Credit Reports

HokeyCokey_3

Happy new year !

I'm in the process of checking my credit reports. I normally just check Experian and Equifax, however I notice there are a few more now...such as mycallcredit.

Is it worth checking them all or are Experian and Equifax the most important ones...?

Thanks

James

Hope this helps:

You can get a free Call Credit Report via Annual Credit Report (All areas in UK now covered).


IMHO it's very good.

Sazere

I just got a 'free' report from Annual Credit Report but I found it very basic and it only had my HSBC basic bank account showing on it and only my Next account. No car, no main bank account, etc.

I wanted to use Credit Expert or the other one on the free trial but you need a visa and I only have solo!

HokeyCokey_3

Thanks for your replies. I think there should be a main 'government run' organisation that deals with these reports.

I just had to sign up for full membership with Credit Expert to see my report...what a pain! Gonna cancel it later. Didn't have to do this 6 months ago.

They charge quite a lot to just view the information they hold about me, it's disgusting really.

sandralovescats

There are three main credit referencing agencies, details below - send £2 for your report.


Experian Ltd
Consumer Help Service
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF
Tel No 0870 241 6212
https://www.experian.co.uk
(You can order your credit file on the internet or by telephone).

Equifax Plc
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
Tel No 0870 010 0583
https://www.equifax.co.uk
(you can order your credit file on the internet)

Callcredit plc
Consumer Services Team
P O Box 491
Leeds
LS1 5XX
Tel No 0870 060 1414
https://www.callcredit.plc.uk

lisyloo

They charge quite a lot to just view the information they hold about me, it's disgusting really.

Statutory reports are £2 each although you can get then all for free on various trials.

Of course they will offer you more expensive on-line services, but they offer little real advantage expect convenience and speed.
It's only about a week to wait for a statutory report through the post.

HokeyCokey_3

lisyloo wrote:

Statutory reports are £2 each although you can get then all for free on various trials.

Of course they will offer you more expensive on-line services, but they offer little real advantage expect convenience and speed.
It's only about a week to wait for a statutory report through the post.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm not eligible for the free trials anymore because I have previously used them.

What about changes on your report...? Today, I added another previous address and this changed my rating from Good to Excellent. I don't think I could do this when applying for the Statutory Report.

Also do you get a credit rating on the statutory report too?

Thanks

GPF

I recieved my Reports (equifax/experian & call credit)yesterday on-line & had a few scary details!
I entered into an IVA over 6 years ago (cleared Nov 2005) & my defaults are still showing on these reports, some are satisfied/settled but 2 are still showing defaults.

1. How long are they on these reports for?
2. Who do I need to contact to get the defaults changed to satisfied/settled?

Need a mortgage but things like these reports are slowly getting to me & my wife, esp having to enter into the IVA due to my ex deciding to spend on my behalf!!

sandralovescats

You need to ask the lenders to update their data. Not only that but they must also mark their entries as either "Settled" or "Satisfied".

Some lenders may prove to be belligerent about this but they are wrong. The correct procedure to lenders is laid down by the Information Commissiioner who oversees the Data Protection Act which states that all records held by Agencies must be truthful.

Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
https://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

GPF

sandralovescats wrote:

You need to ask the lenders to update their data. Not only that but they must also mark their entries as either "Settled" or "Satisfied".

Some lenders may prove to be belligerent about this but they are wrong. The correct procedure to lenders is laid down by the Information Commissiioner who oversees the Data Protection Act which states that all records held by Agencies must be truthful.

Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
https://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

Thanks for that,
Am I right in assuming that any details 6 years or longer should still show or do they get removed from the credit checks/reports?

lisyloo

Today, I added another previous address and this changed my rating from Good to Excellent. I don't think I could do this when applying for the Statutory Report.

Also do you get a credit rating on the statutory report too

For £2 you get a single report at one point in time.
You cannot get another one (without paying) and you do not get a credit rating.

If you want the conveninece of getting lots of reports and ratings etc. then of course you will need to pay more for it.

For most people the £2 one is all they need every now and again but I guess it depends on how complicated your circumstances are.

In my opinion the ratings are a bit of a con anyway.
Individual lenders use their own ratings which may not be the same as the ones you pay for.
They are an indicator that's all but at the end of the day they mean nothing.