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Equifax Taking Money Out of My Bank Account

Yes, hello! And here is my story:

In 2011, like few others on this website, I took out a "Cashback" Trial with Equifax over one month. I cancelled the Trial after obtaining my Credit Reference as the freebie, and before the month trial ended.

Yet this year (2012), Equifax have started taking money out of my bank account without any agreement with me! They have taken out a payment of £2.99 each of the last two months -- almost as if it's some kind of Direct Debit thing. I believe they are using details of my Debit card, which I gave in January 2011 to get their Free credit reference and trial.

Is this legal? Can they really keep sensitive personal data on their systems when the original "relationship" was officially finished? And, what can I do about getting my money back. Is there compensation for this?
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Comments

  • Forwandert
    Forwandert Posts: 1,211 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The payments are for identity watch. Its a service you signed up to when you initially signed up with Equifax and for the first 12 months its free after that there is a monthly charge. You just need to contact them and cancel it.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Let's look at your questions in turn...
    JoshiF wrote: »
    Is this legal?
    Yes. As mentioned above, you agreed to it.
    JoshiF wrote: »
    Can they really keep sensitive personal data on their systems when the original "relationship" was officially finished?
    Yes they can keep data as long as necessary. Anyway, the relationship hasn't finished.

    JoshiF wrote: »
    And, what can I do about getting my money back.
    You may not be able to get your money back, but to avoid spending any more, cancel your agreement as described on their website.

    JoshiF wrote: »
    Is there compensation for this?
    No, don't worry. You will not be required to pay any compensation for your mistake.
  • arcon5
    arcon5 Posts: 14,099 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    JoshiF wrote: »
    Yes, hello! And here is my story:

    In 2011, like few others on this website, I took out a "Cashback" Trial with Equifax over one month. I cancelled the Trial after obtaining my Credit Reference as the freebie, and before the month trial ended.

    Yet this year (2012), Equifax have started taking money out of my bank account without any agreement with me! They have taken out a payment of £2.99 each of the last two months -- almost as if it's some kind of Direct Debit thing. I believe they are using details of my Debit card, which I gave in January 2011 to get their Free credit reference and trial.

    Is this legal? Can they really keep sensitive personal data on their systems when the original "relationship" was officially finished? And, what can I do about getting my money back. Is there compensation for this?


    What makes you think you are entitled to compensation for something so trivial? Jeeze!
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    OP, you may be interested to see this thread.

    You are not alone.

    Should also give you hope of getting a refund.
  • neilmcl
    neilmcl Posts: 19,460 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    wealdroam wrote: »
    No, don't worry. You will not be required to pay any compensation for your mistake.
    This bit I liked. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
  • Valli
    Valli Posts: 25,681 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    wealdroam wrote: »
    No, don't worry. You will not be required to pay any compensation for your mistake.
    neilmcl wrote: »
    This bit I liked. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

    Me too!:rotfl:
    Don't put it DOWN; put it AWAY
    "I would like more sisters, that the taking out of one, might not leave such stillness" Emily Dickinson
    :heart:Janice 1964-2016:heart:

    Thank you Honey Bear
  • Equifax are the most sneaky and disreputable company I have come across and that's saying something.

    Anyone who has ever contacted them or used one of their services should be aware of these tricks. You can ask them to discard any data they hold on you under the Data Protection Act. If you signed up to a free trial or the statutory credit report then you do not have any relationship with them.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If you signed up to a free trial or the statutory credit report then you do not have any relationship with them.
    Not too sure on how you came to that conclusion.
  • wealdroam wrote: »
    Not too sure on how you came to that conclusion.

    Quite easily. You had a relationship. When the trial ended or you received your report that relationship ended with it. I used to have an account with Vodafone, the contract ended. According to your logic I still have a relationship with them.
  • wealdroam
    wealdroam Posts: 19,180 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Quite easily. You had a relationship. When the trial ended or you received your report that relationship ended with it. I used to have an account with Vodafone, the contract ended. According to your logic I still have a relationship with them.
    My logic?
    I offered no logic.

    It may well have been the intention of the applicant that the relationship ended at the end of the free trial, but that isn't necessarily what they signed up to.

    People who take out free trials have been known to agree to a relationship beyond the end of the free trial.

    This is clearly the case being discussed in this thread, isn't it?
This discussion has been closed.
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