Repayments: Not Applicable
Repayment Frequency: Monthly
Worst Status: Up to date with payments
History: (a single ok icon)

Now, looking at the start date gives me a very strong indication that it probably is LX Direct since it was our date of completion. I remember I had to wait until we completed before ordering as I wanted the stuff delivered to the new address and needed to change the billing address on the credit card before placing the order.

The thing that puzzles me tho is why would they set up an account when I had paid by card - I did not sign a credit agreement. Also, why wait so long and why a credit? Finally, if it is LX Direct, why doesn't their website recognise my "account" details - the check orders by post code section I used to track my orders no longer lists them (so I guess they expired).

Anyway, I will see what my report says and if it confirms my suspicion... still, I can't think why my "account" with them would be in credit as I got all my items and didn't send anything back... but if they want to compensate me for the irritation of having to shred all the personalised sales offers they have sent me then I won't complain!