Credit Reference Agencies selling your data - is this allowed?

biggerthed

Hi guys,

I signed up to Experian in Janurary and Equifax in May (both free trails) to try and sort out my, unbeknown to me, poor credit rating (suppose it's my own stupid fault for changing residence and paying for things with real money).

Two weeks after registering with Equifax I received some junk mail from a loan company (Provident personal credit) offering me an amazing 254.2%APR rate loan :rotfl: .The company is based in Bradford, Equifax is also based in Braford hmmmm.

I phoned Equifax and asked if they sell on personal data - I got an absolute no, so I mailed Provident personal credit asking where they got my data from. Here's their open and honest response:

"I can confirm that your details were obtained by National Canvasse, an
information bureau that collect information from the electoral role and
credit reference agencies."

Has anybody heard of National Canvasse before and is this stated in the credit reference agencies T&C's?

It really annoys me that these companies are making money from me trying to sort out my credit in this back-to-front system just so one day I can get a mortgage and a credit card! :mad:

CannyJock

Think most people get a bit of junk-mail round about the time they sign up. Coincidence or not? Not a big hassle either way and it's not ongoing from my own experience.

If they have reply paid envelopes, stuff them with someone else's junkmail so long as it doesn't have anything to identify you and post it back to them - it's what I do. Petty but keeps me amused

Paul_Herring

National Canvasse is Experian:

http://www.qas.co.uk/products/enhance-your-database/consumer-data.htm

What is National Canvasse?
National Canvasse is Experian's UK wide file of consumer names and addresses collected for marketing purposes.

Andy_Ches

The CRA's aren't able to sell or pass on the details on your credit file as this breaches the Data Protection Act.

However, when you fill in your annual registration form for the electoral roll, there is a tick box so that you are not included in the 'public' anyone can get there hands on register.

If you haven't filled it in, then your name and address can sold on for marketing purposes so I guess this is where they got your address from. If it has come via this route then it is a freely available public record...just a coincedence that it's part of the Experian Group.

never-in-doubt

Words you will see on your credit report a lot are Opt In or Opt Out!

These state which version you're on, between full and edited register.