Do Experian place AP markers when appropriate?

ZsaZsa

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5220175

I've been having an ongoing saga with HSBC, as linked above. I was in a DMP, and payments to an HSBC account under this arrangement were logged as red 6+ late payments for several years. No mention was made that they were arranged DMP payments. I have complained, and the Equifax and Call Credit reports have been corrected, and are now showing as "AP" for the duration, but not Experian. This remains red 6+s.
I have called again and asked this to be corrected, but have been told that it will not be possible with Experian. HSBC have told me
1) Experian do not have any way of logging payments as AP
2) Even if they did, it would not be possible to amend these retrospectively, as the debt was sold on, and subsequently settled. She said that if AP markers were placed correctly to start with, once the debt was sold they would have reverted to red 6s again
(I know there are glaring contradictions in what I've been told!)

There doesn't seem to be an issue with Equifax and Call Credit, so I'm questioning whether this is true, it doesn't seem to make any sense that there isn't any consistency,
I have checked with Experian, and they say that they can make the changes if instructed. However HSBC dispute this and have said that the Experian staff are wrong.

Does anyone have experience of any similar issues?

Malmo

Experian credit data does specify the date period when an Arrangement to Pay instruction was in force and will report such data if the lender chooses to do so. I can confirm this is the case not just from Experian's own publicly available information but also from seeing such data in an actual report.

Therefore HSBC are wrong in their first statement. I would write to them to complain and make them aware that you will escalate to the FoS and ICO if they do not respond and help you.

ZsaZsa

Thanks Malmo. I was fairly certain they were wrong but I needed to be sure that someone had seen it to stop me doubting myself. I already have a formal complaint logged with them, they've got a another 3 weeks to respond. Have also spoken to FOS too, and I'll be going through them once I get the final response.
Thanks again :-)

speedbird1

Hi,

I am sorry that this is still as yet not sorted out.

As the debt was passed to a DCA then a Default should have been issued at this stage.,think this is probably your best argument.

Also as " contractual payments ended again no later than 6 months after this date a Default should have been registered.

You have been treated very unfairly.

As you know with my case I managed to get the Default placed at the time when contractual payments were not met,although my debt was kept in-house with NatWest.

Experian for nearly six years were showing late payment 6 markers not AP.which differs with Equifax and Call credit.

As the original agreement was with HFC they had a duty under the then ICO Guidelines to record Default not later than 6 months after contract payments not being met and a continuous AP is no alternative in fairness compared to a Default.

My best advise go back to HFC and reiterate ICO guidelines pre 2014 re Issuance of Default ,I am sure they can make a correction even if they liase with the DCA over this as its in both their best interests given that I am sure your complaint would be upheld by the FOS.

Really hope this can be sorted expeditiously for you,keep us updated.

All the best.

ZsaZsa

:wave: Hey Speedbird,

Thanks for your reply. It has become a little complicated, as I sent a letter, detailing all of above re ICO guidleines etc, to the complaints dept previous to my last thread. But it turns out that the lady who I have been speaking to isn't from the complaints dept. at all. She contacted me, and had my letter, but she's from the credit file dept. it's still being investigated by the complaint dept so keeping everything crossed that they will be more helpful. They've still got 3 weeks to write to me with their final decision, but I have spoken to FOS now who have opened an enquiry for me. And as soon as I get my final decision I will go to FOS and caring on complaining. Am just heartily sick of it now