Credit file on the cheap

itsalongroad

hello, I used to use experian online but at £5.99 i decided it was too steep so cancelled

Just tried again for a free 30 day trial, but they spot you and have said no £5.99 again

I think there is an alternative postal route for £1 or so....anyone have details or address please?

Thanks

LeeSouthEast

£2 Statutory report. I think you have to write in for them. There's a page on the real MSE site somewhere about getting them if I recall.

DarkConvict

Experian - http://experian.metafaq.com/templates/experian/main/answerPage?_mftmfenv:linkEntryCategory=$Order_Report&_mftmfenv:linkEntryClient=$experian&_mftmfenv:linkEntryName=$orderbypost

Equilifax - http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

itsalongroad

thanks both

dc - I have always used experian to chekc my status.....I seem to remember readin there are 3 credit bureua's....presumably all the same data / info?

should I go for both or just 1?

DisgruntledGoat

dc - I have always used experian to chekc my status.....I seem to remember readin there are 3 credit bureua's....presumably all the same data / info?

Usually, but not always - I tend to get the £2 statutory report from Experian and Equifax every year or so, and while most of the information is duplicated some appears only on one or the other. So if you want to be sure of getting the full picture you need all of them.

I think "Call Credit" is the third agency but (for me, at least) they don't appear to show anything that isn't held by the other two.

itsalongroad

thanks both

what would I expect to see when a debt is passed on from say

LLoyds Bank to BLUE LAGOON debt collections?

Many Thanks

DarkConvict

CallCredit is the third one, but i believe rarely holds any details that the other 2 do not already have.

danthemoneysavingman

Why do you need to check your credit file all the time? I work in that industry, so may be able to help you avoid having to keep paying for this...

Tixy

danthemoneysavingman wrote: »

Why do you need to check your credit file all the time? I work in that industry, so may be able to help you avoid having to keep paying for this...

I'd advise anyone to check it at least annually. Not least to check you have no been a victim of identity fraud. Also there seems to be an increasing number of cases of people having other people's debt incorrectly linked to them and appearing on their credit files (just because they have the same name and some useless immoral DCA has 'linked' them incorrectly).

Plus for anyone who has had debt problems in the past or have old outstanding debts they would check their credit report to ensure some rogue DCA hasn't incorrectly/inappropriately recorded say a default on their credit report.

Some people who are in the process of improving their situation need to check that defaults/ CCJs are correctly marked as satisfied etc so that they know their rating is improving.

These and many other reasons are why people check their files.

And at £2 per report I'd say it was money well spent.

DisgruntledGoat

I'd advise anyone to check it at least annually. Not least to check you have no been a victim of identity fraud. Also there seems to be an increasing number of cases of people having other people's debt incorrectly linked to them and appearing on their credit files (just because they have the same name and some useless immoral DCA has 'linked' them incorrectly).

I'd completely agree with this - I lost almost all faith in banking 'security' when two grand of fraudulent payments to Betfair appeared on an Egg credit card i'd never even used. The card never left my possession so I have no idea how. So I check statements monthly, and use an annual credit reference check to see if that turns up anything that statements could miss.

danthemoneysavingman

Agreed, but they stated they were paying mothly to check it, suggesting somewhat more frequently the "annually", dont you think? You both make good points, just waiting for response from OP