British Gas / credit checks

dbriggs

Moved in to a new house and British Gas have the electric and power. I have asked eon to take over as I have a credit with them. I checked my credit file and British Gas have credit checked me and my score has dropped 30 points because "You have recently opened 1 or more new credit accounts" and "The average age of the accounts on your credit report has decreased"!

As they will send a first and final bill - when eon take over - how will that effect my credit rating? Should I expect eon to also do a credit check and lower my score again?

It doesn't seem fair somehow as I am forced to used British Gas while eon take over the properties energy account...

You-kip

dbriggs wrote: »

Moved in to a new house and British Gas have the electric and power. I have asked eon to take over as I have a credit with them. I checked my credit file and British Gas have credit checked me and my score has dropped 30 points because "You have recently opened 1 or more new credit accounts" and "The average age of the accounts on your credit report has decreased"!

As they will send a first and final bill - when eon take over - how will that effect my credit rating? Should I expect eon to also do a credit check and lower my score again?

It doesn't seem fair somehow as I am forced to used British Gas while eon take over the properties energy account...

Credit scores from CRAs are worthless & meaningless tat mate and it seems you've been sucked in with paying for it.

tinkerbell28

Yes it is standard, British Gas as do most utilities report to the CRA's.

The score is POINTLESS. I've just seen a thread where an ex bankrupt has a score of 999, with br still on the file.

No in reality a utility account won't affect your ability to get credit, no matter what experian say.

dbriggs

So I'm wasting £14.99 a month paying the company (Experian) who hold all the cards anyway?

You-kip

dbriggs wrote: »

So I'm wasting £14.99 a month paying the company (Experian) who hold all the cards anyway?

You certantly have wasted your money mate as lenders don't see your score nor would they care as they'll calculate your score themselves taking in a lot more info then those scammers Experian.

All you need is a £2 statutory report

tinkerbell28

dbriggs wrote: »

So I'm wasting £14.99 a month paying the company (Experian) who hold all the cards anyway?

Depends what you use it for? The score, yes it is utterly pointless.

dbriggs

That TV advert must be very well worded for them to get away with this! What really annoys me is that £14.99 isn't a small amount of money, especially considering they are the holders of the data anyway - I'm basically paying to see my own records which I never asked them to keep anyway. It's a shame you cant just do a data protection request once a month to get your file from them.

I think I'll monitor what goes on with the British Gas / eon situation and then cancel it.

Thanks for the heads up on this guys, I really appreciate keeping my cash in the bank!

tinkerbell28

Put it this way, your score has just dropped right? As you opened a utility account. But have good conduct accounts?

Experian put a warning out to me and I presume dropped my score. As I applied, and was immediately accepted for a TESCO credit card, with a good limit. Allegedly hard to get for some, as it has market leading offers. Again with other good conduct accounts.

Yet you have people with bankruptcies and defaults on their file with a score of 999.

It is a farce. I wouldn't subscribe to experian for the score alone, no.

dbriggs

I actually don't have any credit cards, loans, overdrafts or debts. I was lucky enough to clear everything 7 years ago. I mainly signed up to Experian to begin with because I had some 'missing post' at a rental property and was concerned about identity theft, as I believe that can really upset things. Maybe the score (which considering the above still wasn't at the peak of 999) is just a trap to keep you paying the fee to Experian while you try to improve it? Looks like I've been scammed by the company who said they would protect me from scams... lesson learnt!

tinkerbell28

dbriggs wrote: »

I actually don't have any credit cards, loans, overdrafts or debts. I was lucky enough to clear everything 7 years ago. I mainly signed up to Experian to begin with because I had some 'missing post' at a rental property and was concerned about identity theft, as I believe that can really upset things. Maybe the score (which considering the above still wasn't at the peak of 999) is just a trap to keep you paying the fee to Experian while you try to improve it? Looks like I've been scammed by the company who said they would protect me from scams... lesson learnt!

No credit is quite bad for your files as it shows no reliable history or accounts.

Much like you however I pay a MUCH lower fee, as I went to cancel after a trial. I did have id theft many moons ago and cannot afford things like that, as I need clean files. So I pay a few quid to be able to log in and check when needed. Some would see that as a waste. I do it for peace of mind.

dbriggs

so to have 'good credit' I need some sort of 'debt' which I 'pay monthly over a long period of time'.... whatever happened to 'work hard, save your money in the bank and stay out of debt'? Some world we live in these days, eh?