Use National Insurance as ID for CRAs

R34GTT

I've been wondering why the credit reference agencies don't use NI numbers as part of the identification when generating credit history entries.

All the issues in the media regarding CRAs are mainly to do with mistaken identity, for example where DOB and name and address are the same. These issues could be avoided if NI number was used as the unique identifier.

If we were asked for our NI number as part of any credit application this could filter through to the CRAs and make sure the resulting credit records are matched up to the correct person and cross checked with the NI database to ensure the DOB and Names matched.

Anyone see a downside to this idea? It seems like a logical thing for Experian, Equifax and Call Credit to do.

manami_mnm

Not everyone has a NINo and financial institutions don't ask for your NINo either.

vikingaero

How about we compromise: The CRA's can have our NINO's if they agree to be financially responsible for any incorrect data instead of being the skanks that they are? Thought not....

Krisko

I think that's a great idea. As a foreign national living in the UK I'm not eligible to vote, but do have a NI number..

R34GTT

manami_mnm wrote: »

Not everyone has a NINo and financial institutions don't ask for your NINo either.

Under what circumstances would someone not have an NI number? Not being difficult, just genuinely not aware. Normally a UK citizen would receive their NI number automatically at 16.

I know financial institutions don't ask for it, my suggestion was that they should and that this information then passes to the CRAs during credit applications. The CRAs should be allowed access to the NI database to validate the person's ID and match to an existing CRA alias or create a new one if it's someone who's applying for credit for the first time.

R34GTT

Krisko wrote: »

I think that's a great idea. As a foreign national living in the UK I'm not eligible to vote, but do have a NI number..

That's another good reason I'd not considered :beer:

Sinhanada

R34GTT wrote: »

Under what circumstances would someone not have an NI number? Not being difficult, just genuinely not aware. Normally a UK citizen would receive their NI number automatically at 16.

I know financial institutions don't ask for it, my suggestion was that they should and that this information then passes to the CRAs during credit applications. The CRAs should be allowed access to the NI database to validate the person's ID and match to an existing CRA alias or create a new one if it's someone who's applying for credit for the first time.

I was born and raised in the UK, but moved to South Africa at the age of 15. When I returned 11 years later it took me six months to get an NI number. So usually yes, but there are circumstances where it fails. I don't think there is any failsafe system

JKSandy

They have, and share, enough information on me thanks.

Futuristic

Do you know a place which uses NI as a valid proof of ID? I don't and think it's a stupid idea

colsten

Futuristic wrote: »

Do you know a place which uses NI as a valid proof of ID? I don't and think it's a stupid idea

It wouldn't suffice on its own as proof of ID, and it wasn't suggested that it would, but it would help in uniquely identifying a person. I don't think it would be a stupid idea to record the number on the CRA files, and to use it together with name and DOB in credit applications.

These organisations need to know what your number is:

• HM Revenue and Customs
• your employer
• the Department for Work and Pensions (which includes Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service), if you claim state benefits, or in Northern Ireland the Department for Social Development
• your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• Electoral Registration Officers (to check your identity when you register to vote)
• the Student Loan Company, if you apply for a student loan
• your Individual Savings Account (ISA) provider, if you open an ISA

manami_mnm

colsten wrote: »

It wouldn't suffice on its own as proof of ID, and it wasn't suggested that it would, but it would help in uniquely identifying a person. I don't think it would be a stupid idea to record the number on the CRA files, and to use it together with name and DOB in credit applications.

These organisations need to know what your number is:

• HM Revenue and Customs
• your employer
• the Department for Work and Pensions (which includes Jobcentre Plus and the Pension, Disability and Carers Service), if you claim state benefits, or in Northern Ireland the Department for Social Development
• your local council, if you claim Housing Benefit, or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• Electoral Registration Officers (to check your identity when you register to vote)
• the Student Loan Company, if you apply for a student loan
• your Individual Savings Account (ISA) provider, if you open an ISA

All of these organisations have your NINo for tax purposes only.