MSE News: Water bills to be added to credit reports

ValHaller

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

Buzby

Customer agreement is obtained through a privacy notice at the outset of the relationship, which is an annual contract. The data sharing is not optional but required by the supplier in order to provide the service. We have worked with the regulators and consumer organisations to agree how this should be done for water accounts in a fair and consistent manner, so it is certainly compliant.

James Jones

It is a disgrace. The data sharing is not required. You and Experian can rot in hell.

Cardew

tagq2 wrote: »

Privatisation of the water industry is one of the most embarrassingly stupid decisions Thatcher made. At least she handwaved a fallacious argument for all her other mistakes, but the water one had no justification other than pure greed.

I couldn't agree more!

To compound the initial error, the Act of Parliament must be one of the best examples of a badly drafted Bill ever to be put in front of Parliament.

A Bill that has left the South West paying over 3 times as much for their water sewerage than some other parts of the country.

A two tier system of charges where non-metered customers are paying on the basis of the rent their property could command in 1973.

Water companies that are guaranteed their revenue - and hence profit - regardless of the fairness of their charges.

Etc Etc

Chrisblue1962

With stories like this I am increasing starting to believe that not only do I no longer own any data relating to myself but that I no longer own my identity

StacFace

I don't get all the drama on this thread. It's your water bills, not your deepest darkest secrets! Surely if anything your credit card bills are more private!?

Personally I think the more different bill types we can get onto credit reports the better. The whole idea of them is to show how good you are at repaying and on time and the more bills shown there the more accurate it is. The only people who stand to lose from that are people who don't pay their bills on time. And for the person who said what next putting your bar tabs on there, I pay mine in full before leaving so actually it'd be great if that could happen as it'll give me a bit more credit history.

someone

So Experian, what happens in a shared house where all but one person named on the bill has paid their share? How do you know which person has 'defaulted'? Seems to have the same flaws as the idea of adding rent to credit files.

areia

this isnt news to me, I was under this impression for years, to the point I made sure my water bill was covered before my credit card,

I assumed anything you cannot be legally cut off from, was a risk of bad credit with late payments. My mother told me this way back in the 80's ( before i was even old enough to leave the nest lol ) I just followed her advise, seemed common sense at the time, though I noticed over the last few years the deadlines are getting smaller and smaller, more so when the letter date is say 2 of feb you receive 9th feb so you only have a few days to find funds and pay, you have to be alot more on the ball to pay on time for things today than say 10 years ago

Cardew

StacFace wrote: »

I don't get all the drama on this thread. It's your water bills, not your deepest darkest secrets! Surely if anything your credit card bills are more private!?

Personally I think the more different bill types we can get onto credit reports the better. The whole idea of them is to show how good you are at repaying and on time and the more bills shown there the more accurate it is. The only people who stand to lose from that are people who don't pay their bills on time. And for the person who said what next putting your bar tabs on there, I pay mine in full before leaving so actually it'd be great if that could happen as it'll give me a bit more credit history.

I think you are rather missing the point.

The Law allows us to opt out of a commercial organisation(Experian) having access to data held by another firm.

This means we have a choice, to use/not use the services of the firm that holds our data.

With water we don't have that choice!

Experian_company_representative

To provide a little more detail for you, we've agreed a new set of guidelines on water data sharing with the regulators, including the ICO, and with consumer organisations. Water firms are required to notify customers of this data sharing, not obtain specific consent. This notification will be part of your annual contract with the water company.

The vast majority of us pay our water bills on time so will benefit from this additional positive data on our credit histories, helping us get credit, get the cheapest deals and have our identities verified quickly and easily.

James Jones

Cardew

Experian_company_representative wrote: »

To provide a little more detail for you, we've agreed a new set of guidelines on water data sharing with the regulators, including the ICO, and with consumer organisations. Water firms are required to notify customers of this data sharing, not obtain specific consent. This notification will be part of your annual contract with the water company.

The vast majority of us pay our water bills on time so will benefit from this additional positive data on our credit histories, helping us get credit, get the cheapest deals and have our identities verified quickly and easily.

James Jones

Firstly I personally do not want your company to have my details and will not give consent. I have no requirement for credit, but have knowledge of incorrect information affecting an 'innocent' person's credit record - and the person in question being unaware their credit record had been damaged.

Secondly I have a right to have water and sewerage facilities, and those facilities should not be dependant on you(a commercial company) having my details. Indeed the Law states that I have the right to refuse a company giving you information.

I am not aware that I have an annual contract with my water company. If my company write to me and tell me that you are to be given my information against my wishes, I will challenge them - in court if necessary.

I can understand that it would be impractical to obtain consent from every customer, but I believe they have no right to give information to those who 'opt out'.

Lastly please spare us from the 'we are doing you a favour' routine.

rb10

someone wrote: »

So Experian, what happens in a shared house where all but one person named on the bill has paid their share? How do you know which person has 'defaulted'? Seems to have the same flaws as the idea of adding rent to credit files.

There isn't a concept of 'someone's share' of a water bill. All those named on the bill are equally liable.

So in this scenario:

- The water company would take action to recover the money, and this could be from any one or more people named on the bill. They have no interest in who has already contributed towards it; you are all liable for the whole amount.
- The 'default' would be most likely added to the credit files of all those named on the account. This would be the correct course of action to take, as everyone in the house would have defaulted.

The creation of a financial association - if this takes place based on two parties being named on a water bill - is of greater concern to those in shared houses.