Experian - Be Warned

Esoog

I thought I'd cancelled after my second 30 day trial was mysteriously charged, and when I was then charged the next month I sent off an email telling them I had quite clearly cancelled my membership etc - they said they reviewed the tape and I had changed my mind during the call! They really are a bunch of TOTAL pirates.

brewerdave

I've had an opposite problem - I had a free 12 month "trial" with Credit Expert thru my home insurance supplier in 2008.At the end of 12 months I cancelled,without any hassle I may add.
HOWEVER, I still get emails from Credit Expert on a quarterly basis - the last one tells me that there had been no change in my status in the preceding 3 months.
I'm paranoid about checking my credit card statements - but I've never been charged.

savagej

Has anyone noticed that Experian's Rep James Jones is notable by his absence for this conversation, of saying he will get it sorted out and change the practices.

iwantthatone

lisyloo wrote: »

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.

Yes it will work. I reported my card lost, and that was the end of that. No charges despite them making attempts on the old card.

lisyloo

Reporting a card lost is different to just cancelling one i.e. asking them to close it.
This could account for the difference.
In general closing a card is not a reliable way of stopping a CCA (continuous card authority).

savagej

Same if it expires Experian need new card details. They dont take CCA's to the nth degree and push anything through like some companies do.

Experian_company_representative

We make it clear that we need card details to check ID and to charge subscriptions if you stay a member beyond the free trial. The free trial and continuous payment model is exactly the same model the consumer organisation Which? used to use. Plus, because CreditExpert is a monitoring and alert service, you would very quickly realise you were on a subscription, even if you managed to miss all of the information available during sign-up, when you received our regular email and text alerts.

Much of the information/links referred to relates to our US business and is not relevant to the UK.

James Jones

Experian_company_representative

We are a target for fraudsters unfortunately which is why we have to employ very stringent account opening checks. If anyone thinks their details might have been used by a third party they should come to us for advice, particularly if it involves one of our services.

Many people who use CreditExpert and then leave do actually come back in the future, so we do stay in touch by email unless you ask us not to. However, if you cancel a subscription and continue to receive credit report alerts from us (I've never heard of this before!) please get in touch.

James Jones

ElkyElky

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

We are a target for fraudsters unfortunately which is why we have to employ very stringent account opening checks. If anyone thinks their details might have been used by a third party they should come to us for advice, particularly if it involves one of our services.

Many people who use CreditExpert and then leave do actually come back in the future, so we do stay in touch by email unless you ask us not to. However, if you cancel a subscription and continue to receive credit report alerts from us (I've never heard of this before!) please get in touch.

James Jones

"We do stay in touch by email" is the nicest way possible of saying "We spam you to death until you come back to us".

I cancelled following the free trial and have had emails ever since, despite me clicking that unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. Though, marking them as spam seems to do the trick.

Labled

Ive also been found foul of Experian's disgraceful behaviour and had our card charged for the last 6 months.

Is it the FSA or OFT i complain to please?

Im always going to give my MP & Ann Robinsons watch dog a ring, as i cant believe that a company whom should be helping people with credit, are actually abusing their said position with their crafty tactics.