How to obtain credit reports

Moggles_2

Phlip_corter wrote: »

You have to go to a central source to obtain the free credit report from one or all of the 3 national credit agencies.

Not so. If you order all three from a central source like CheckMyFile, you'll get most data from CallCredit, some from Equifax and only publically visible data from Experian. What's more it'll cost you much more.

Credit reports, when ordered directly from Experian and Equifax are more valuable. This, after all, is the information UK lenders see, when you apply for new credit facilities. (For help, see page 1 of this sticky.) This info's available for just £2 per paper copy.

Btw, once you have your hard copy, the CRAs seem happy to answer questions over the phone, provided that you quote your reference number. So if, for instance, you wanted to check that particular items had since been updated, there's no need to order further copies of your credit reports

RobertinHerts

I signed up to Experian's Credit Expert as it's free with Direct Line home Insurance Plus. However this triggered a fraud block on my credit card. I discovered this when a purchase was rejected by the credit card company. I got it unblocked by confirming my activity.

I called Experian who denied being responsible and said to call the card company. Eventually I discovered what had happened and confronted Experian with the facts. They finally admitted liability. However I have no evidence that they've done anything to prevent it happening to others though.

i-Citizen

thanks moggles, but before when I tried signing up to experian free trial, it wanted proof and id. however just recently I signed up and there I am, on the electoral roll damn my council must have been fast, only been a week. since then ive been accepted onto 3 different credit cards, even natwest classic

so who knows how all this works, but im sorted now, thanks moggles

Moggles_2

i-Citizen wrote: »

Before when I tried signing up to Experian free trial, it wanted proof and id, however just recently I signed up and there I am, on the electoral roll.

You'll find that even applications for savings accounts with no credit facilities proceed more smoothly once enrolled, because your ID can be verified electronically

Thanks for keeping us posted.

i-Citizen

just changed my name recently - want to use my middle name as first - electoral roll is updated with name already

after every paper work has been sort out and the bank and other companies know my new name, will the experian free trial show every account and credit cards under my new name?

Moggles_2

i-Citizen wrote: »

Just changed my name recently. I want to use my middle name first. Electoral roll is updated with name already. After every paper work has been sorted out and the bank and other companies know my new name, will the Experian free trial show every account and credit cards under my new name?

I don't know whether the relevant updates will all have taken place within your 30 day trial. The CRAs get info' about other names you are or have been known by from you, from lenders and from public records. Any accounts still in these former names will show up on your credit report, so your credit worthiness should not be affected.

Your credit report will also show the earlier name(s). Your current name should be followed by "Also known as i-Citizen, confirmed by ABC Bank PLC on 11-12-2008"

As always, if you disagree with the information held, I would contact the agencies.

i-Citizen

thanks moggles, you are a star

one more thing, I promise I wont ask no more lol I recently applied to like TONS of credit companies and got rejected a lot, but now im getting accepted due to me being on the electoral roll

however there appears to be 40 searches in last 12 months, and about 10 in last 3 months, is that good or bad? dont want to appear desperate for credit, but ive stopped applying now because ive got all the cards I wanted

most of the searches are duplicates from same company, so your looking at about 10 searches overall from companies...?

Moggles_2

i-Citizen wrote: »

I recently applied to like TONS of credit companies and got rejected a lot, but now I'm getting accepted due to me being on the electoral roll. However there appears to be 40 searches in last 12 months and about 10 in last 3 months, is that good or bad? Don't want to appear desperate for credit, but I've stopped applying now because I've got all the cards I wanted. Most of the searches are duplicates from same company, so you're looking at about 10 searches overall from companies.

If most of the searches are duplicates from the same lender, then I would expect that roughly half are unrecorded enquiries (made to check your identity, for instance) or quotation searches. These footprints have no effect on credit scoring. It's the number of searches classified as credit checks that matter. Too many checks in a short space of time could certainly have an impact on your credit rating.

Remember credit checks appear on your credit file more or less in realtime. Anyone who searches your file subsequently will see each credit check until it drops off your file 12 months later. Btw an increasing number of online and telephone credit card applications (those which give instant decisions and credit limits) are now real time applications too.

The effect on your credit rating is only temporary, but it would be sensible to leave well alone for 3-4 months

i-Citizen

What sort of other things are available on credit reports, I mean I have a contract with Virgin Media and had 3g contract which I cancelled in 14 days, but they both do not come up? Surely Virgin Media one should come up?

Moggles_2

i-Citizen wrote: »

What sort of other things are available on credit reports, I mean I have a contract with Virgin Media and had 3g contract which I cancelled in 14 days, but they both do not come up? Surely Virgin Media one should come up?

The credit reference agencies collate info from 3 main sources 1) public records 2) you 3) their clients, the lenders.

Obviously, this info is only as accurate as its sources. In particular, the frequency and type of data that gets reported by clients varies according to company policy.

I would work on the principle that all accounts involving credit facilities are likely to be passed to at least one of the three agencies and you won't get any nasty surprises.