When to clean up your credit file???

MarkII

Hi all

I have just under eighteen months left on an IVA and was wondering if it was worth getting a copy of my credit file to check that the dates of entering the IVA are correct with each creditor? Or, do you just wait until the IVA is settled and start the process then.

I thought that if I got the ball rolling now it would save problems later on?

Thanks.

happychappy74

Hi there.

I was lucky enough to finalise my IVA in July 09, after 3yr 3mth, by way of full and final offer, which was accepted thankfully enough.

I had wondered whether it was worth chasing up the information on my credit file prior to being able to finalise the payments, but didnt see the point.... plenty of time/leave it for another day etc.

Have made the final payment and received the Certificate of Completion I thought I should chase things up. Oh dear.......

I found a lot of companies had shown default dates later than the commencement of the IVA, in fact some were showing as an ongoing default to that date.

HSBC had placed a 'Gone Away' marker against my name for no reason whatsoever.

I am still chasing up MBNA and Egg as both are STILL showing Default dates after the IVA commencement, as MBNA are still showing an ongoing Default and Egg have kindly updated the Default date as the finalisation of the IVA, thus making it very recent.

I have managed to obtain some sub-prime credit facilities, which have placed a fair few nice green 0's against my file. I have been rejected from other sub prime credit, but the reasons why have become quite clear now so I am appealing the desicions using the templates here on the site.

In short I wish I had taken a look at my credit file earlier and ironed out some of the problems that I am now facing (and are helping to continue hold me back).

Get your reports, have a look and start to get any innaccurate info updated etc. And just remember that it will all have to be done again when the IVA is completed as companies can, and will, even !!!! that up. If I had done it earlier when I thought it didnt make much difference it would have decimated the amount I have been doing over the months now that it does make a big difference.

Good luck with the IVA and your credit reports.

:j

Charco_2

For both of you.

I don't know how you intend or are going about this but it might be worth drafting a letter/sharing any letter you have already drafted with other on here.

I think there i also a thread about this in the top four threads on this forum.

Your rights here are outlined in the Data Protection Act - ha ha it's nice to be able to quote that at your creditors instead of them hiding behind it for a change!

Part of the Act requires that companies can only keep information about you that is true and accurate. So remind Equifax, or whoever, of their duties and instead of you running around like a bluearsed fly make them check their facts.

Equifax: "Oh I'm sorry sir, you'll have to take that up with...."
YOU: "No, just let me stop you there, YOU are holding information that is not true, accurate and up-to-date about me, it is YOUR duty to make sure that this corrected - you have 28days!"

1. The Data Protection Act gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them. It provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly.


The Act works in two ways. Firstly, it states that anyone who processes personal information must comply with eight principles, which make sure that personal information is:

• Fairly and lawfully processed
• Processed for limited purposes
• Adequate, relevant and not excessive
• Accurate and up to date
• Not kept for longer than is necessary
• Processed in line with your rights
• Secure
• Not transferred to other countries without adequate protection

2. If you believe your personal data is inaccurate, you should write to the data controller to tell them what you believe is wrong with your information and what should be done to correct it. There is no particular form of words that you need to use, provided that you make clear the following:

• Your identity and the personal information to which you refer
• What should be done to correct the personal information

If you are sending a letter by post, it is advisable to send it by recorded delivery. The letter may be sent electronically, provided that the data controller is able to identify you and the personal data to which you refer from your letter. The letter must be capable of being used for subsequent reference.
You should keep a copy of the letter you send and any reply you receive from the data controller, together with any other communications, and record the dates of all correspondence.

james32_uk

Any idea how I can access my credit report? Both experian and equifax are totally useless as I cant remember their pathetic security requirements and therefore they wont let me access my account.

happychappy74

Cheers Charco.

Thats the tack that I have been taking with them.
Its never ceases to amaze me the difference between their approach to customers........'Do this/Respond to that within 7 days or else...' in comparison to their own lax approach to following their own commitments and obligations.

