bank sent incorrect information to credit reference agency

zombeana

Hi some advice appreciated please!

I had 2 accounts with Halifax one was shared with my ex partner. We both went into branch to change our addresses and remove me from the shared account. Was assured all sorted in branch. A week later I went to check our old address and there was still mail for my ex and he had received a letter for me at his new address where I'd never lived!

We we both went in branch who apologised and said there had been an error and fixed it.. I was concerned this would affect my credit report they assured me it would not.

Two weeks later I get a Halifax letter in my exes name at my new address where he has never lived!!! I then checked my credit report and I now have his address as a link and as my current address with Halifax and he has mine!

Funnily enough I had applied for a credit card recently and been declined - is this why? This means my electoral address does not match my account addresses.

I wrote a complaint to Halifax who said they will inform the agency of the error but is this going to have a lasting affect on my credit ?? Should I request a letter from Halifax explaining what happened because I now live in fear of a letter from tax credits saying a partner is living here

Halifax in their defence did offer compensation and asked me to let then know any other 'expense' incurred but I can't really say what this may be( if any)as not sure in the future credit problems I may face because of this .. Not to mention the stress!

Also this must be a breach of data protection as I now have my exes full address on my credit report and he has mine... Can't say I really wanted him to have my address tbh but we are on OK terms.. Had we not been this could have been far worse!

zombeana

No-one?

Tixy

No it won't have a lasting impact on your credit file.

Since the mix up have the bank confirmed that your name is no longer on that bank account?

If this was your only joint account with your ex then I would suggest you also file a notice of disassociation with each of the 3 credit reference agencies.

It could have been a factor in the decline of your card application - but equally it could have been other issues as well - how long have you been resident at your new address? and do your credit files show you as being on the electoral roll at the new address yet?

lifegoeson2013

Hi,
I'm really sorry to hear of your experience, what a stress-fest!
This was like reading my story to the letter because I had EXACTLY the same thing happen last summer - with the Halifax too! I had personal a/c, shares, savings and joint a/c. I had moved first out of our home and months later when my ex moved they changed ALL my accounts to HIS new address! they even sent a letter for me to his work address - well I got my booty kicked for that one.

There are 3 things here:
1) Halifax's error - a shocking error that should not (still) be happening. Keep phoning them and tell them you want to record it as a formal complaint. The expenses they are talking about are, ie having to drive to the bank to amend your details, tell them the mileage. Phone call costs - keep a note of how many times you've phoned and from what phone - ie landline or mobile. Reason is that they have a cost allocation for all these things, petrol, mobile calls, landline calls. However they also have a note of how many times you've phoned. You will be due compensation for this - I got it and it came to £250 so well worth badgering them for it. It only took a couple of weeks so get in quick and tell them you actually do have costs.

2) Equifax, Noddle, Experian, it won't affect your score so long as you can explain it. Write a letter/email to them or phone them and tell them that you want a link removed and explain it's your ex's. They will put this on your record as a note of dissasociation.
As for the electoral role it's a different thing altogether - these addresses are merely "linked".
Keep in mind that the banks update only once a month and they will not send a data file just for you, even if it's their fault. My records show me that Halifax/Bank of Scotland send their files over on or around 20th each month - worthwhile phoning them to ask when they send their datafiles over to the credit agencies.
Also Equifax takes a few days again to run the data file against their database so this should give you guidelines about when it's safe to reapply.

3) Your credit card - that's a different story - I'd let the dust settle if you can wait then reapply once you're happy that all the relevant notices are on the 3 credit agencies files.

In the long run it won't affect your credit history so don't worry, it will just take a few weeks to settle down.

Good luck with this and I'm horrified that Halifax are still allowing this identical error to happen. They need to fix their procedures.:mad:
Claire

zombeana

Thanks so much for your replies they were a great help. Sorry this exact same thing happened to you Claire how annoying!!

I did ring them yesterday and explain my concerns and as you say they offered £250 compensation which I have accepted.

Now to sort the disassociation out and wait a month or so and hopefully this will be sorted!