Letter from Northridge Finance, credit refused - scam?

joyjoy5

Morning mse-ers,

I wonder if you can help me: my husband has today received a letter from Northridge Finance saying that his recent application for credit has been refused and says the Credit Reference Agency used on his application was Equifax Europe UK Ltd. It says we can obtain a copy of the data held by them and gives the website, tel no, and address (PO box in Bradford). It also says it charges a fee for this service. The letter itself does not give Northridge's telephone number, only the address in Belfast.

My husband panicked because he hasn't recently applied for credit (thinking maybe it's a fraudulent application) and automatically went to call the telephone number given but I stopped him as I think it looks suspicious. I've googled and can't find any similar from this Northridge company - but I have seen a couple of queries, including one on MSE, from people asking as they've received letters from H&M where people have set up accounts in thir name and to call the Equifax number. I've found a number online for Northridge Finance and we've called that instead, as they're the one's that put the application in and should know why - but it's closed at weekends.

Do you think it sounds like a scam and we should ignore it? Or do you think it's genuine fraudulent activity and we should follow it up? Would appreciate your help, thanks!

Apples2

Whatever you do, don't tell us which number it asked you to call so we can check it out!!

Northridge Finance
http://www.northridgefinance.com/contact_us/index.html

Equifax
http://www.equifax.co.uk/Contact-us/Contact_Us_Personal_Solutions.html

Only you know the rest as you are the only one with the information..

DCFC79

yes you did the right thing in not calling the number on the letter, you could check your credit report at equifax and see if theres anything on there that stands out as fraudulant.

joyjoy5

Thanks for the links, Apples - am curious to see what you can find out!

Bit reluctant to do that DCFC, as it says there's a charge (fee not stated of course!!)...

DCFC79

joyjoy5 wrote: »

Thanks for the links, Apples - am curious to see what you can find out!

Bit reluctant to do that DCFC, as it says there's a charge (fee not stated of course!!)...

Where does it say a fee is charged ? You reading that from the letter by any chance ?

You get a free trial with equifax for 30 days and you just cancel on day 10 or day 30.

Apples2

joyjoy5 wrote: »

Bit reluctant to do that DCFC, as it says there's a charge (fee not stated of course!!)...

£2, as stated or free for 30 days
http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

DCFC79

Apples2 wrote: »

£2, as stated
http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html

Or the £2 option

Duke203

Be very wary of anyone telling you that you have a problem, and then in the same breath offering to fix that problem (for a small fee)...

Of course it's not guaranteed to be dodgy but my scam-o-meter is twitching more than slightly.