What is the problem?

Bitofsteak

Hi everyone,
Please can you help me with the following?
In September of last year I requested a credit report from Equifax for £2.00 sending a copy of my decree absolute and stating that I wanted to be disassociated from my ex-husband. I provided them with relevant details and my information has been updated with them with no problems.
I have decided to do the same with Experian; however I have received a letter today stating the following:
“We do not have enough information at present to proceed with the following request”
“Someone I am financially linked to has made a credit application and your credit report has been seen by the lender as a result” The lender may have used your info when making their decision about whether to offer credit because you share a financial connection, your financial circumstances may influence their ability to make repayments. This info is kept on your credit report for 12 months, even if you are disassociated.
They have also provided a questionnaire asking where I live now, previous surnames, and where I lived in the 6 years. Info I had already sent the! they also want to know my ex husbands address now and the past 6 years.
I do not have a mortgage (I rent) the only credit I have taken out since the divorce is a mobile phone contract and some savings accounts.
I have already provided Experian with my decree absolute, why is this not enough for them?
Has anyone else had this problem?

Bitofsteak :huh:

smartpicture

It sounds like your ex has taken out extra credit, and because you were still recorded as financially linked, they looked at your credit rating as part of the assessment on whether to give it to him - therefore, that will still show on your account for 12 months after his application.

But I guess you should be asking Experian really.

natalieho

Yes, mine is slightly different 9 years ago when i went out with someone we had a joint savings account, the accounts not been touched for 9yrs in credit but as it was joint sigs on the account they will not remove me from it, the ex is totally untracable. Yet expedian still have him linked to me i can see from my report he applied for a loan this year!!! Its totally crazy ive written one final letter to experian and the bank failing that im going to have to consult a solicitor i had no idea about the account still being open.

Very embarresing for me and my husband

Experian_company_representative

Marriage doesn't create a financial link on credit reports and, therefore, divorce (evidenced by your Decree Absolute) doesn't cancel them. It's financial behaviour that creates the links, like applying for joint credit. It's actually standard procedure for Experian to ask you to fill out a financial connections questionnaire regarding ex-partners, just to make sure there is no continuing connection. As long as you answer the questions you can and send the questionnaire back (and assuming there is no continuing link) we should be able to break any links for you.

James

PS. A savings account has no credit facility so isn't a financial link as far as credit reports are concerned.

Watalie

Sorry to hijack this thread but James, while you are here....

My Credit report from Experian shows 120 linked addresses.... yes, you read right - 120!

My report with Equifax shows only 2 (ie the Correct number)

When I queried it, I got a "standard response" from Experian saying linked addresses are created when the lender updates etc etc... and that having 120 linked addresses doesn't impact my credit score... why have so many of them been duplicated at least 4 times? I feel whenever I ask Experian a question I get the brush off and considering I'm paying 5.99 a month of my hard earned cash... I'd like not to feel like a nuscience.

Surely 120 Linked addresses is un-necessary?

onlypaddy

Watalie wrote: »

Sorry to hijack this thread but James, while you are here....

My Credit report from Experian shows 120 linked addresses.... yes, you read right - 120!

My report with Equifax shows only 2 (ie the Correct number)

When I queried it, I got a "standard response" from Experian saying linked addresses are created when the lender updates etc etc... and that having 120 linked addresses doesn't impact my credit score... why have so many of them been duplicated at least 4 times? I feel whenever I ask Experian a question I get the brush off and considering I'm paying 5.99 a month of my hard earned cash... I'd like not to feel like a nuscience.

Surely 120 Linked addresses is un-necessary?

Usually, every financial institution links each of your addresses, past and present, together individually. For example, if you have 4 addresses (1 current [1] and 3 previous [2,3,4]) you will have something along the lines of:

entry 1: Istitution A links Address 1 - Address 2
Entry 2: A links 1-3
Entry 3: A links 1-4
...2-3
...2-4
...3-4

An so on. Replicate this for your number of addresses and the number of accounts you hold then the number can get very big, very quickly.

It's nothing to worry about, it doesnt affect applications. You only need to worry if an address you dont recognise appears...

Watalie

Thanks Paddy -

Still seems pretty Crazy to me though, especially when Equifax simply say "Previous Addresses" and that's sufficient.

Experian_company_representative

Paddy is right, the number of links doesn't affect scoring. The links exist to help make sure lenders see all relevant data about you. I think Experian and Equifax do display the links differently and we certainly display them all as this is our interpretation of the DPA (we have to show you ALL the data we hold in your name). But it really is a non-issue, unless you find any that are wrong of course, in which case please let us know.

James

Watalie

Thanks James

Fair enough, if it really doesn't affect scoring, I guess I should ignore it. I'm moving shortly after 5 years at where I am now... so I'll look forward to about a million more duplicate linkings being added LOL