Equifax nightmare

arism74

About 10 days ago I requested a credit report and credit score from Equifax as I will need to move to a different town due to work. I first logged on to my account (I had requested a report from them last summer) and noticed they still had my old address on file (I moved to a new flat last August). I called them and they updated their records, then the report I received had a low credit score because 'none of my credit agreements are registered in my current address'. I'd updated all my banks and credit card companies with my new address as soon as I moved to this flat. The report I got from Experian was fine about this, all updated properly.

I called them and they said I had to contact all my banks and credit card companies and tell them to contact Equifax to update their records. Although I found it a strange thing to request, I hung up and started calling some of these companies, all of them were saying they update reference agencies with their records automatically on a monthly basis and that if Equifax needs this, it is Equifax that has to contact the banks/credit card companies, not them.

I call Equifax again and say this, the woman on the phone raises a dispute about this and says they'll get back to me in 2 days. After a week, I call them back and speak to another person who says I should upload copies of statements from my banks/credit card companies as proof of address! After an argument over this, I finally say ok I'll do that, and send them pdf's of statements. They reply to me the next day through their online system, completely ignoring the documents and telling me *again* that I have to contact all my banks/companies and tell them to contact Equifax! Vicious circle. I reply saying that this has been requested of me already and this is getting really frustrating and that it is not me or the banks/credit cards, and that they need to sort this out asap as I will need a good credit report if I am to rent with estate agencies

That was Thursday evening and I have yet to hear from them! I want to call them or email them tomorrow but not sure how to proceed with this, complain to Equifax, a consumer action group, the ombudsman? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time

Hazzinho

If you've updated your accounts the new address will show on those accounts if it's on Experian. What address do these accounts show? If it's the new one tell them to sort it as they don't need confirmation as they have it. The fact Experian have any it proves Equifax are at fault and not your banks, make it clear to them what has happened.

arism74

The report on Equifax shows my current address now, but it was showing my previous address when I first logged on my account 10 days ago. After I called them about it, they updated my address, but it shows as if all my accounts are registered in the previous address, not the current one (note: I got one of the credit cards in the new address, not sure how Equifax thinks that it is registered in the previous address, as that card didn't exist when I was living there!).

The Experian report is fine, no problems at all.

I've told them all these things, but they other give me different advice every time, or they don't reply to my messages.....

izools

Raise a formal written complaint to Equifax quoting your credit file reference advising that the data they've received from those with whom you hold accounts clearly confirms you live at whatever address, and advise them they already have the information they require in their monthly updates to correct your credit file accordingly.

Advise them that if they don't resolve it within 30 days you'll report them to the ICO.