Looking for advice re: Experian

sophisticat

Not sure if I'm in the right place but it looks like it. I'm looking for some advice regarding Experian.

A couple of weeks ago my Mum mentioned to me that she'd had two letters, personally addressed, from a house-builder (company) suggesting that she might be interested as a first-time buyer in their new build properties. I told her to bin them, but on reflection brought one away to write to this company in order to check where they got her details from and to remove her from their database. She's already on the opt-out list for the electoral roll.

Today I received a reply from them telling me that they get their details (all legally and above board, so they tell me) from Experian, and that my mother's profile matched their criteria. They assured me they were telling Experian to remove her details from their database. However this has set off alarm bells with me.

My mother is in her 70s, owns her own property and has never had a single loan, credit card or debt in her life - even the mortgage (paid off over 30 years ago) was in my father's name only. So how did her details get onto Experian's database in the first place? My gut feeling - and this is where I want some advice - is that you only get onto the credit databases when you apply for credit. Does this mean someone attempted to use her ID for fraudulent purposes? The fact that they seemed to think she might be a suitable first-time buyer implies that the details Experian have aren't correct - you'd hardly be a first-time buyer in your 70s.

I'm really hoping someone will reassure me that's not the case and there are other ways it may have happened. If I have to start involving my mother with credit companies and the police she'll have a nervous breakdown - but probably not before I do!

izools

She has a bank account and / or is registered on the electoral role? She has a populated experian credit file.

Things that will appear on the ER:

1. Her bank account
2. Her mobile phone and / or landline contract
3. Her electoral role information

There may be more information but you can rest assured she has a populated credit file!

sophisticat

izools wrote: »

She has a bank account and / or is registered on the electoral role? She has a populated experian credit file.

Things that will appear on the ER:

1. Her bank account
2. Her mobile phone and / or landline contract
3. Her electoral role information

There may be more information but you can rest assured she has a populated credit file!

OK, that's something of a relief. Yes, to all 3. However, if the electoral roll information is being utilised, what is the point of being opted out if the details are being distributed anyway?

It still doesn't explain why the profile shows her as potentially being a first-time buyer - or is that just hogwash, and the company have simply bought up any details they can get their hands on?

Curt.

Because there may have been an associatio with your father, and thus there would have been notification to the mortgage provider whether she was a home-owner, ever had been or not at all. That could be where Experian hasa a recod of it from, even if it was some time ago, if they even existed back then.

But the association/council of mortgage providers may be your answer.

Either way, i wouldn't worry if were you - seems this third party company aren't out to fleece your mom or anything.

sophisticat

Curt. wrote: »

Either way, i wouldn't worry if were you - seems this third party company aren't out to fleece your mom or anything.

That doesn't stop her worrying about letters randomly arriving

The source of this (and possibly other junk mail?) is Experian. I thought they were a credit checking agency, not a company who sells personal information for marketing purposes. What right do they have to do that? I noticed we have an official rep on the board here: perhaps he'd like to explain?