Unsolicited letter from Experian???

ozma83

Today I came home to find a letter claiming to be from Experian, saying 'your application has been assessed, unfortunately the minimum criteria to open an account have not been met therefore your request has been unsuccessful'. It proceeds to explain how they score applications, etc.

It is signed 'Customer Support Centre, Experian Limited, PO BOX 9000, Nottingham NG80 7WP', and it includes a telephone number and email address, which (I have checked) are real.

It has my name on the top (my 'comp' name, aka my nickname and surname) at the top, but it isn't addressed to me - it only says 'dear customer'.

Is this a scam? Or has somebody applied with my details?

Has this happened to anyone else???

hollydays

Email experian and ask.

Could it be someone has tried to look at your credit history?

ozma83

I wouldn't think so..? I am going to send them an email...

wealdroam

Ozma83, are we to assume then that you didn't apply?

Armorica

Experian is a ratings agency, it doesn't give credit or assess applications - it just provides information to others?

Sounds like a fake or a snazzy marketing technique.

Experian_company_representative

Hi Ozma83,

As Armorica has mentioned Experian does not offer loans or credit ourselves, however we do have the online CreditExpert service, which allows you to view your credit report online.

We have a number of checks in place before accepting an application, and if we can't identify an applicant at an address we will normally ask for further documentation from them, which are then assessed before any access to the report is given.

So we can look into this further for you, I would ask that you send your detials and if possible a copy of the letter you have received to [EMAIL="uksocialsupport@experian.com"]uksocialsupport@experian.com[/EMAIL] or call us on freephone
0800 013 88 88.

Kind Regards
Neil

ozma83

Thanks, I am going to do it right now.

Experian_company_representative

Hi Ozma83, Thanks for your email, I have replied to it directly.

The letter you provided, has actually come from a mail order company.

They have received an application in your online name and performed a credit check, as it is not your actual name the credit check has failed, and they have written to you advising you to obtain your Experian credit report.

The good news is, if this was a fraudulent attempt to get credit it has not succeeded.

Any fraudulent attempt is of course very worrying. There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself against fraud, once you have your Experian report you can add a password to it. Lenders should then ask for this before accepting an application.

I would also advise that you change your passwords for any online accounts you have.

For more information about how to protect yourself against fraud take a look at our page http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/identity-fraud.html

Kind Regards
Neil