Water Company Supplying Data to CRAs?

GingerBob_3

I just got my annual water bill today (Northumbrian Water). They also sent a booklet which included the obligatory stuff of "how we use your data". Included in this was the statement that they "may" share data with credit reference agencies, when you open an account and periodically thereafter. Well I opened my account 18 years ago and I'm pretty certain I never gave permission for them to "share data" with any CRA.

Where do we stand on this? If they are doing this, can we refuse permission for them to continue, if it was never given in the first place? Also, since the water companies have no choice but to supply you, what happens if you refuse to accept changes to terms and conditions?

Another pont is that they know the bare minimum about me. They don't know my first name, DoB or any other identifiable feature other than surname and address, so again, how can they share data about "me"?

Experian_company_representative

Organisations have to notify you before they share information about your account with credit reference agencies and then get your consent if they wish to check your credit report. But they don't need your consent to actually share information. Information about a well-maintained water agreement is likely to strengthen your credit history and boost any credit rating based upon it.

James J

JKSandy

"If they are doing this, can we refuse permission for them to continue, if it was never given in the first place?"

I'm sure if people had that choice no-one would have defaults showing.

fermi

http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information/sharing_my_info

frostfair

[QUOTE=.... Information about a well-maintained water agreement is likely to strengthen your credit history and boost any credit rating based upon it.
James J[/QUOTE]

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

The funniest and most stupid and most worrying thing I have read on the internet for a while.

"Well Mr Jones we did have concerns about lending you the money for a mortgage but then saw how well you had run your water account so here's your money!"

Whatever next Experian?

"Information about a well-maintained magazine subscription (enter your own banal possibility here) agreement is likely to strengthen your credit history and boost any credit rating based upon it."

Lets face it Experian will not be happy until they have a database on everyone in the UK...talk about Big Brother. :mad::mad::mad:

Thrugelmir

Consumer credit is following that of business credit. Where payment of debts is a prime factor in terms of trading with other businesses.

In time it should help everybody if bills are paid on time. Debt collection is a hugely expensive administrative burden which all customers pay for within their bills.

GingerBob_3

frostfair wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

The funniest and most stupid and most worrying thing I have read on the internet for a while.

"Well Mr Jones we did have concerns about lending you the money for a mortgage but then saw how well you had run your water account so here's your money!"

Whatever next Experian?

"Information about a well-maintained magazine subscription (enter your own banal possibility here) agreement is likely to strengthen your credit history and boost any credit rating based upon it."

Lets face it Experian will not be happy until they have a database on everyone in the UK...talk about Big Brother. :mad::mad::mad:

I agree entirely. Lenders aren't bothered about on-time payments; they won't even notice them. What they are bothered about are defaults. Let's face it, most of us have problems with utility companies and it would be very easy to get an erroneous default from one of these disreputable organisations. As a general rule the less information the CRAs can hoover up the better.

And it's the CRAs who are pushing for this (see the related thread about Npower and CRAs). As you say, they won't be happy until they have every last bit of information about our finances - debts and assets!