British Gas credit check - incorrect information

Maeus

Thanks for the information Sarah. Unfortunately I'm unable to PM.

Given that my Experian file as above is 985 (via CreditExpert this morning), is there a particular department I can contact within BG to resolve this?

British_Gas

Hi, if the score is 985 we will be happy to exchange the meter for you. Pls call 0800 048 0303 and advise the pay as you go team of the score and they will be happy to investigate this further for you...

Maeus

I've been on the phone to them for the past hour - they claim that my score is 796 and that they can't do another credit search for 60 days?

cifpower

Should a company which credit checks and doesn't disclose reasons for refusal on grounds of confidentiality be saying what "score"you need to pass? As you can only see this "score" if you pay Experian extra does British Gas get a kick back?

Maeus

Yeah, it does seem odd. I was under the impression that the Experian score was meaningless and each organisation made their own decision based on the data they received. Certainly that is what lots of people on MSE say.

Judging from this thread though, it seems BG just receive the Experian score and base it on that, which if true seems like a massive change in general policy...

jalexa

Maeus wrote: »

Yeah, it does seem odd.

Well I would say the "odd thing" was why do British Gas claim a different number?

macman

Experian provide the score, each company can decide it's own 'pass' mark though?
Which means that they can only say pass or fail, but can't advise you why.
You didn't confirm if you are on the electoral roll at the new address?
This does not mean a fail, but it's a fairly basic factor, and if not it's bound to mark you down.

Maeus

The forms have been sent off, but it probably hasn't updated yet.
Experian does say I'm not on the register.

What I find odd is, certainly above, BG give the impression that they take the Experian score as supplied directly from them.
This should take into account whether I'm on the electoral roll or not, surely?

Is this a recent development in credit records? A few years ago, the concept of a credit score number didn't exist - it only really came to prominence when CreditExpert etc started generating this number based on their assessment of the data they hold. Everyone then said 'this number is meaningless as it depends on the lender, some credit card companies don't want people with perfect records as it means they don't get any money' etc etc.
Whenever I've spoken to BG today, they've said quite clearly they do not make the decision, they receive a pass or fail *from* Experian. Above, the BG rep says the pass 'score' is 907 which if everything else I've been told today is correct, must based on my Experian score?

This does appear to be a simple case of a mis-matched record in this case but I'm curious as to whether companies are now generally basing credit decisions on Experian's internal score.

jalexa

macman wrote: »

You didn't confirm if you are on the electoral roll at the new address?
This does not mean a fail, but it's a fairly basic factor, and if not it's bound to mark you down.

Where current residency is less than 3 years they should ask for and check residency to 3 years. It is totally absurd that a transaction which may intrisically be a move to a new property should be adversely affected in the short term by an electoral roll check.

A better unanswered question is why British Gas quote a different and lower "score".

Edit: see some comment about that. I do not know the process but all what you have been told implies that British Gas inform Experian of "907" and Experian reply pass or fail. That would be better "data protection".

Terrylw1

macman wrote: »

No company is obliged to accept you as a customer or give you reasons why they have declined you.

But that's not true in the utility sector as they have abide by the Deemed contract policy.

They can of course object to a change of tariff for the PPM by using the credit check.