Experian - Be Warned

Butterfly_Brain

I too fell for Experian' s con - luckily my bank paid for it because I had problems with my account - it is a real pain to cancel though, first you have to go to the web site then phone them to cancel. When you get through they try to talk you into staying on, and I am still getting emails from them.
Luckily for me I have changed my bank account and there is no way I am falling for their tricks anymore. Once bitten twice shy.
My bank (Barclays) helped me so much more and warned me not to use Experian because they have had a lot of complaints about them and Barclays have a better system of dealing with problems anyway.

Jemma-T

Experian and Equifax are all scum as they prey on the ignorance of private individuals who either have too much money or not enough brains. Or too much time.

They do of course do (or they used to I don't know now) an important job for banks and other businesses but their 'personal' services are just smoke and mirrors trying to scam people.

I have no idea how these companies got into this business but they need to be hammered with laws and regulations to stop them selling data to private individuals.

The thing that annoys me the most is people [here] give them a weight of authority and even imply they have some legal authority. They are no different to a car parking company except their call staff don't wear hi-viz jackets I assume.

PaxtonPat

My gripe with Experian is that its very simple to sign up online but the only way to cancel is over the phone. If you can sign up online, you should be able to cancel online, end of story. Making you phone them is a deliberate hurdle in the way, hoping that you'll put it off for another time. Reminds me of the Ponzi scheme story, at their main building in Boston, where there were several well-staffed counters for paying in/new clients at the front of the building but only one under-staffed counter right at the back of the building for paying out clients.

CannyJock

PaxtonPat wrote: »

My gripe with Experian is that its very simple to sign up online but the only way to cancel is over the phone. If you can sign up online, you should be able to cancel online, end of story. Making you phone them is a deliberate hurdle in the way, hoping that you'll put it off for another time. Reminds me of the Ponzi scheme story, at their main building in Boston, where there were several well-staffed counters for paying in/new clients at the front of the building but only one under-staffed counter right at the back of the building for paying out clients.

It's a freephone number - hardly bamboo splinters under the fingernails, is it?


If you would still like to cancel your Credit Expert membership you can do so by contacting our team on free phone 0800 656 9000 and selecting option 4.

Or 0115 935 6700 according to saynoto0870

very_fed_up...

I have just found four items on my bank statement from CreditExpert, who are part of Experian. 3 items for £5.95 and one for £7.99. These have all been deducted in the last few days. One would appear to be a monthly fee, and then there are 3 credit searches. Now I didn't sign up for anything, free trial or otherwise. I have spoken to my bank, and cancelled my debit card, which was used to pay for these items.

It would appear that someone has managed to clone my debit card, and used it to make purchases with CreditExpert.

Since CreditExpert and Experian present themselves as experts in preventing identity theft, it is ironic that they don't seem to have sufficient checks in place to prevent someone using stolen card details to buy from them. And it is doubly ironic that the undesirable individual who was fraudulently using my card, having got around Experian's credit checking systems, is now using their services to get financial details on other people in order to carry out further fraud.

very_fed_up...

Hmmm... Just managed to speak to CreditExpert (not!).

I gave them my debit card number (no harm since the bank have now stopped it) and they confirmed that someone else with a different name has been using my card details.

Now here's a thing. I told them my postcode and they admitted that the postcode that the fraudster had been given is completely different. Although they wouldn't tell me what the postcode was. (Funny thing about data protection - you tell them stuff, but they never tell you stuff). Anyway, I run a mail order business, and I know something about 'customer not present' credit and debit card transactions. We are not a large company, but even we have the technology in place to connect a card against address details. Which we do. I would not have accepted this card, given the address details didn't match. So what are CreditExpert doing, who are supposed to be so hot on identity theft?

The person I spoke to said that he would pass the case on to their fraud department, and I should hear back within 7 days.

lisyloo

It's a freephone number - hardly bamboo splinters under the fingernails, is it?

No it's not, but you can be holding on for significant periods.
This can mean you need to make several attempts if you can't wait that long for any reason.

This can mean that some people (like those with a baby for example) might find it quite difficult and it increases the chance of forgetting.

That's why I advise just paying 2 quid.

It's not bambo splinters, but it they are making it difficult for people then this is rather cynical.

Penny4Your_2

I took out the 30 day trial, but left it running for over a year. Wasted money, but didnt bother to cancel. Today I decided to cancel but had to call twice....

I called Experian (CreditExpert) today wanting to cancel my membership, the lady said she would take a look at my account first, so I let her... and then she mentioned the defaults listed and asked what caused it and I explained that the business was caught in the start of the recession she said I could update it and then it would look favourable on lenders. So said I would and she said to do that it would take about 14days to process. She then explained how to get there. I came off the call and thought hang on, I wanted to cancel my membership, regardless of the default entry these disappear next year so it makes no real difference. I decided to call back with a firm understanding that I was going to cancel then and there.

So I called back and another lady answered. I said I wanted to cancel, she said she would take a look at my account and file. I said I'd just like to cancel. They had sked the usual security questions already, then she said we have to check first to ensure they have the right details and there is no fraud then.... low and behold... Mrs ***** there is an ID fraud alert on your account
I said where? im looking at my account.... she said actually we cant tell if its id fraud only alert to you that it may be its there for your protection. I said the alerts are fine... cancel my membership. she then went into,... is Mr ***** still your partner? what is his status? This made me question their telephone technique. I said that doesnt change anything, just cancel my membership. I believe they are using pressure to keep people on these services.

What concerns me is what charges I will not find. Should I cancel my credit card and get a new one.... so they cant accidently take anymore. Im not even sure what the cutoff date will be.

lisyloo

Should I cancel my credit card and get a new one.... so they cant accidently take anymore.

It won't work. They can still charge to a cancelled card.

Take the name of the person, date and time.
It could be useful in a complaint and it's possible for them to check recordings if you know the date & time.

My experience is that if someone knows you have their name, they don't tend to forget to carry out their task.

Penny4Your_2

Very interesting, i've just received a password change email, not a cancellation of service email. Ive emailed them back requesting they confirm the cancellation or I will report it to the OFT.