DWP and credit reference agencies

dodgydave69

I've just read that the DWP retrieve information from credit reference agencies such as Equifax and Experian about benefit claimants. What information can they get and isn't this subject to Data Protection or something?

sarahg1969

It is subject to the DPA, but the DPA does allow for data to be shared for certain purposes (for example, in anticipation of court proceedings, or for the purpose of investigating a crime).

real1314

dodgydave69 wrote: »

I've just read that the DWP retrieve information from credit reference agencies such as Equifax and Experian about benefit claimants. What information can they get and isn't this subject to Data Protection or something?

The info credit ref agencies hold is their property which they can sell to whomever they wish within the law. You give consent for the info they hold to be passed to the credit ref agency when you take out a loan / mortgage / finance etc.

If barclays can pay to get it, why shouldn't the government? :cool:

anguk

I think they look for any financial associations, for example during our housing benefit review the housing officer asked us to clarify who lived in our house because checks had shown that our son was linked to our address. Our son hasn't lived with us for about 7 years but the BT landline is in his name, we pay the bill but we just hadn't bothered to change it. All we had to do was give his address, which they checked, and everything was fine.

dodgydave69

In this building there are 11 flats & its like a revolving door for new tenants so there'll inevitably be evidence of other people living here. I was just thinking of whether the DWP can get evidence of my financial situation from this credit check? I don't think that information is in the "public domain" and from what i read i think they need a reason to do extra digging and get access to the non "public domain" info?

uponahill

dodgydave69 wrote: »

In this building there are 11 flats & its like a revolving door for new tenants so there'll inevitably be evidence of other people living here. I was just thinking of whether the DWP can get evidence of my financial situation from this credit check? I don't think that information is in the "public domain" and from what i read i think they need a reason to do extra digging and get access to the non "public domain" info?

They can for the purposes of crime prevention, to identify fraud etc.

Those are 'general' headings and the council can interpret them as they wish.

No different than the council using Anti Terrorist legislation to identify those that don't clean up after their dog, or maybe try to disprove claims by people that they live within the catchment area of a particular school.

real1314

dodgydave69 wrote: »

In this building there are 11 flats & its like a revolving door for new tenants so there'll inevitably be evidence of other people living here. I was just thinking of whether the DWP can get evidence of my financial situation from this credit check? I don't think that information is in the "public domain" and from what i read i think they need a reason to do extra digging and get access to the non "public domain" info?

Credit Ref Agency data is not done on a "building" basis, it's on each actual residential unit (and each person within that);
Credit Ref Agency data is not "public domain";
The "reason" will be to protect the economic well-being of the nation, by virtue of prevention of fraudulent receipt of state funds. :cool:

AMG762

dodgydave69 wrote: »

I've just read that the DWP retrieve information from credit reference agencies such as Equifax and Experian about benefit claimants. What information can they get and isn't this subject to Data Protection or something?

You can request your own credit files. They are £2 each from Equifax, Experian and CallCredit.

It should also show any previous searches that may have been done