I have sent required letters to them, but still left waiting for them to get their house in order. I have chased matters up over the phone but have found they stall and never seem to want to put u throught to the people u need, that is until u start demanding to speak witha supervisor then they find the number they say doesnt exist/isnt available/cant be supplied.



:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

fermi

Charco wrote: »

Equifax: "Oh I'm sorry sir, you'll have to take that up with...."
YOU: "No, just let me stop you there, YOU are holding information that is not true, accurate and up-to-date about me, it is YOUR duty to make sure that this corrected - you have 28days!"

The only slight problem with that is that the DPA1998 only requires the CRAs to take "reasonable" steps to ensure that information recorded is accurate.

Unfortunately, that means that the ICO is of the opinion that querying the accuracy of the data with the originator (creditor) is sufficient for that purpose.

Personally I think that stinks, especially if you can provide evidence direct to the CRA that the info is inaccurate. :rolleyes:

So sometimes going through the CRA works, and sometimes it doesn't. If it doesn't, then don't rely on the ICO to necessarily back you up.

Anyway, the upshot of that is that it's normally best to make direct requests to the creditor to correct the info as well. That way neither the creditor, CRA or even ICO can wiggle out of it.

fermi

happychappy74 wrote: »

Egg have kindly updated the Default date as the finalisation of the IVA, thus making it very recent.

Really? What "bleeps". :rolleyes:

I would give them one more chance to correct it properly, then go to the ICO.

happychappy74

Couldnt agree more.

Having been stalled, cut off, misdirected, been told letters have never arrived, other depts are dealing with it etc, whilst speaking to staff whose tone of voice amounts to no more than 'got to listen to another defaulting piece of scum......again' I think I have been more than patient and will most definately being seeking redress elsewhere.

As I said previously, these are my experiences with Egg and MBNA. The majority of other companies have been polite, helpful and expeditious. Some were a little slow, but I can understand a large workload so, so be it.

However, I cant think of any excuse for making the information on my credit Report appear even WORSE than it should be. Thanks for that EGG.

On a good news front though I was told today that my Vanquis limit has been raised from £250 to £500 so onwards and upwards etc.

:money:

Charco_2

fermi wrote: »

The only slight problem with that is that the DPA1998 only requires the CRAs to take "reasonable" steps to ensure that information recorded is accurate.

Unfortunately, that means that the ICO is of the opinion that querying the accuracy of the data with the originator (creditor) is sufficient for that purpose.QUOTE]

That's why you need to send off copies of what ever proofs you have that the info is incorrect. The CRAs can hardly say they took reasonable steps to verify the information, if you have already landed the proof that the info is wrong in their laps. The onus then falls on the banks to verify their info.

Your ONE letter to the CRAs is enough to refute the information on your file so it is then up to the CRAs to make sure the info is correct. The DPA does not say that I have to run around making sure everyone has correct information about me, it allows me to demand that a company holding the wrong information about me corrects it. So it is enough for you to disprove the information that is being held.

If the banks don't want to give the correct information or can't be bothered to update their files then they CANT HAVE INFORMATION STORED ON YOU. It would be ridiculous to say that they can't be bothered to update thier info on you so they'll just go ahead and store mis-information on you!

***PS HappyChappy - i hope you mean that that is good news coz it show progress in your credit rating, not because it means you can have those new shoes this weekend or that the champagne is on you!***

fermi

Charco wrote: »

Your ONE letter to the CRAs is enough to refute the information on your file so it is then up to the CRAs to make sure the info is correct. The DPA does not say that I have to run around making sure everyone has correct information about me, it allows me to demand that a company holding the wrong information about me corrects it. So it is enough for you to disprove the information that is being held.

That is the way it should work, but unfortunately a lot of the time doesn't.

Charco_2

The ICO cant ignore your complaint then though!