Credit record error, and credit application

Ash3G

Hello there people!

For the first time ever I applied for a credit card a few weeks ago. Received a letter yesterday telling me I had been rejected! I thought this was odd, as I do have a credit history, and I'm not over-borrowed either! I checked my report with Equifax, and on my history is someone's NTL account (with bad debt) from 1999 (when I would have been at school and too young to even have had a contract with them). They have the same surname as me, but on my account it doesnt show the full name unlike the other accounts. Obviously there has been a mistake somewhere!

I have written to Equifax to point them of the error. Hopefully they will correct this shortly.

So how do I get the credit card company to reconsider my application? If I fill in another form to apply, then they'll credit score me again won't they, which will be bad news for future credit applications won't it?

Any advice?

Thanks!

:xmassign:

---lee---

When the credit ref. agency correct the error and write back to you, you can send a copy of the letter to the credit card company and ask them to reconsider your application. They may also have an appeals procedure for you to follow, but I would get your credit file corrected first.

Do not apply directly again to the credit card company, get your first application reconsidered or appeal as further credit searches will damage your credit rating.

There are 3 credit reference agencies, so you will also need to check your file with Experian and Callcredit. Make sure you just get the statutory £2 report of them as they will all try to sell you more expensive online versions.

Be sure to include your previous adr's for 5 years and DOB in any correspondence so that they can identify you.

Cheers,

Lee.

Ash3G

I have just received an email from Equifax saying they have spoken to NTL, and NTL say the information is correct!!!

What can I do?!

I never had a contract with NTL when I was 13 years old!

This is infuriating me so much!

BWZN93

Id personally request the information from NTL directly, ask them for all the information they hold about 'you' and when you get it, send them a copy of your passport or something and tell them to remove the information as its incorrect and they are damaging your credit rating. (i'd also tell them that by giving you personal information about another person they have broken the data protection act, just for fun)

Jo xx

---lee---

I think JW1096’s advice is good but I must warn you the problem you are going to hit with NTL is that they are absolute pants.

I’ve been trying to resolve an overcharging issue (and other problems) with them for nearly 3 months – and I'm a current customer. I finally got it sorted today (allegedly) and a £45 credit in addition to the refunds I was due for my trouble (which has been considerable).

They really are useless though. I’ve had so many conversations with them, written letters and been assured that all the billing errors have been resolved, then the next months bill comes along and yep, it’s all wrong again! It's just such a waste of time.

Also, have you tried to resolve this with any other credit reference agency or just the one? You may find that one may be more helpful than the others. You could also tell them that you don’t agree with their decision and ask them what the formal appeals and complaints procedure is.

If your going the NTL route, PM me for a fax number for the billing department – it’s the only way I could get anyone with a brain cell to look at my account. You could fax them copies of the emails etc along with a covering letter explaining your situation requesting that they call you back about it. Don’t put too much personal info in your fax – just enough for them to be able to trace the records until they acknowledge your fax and start communicating with you – then if necessary, you can send them a copy of your passport/birth certificate whatever.

Good luck.

EDIT

PS. Is there any logical reason why they (NTL) may be confusing you with anyone else? E.g. do you have the same name as your Dad.

Ash3G

---lee--- wrote:

PS. Is there any logical reason why they (NTL) may be confusing you with anyone else? E.g. do you have the same name as your Dad.

I have the same initial as him, but not name. NTL's entry on my credit record just has an initial.

But as I say, I would have been too young to have had a contract with them.

tattooed_lady

Ash3G wrote:

I have the same initial as him, but not name. NTL's entry on my credit record just has an initial.

But as I say, I would have been too young to have had a contract with them.

Well if the initial is the same are you sure this isn't your dad's old account? That would explain the reason for the same address confusion.

Alfie_E

Exactly. For this particular entry on your Equifax report, there should be an Effective Dates section. Within that section is a line called Birth. Is it your date of birth? If not, I’d guess it’s your father’s.

If the entry does refer to your father, his entry appears because Equifax have recorded a financial association between the two of you. The credit reference agencies used to make an automatic association between two people at the same address with the same family name, even if there wasn’t a family connection. It was then up to you to tell them there wasn’t a financial association. The agencies were supposed to stop making such automatic associations some time ago.

If the date of birth isn’t yours, and you want to get any association removed, you need to submit a Notice of Disassociation. Note, you must be able to tick all the boxes in Section C. If a credit reference agency amends your file, they should inform any company that made a recent relevant search. But, as Lee wrote, it’d be as well to send a copy of any letter from Equifax, along with your appeal to the credit card issuer.

Ash3G

Update:

On the phone with NTL today. They have finally admitted there was an error on their part. I will get written confirmation in the next week or so. It will also be corrected with the credit reference agencies.

Resolved

---lee---

Nice one! NTL are such a pain to deal wth. I can imagine it would have been a nightmare, but at least your sorted now :T

Fedz

I'm also a long term customer of ntl.

Experience tells me is keep a close eye on what they say they are doing - check-up and follow-up.

Ntl will promise the world but, rarely act upon these promises.

It's not over til the fat lady sings!

Good luck and hope it all works out for you