Why is British Gas Trading on my credit report?

ferry

Apologies if this is in the wrong place!
Got a copy of my Experian credit report yesterday and I have an entry on there for British GAs Trading.
I can only asume that this is from my most recent bill that I was a few days late in paying?Other than that I've no idea why its on my report
Are British Gas known for doing this or is there something a bit more sinister going on here?
F

ferry

Ok,done some investigating and found this:
http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/utilities-gas-electricity-water/235128-british-gas-cras-4.html

Which may be of help to some people.
F

fatbelly

Interesting, Ferry

I think the moral of this is - if you are concerned about protecting (or improving) your credit record, don't use British Gas.

I've personally not previously come across a utility putting a mark on a file for a few days late payment. Maybe others have but this is new to me.

never-in-doubt

It is easy to get it taken off cos they do not have legal provision to report to CRA's being you're not ermmm, using credit! You still have to allow them to process your data or utilise s.10 (DPA). They think they are being clever but to date have not had someone sue them, the moment someone does they will soon quit this process. If I recall they use some bullsh!t about it being in their terms but the DPA makes it clear that the fact they share data should not be hidden in terms and should be made crystal clear to us.

They forget that defaults relating to credit are covered under CCA s.87 & s.88 and there has been a lot of stories lately about BG getting default happy - i'd love to take them on lol.

CarolynH

never-in-doubt wrote: »

It is easy to get it taken off cos they do not have legal provision to report to CRA's being you're not ermmm, using credit!.

Unless you're on a prepayment meter, you ARE using credit, you get the gas, then you pay for it later on.

Even if you're on DD, the DD payments are simply applied against your account.

never-in-doubt

CarolynH wrote: »

Unless you're on a prepayment meter, you ARE using credit, you get the gas, then you pay for it later on.

Even if you're on DD, the DD payments are simply applied against your account.

Not actually true if you're a pay monthly customer. I'm not going to argue about this but the 4 people i've helped have all had their British Gas entry/default removed - its the actual wording of the DPA that you get them with, not the legality surrounding the issue of credit. Lets leave it at that then

karatedragon

I totally disagree with this and have sent for my £2 Experian Report and if I see British Gas on it I will become an ex-customer.

Is it possible to get the entry removed after you have binned them off? Also does this reporting stretch to the Home Care Agreements? I have one of those too.

never-in-doubt

karatedragon wrote: »

I totally disagree with this and have sent for my £2 Experian Report and if I see British Gas on it I will become an ex-customer.

Is it possible to get the entry removed after you have binned them off? Also does this reporting stretch to the Home Care Agreements? I have one of those too.

It may not be on there being you're a customer from before their change in terms but then they usually try and say that by being a customer you agree to their terms. The ICO feel differently, luckily, and tell them that they must be transparent when dealing with sharing of data. If BG never made it explicitly clear to you that they were reporting your data then yes, you can get it removed. A default is easier to have removed, but a closed CAIS/INSIGHT entry would have no affect on you so i'd not suggest arguing.

Basically, if you don't want them to report then don;t use them - that's the best advice.

karatedragon

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Basically, if you don't want them to report then don;t use them - that's the best advice.

That is why I will be an ex-customer.

It is a shame that some kind of protest can't happen on this site where everyone leaves BG due to them doing this. Maybe they would then change their minds!

stephane_2

I have been with BG since last summer, did the switch with uswicth.com, was never made aware that data would be shared with CRA, never received contract from BG, only a few months ago I realised about the entry in my Experian report. Once the bill has been sent, they put the amount owed on report and update it once paid. I think it's an open door for all the others...BT, Council..etc

never-in-doubt

stephane wrote: »

I have been with BG since last summer, did the switch with uswicth.com, was never made aware that data would be shared with CRA, never received contract from BG, only a few months ago I realised about the entry in my Experian report. Once the bill has been sent, they put the amount owed on report and update it once paid. I think it's an open door for all the others...BT, Council..etc

Ive heard some Council Tax do use CAIS (Experian) - its all to do with Principles of Reciprocity etc exactly what data they give/receive as part of CAIS/INSIGHT.....

BT won't do it, they were going to but realised the cost outweighed their current set-up but that may change, although BT seem able to handle the hit when they get bad debtors....