MSE News: Equifax unveils online statutory credit reports

Old_Wrinkly

Personally, I do not regard the online availability as something to be totally pleased about.
As it says on the Equifax website (thanks jamesd) :
"During the registration process we'll be asking you some questions to match against our records to prove you are who you say you are. It would help us if you have some of your financial information to hand, such as your mortgage details, credit and store cards, mobile phones, leases etc."

It is surely cheaper for Equifax to provide the information online rather than through the post. They also stand to get some extra info on you. I doubt that they had to be pushed into this.

ElkyElky

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

Going back to the article, I note that it says :
"Access will be free for ID fraud victims and those receiving debt advice".
How would Equifax know whether or not I am receiving debt advice?
(Would it have to be via some official body, or could it include forums like the MSE ones?)

Most likely you'll only get it free through the CAB or other offical debt charity.

Cumbrian_Male

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

Going back to the article, I note that it says :
"Access will be free for ID fraud victims and those receiving debt advice".
How would Equifax know whether or not I am receiving debt advice?
(Would it have to be via some official body, or could it include forums like the MSE ones?)

ElkyElky wrote: »

Most likely you'll only get it free through the CAB or other offical debt charity.

I want to know how this is going to work too.

Do CAB CCCS National debt line place any marker on your file when they are acting for a client or will it be reliant on a creditor making a note on the file? I can't see how they will verify that you are receiving debt advice.

dougz_2

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

Personally, I do not regard the online availability as something to be totally pleased about.

Agreed. The online viewing option sounds like another trick by Equifax to collect a wad of extra personal information that they might not have already, so that they can then sell it on to their business customers to use to pester me.

Which is the same reason I have never taken up their free 'credit rating' offers in the past.

I always apply for my reports giving the bare minimum identification info.

PS: The online ordering option looks dodgy too, why do they need my email address if they they are only sending the report by post?

Degenerate

Any word on Experian and Callcredit following this move? According to the article they should have followed by now, but I can't find the option anywhere on their websites.

Althalus

PNPSUKNET wrote: »

their goes their £6 a month rip off, or however much it costs these days. Bet they will limit it to 1 every 12 months

I just regisered and paid £2 for an on-line report and got nothing but a request to ring them befor they would send the report, i didn't ask to run up a phone bill, What a con.:(

lisyloo

What a con

I don't think it's a con, but they do have to establish your identity.
Would you be pleased if they gave your info to anybody??
The problem is probably that they have been unable to identify you online. Perhaps they need to verify a potential spelling mistake.

Have you tried
saynoto0870.com
for an alternative phone number to save your phone bill

Althalus

dougz wrote: »

Agreed. The online viewing option sounds like another trick by Equifax to collect a wad of extra personal information that they might not have already, so that they can then sell it on to their business customers to use to pester me.

Which is the same reason I have never taken up their free 'credit rating' offers in the past.

I always apply for my reports giving the bare minimum identification info.

PS: The online ordering option looks dodgy too, why do they need my email address if they they are only sending the report by post?

When you have finished answering all their questions on-line you will not get a report, they will insist that you call them and run up a phone bill to get it. it's a government approved scam

lisyloo

I don't know whether it's still availbale, but I get Equifax free on-line twice a year with Capital One.

CpdButWhy

Unfortunately, you cannot register for their online services, if you don't have 6 years of UK address history (you get stuck on the give me one more address screen)

And when asking about how to register in this case for online services, they try to make you give false information in specifying more than six years of address history... isn't specifying false data illegal in the first place?