Abuse of Data creating a two tier society

Thrugelmir

DavidP24 wrote: »

I do not have a problem with a credit reference system being used when a consumer applies for credit, but it has gone WAY BEYOND THAT becoming too powerful, is being used for things that do not involve credit and obtaining data on people where no credit agreement exists.

Do you know what it does do? It makes products and services cheaper for those that do pay their bills on time. That do not default on their debts. Enables companies to avoid dealing with the low life that does exist. I'm not referring to the poor either. Through all levels of society there's plenty of chancers. Out to profit from others. .

Brooker_Dave

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Do you know what it does do? It makes products and services cheaper for those that do pay their bills on time. That do not default on their debts. Enables companies to avoid dealing with the low life that does exist. I'm not referring to the poor either. Through all levels of society there's plenty of chancers. Out to profit from others. .

That's not true.

GingerBob_3

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Do you know what it does do? It makes products and services cheaper for those that do pay their bills on time. That do not default on their debts. Enables companies to avoid dealing with the low life that does exist. I'm not referring to the poor either. Through all levels of society there's plenty of chancers. Out to profit from others. .

This one always makes me laugh. When do you pay your bills, Thrug? I'll bet any money you leave all your bills to the very last minute, on the basis that the money is better in your account than that of the supplier. Am I right? So why don't you pay all your bills the instant your receive them? That way, all our bills would be lower.

GingerBob_3

Thrugelmir wrote: »

What unregulated blacklists are your referring too?

As mentioned elsewhere, what's euphemistically referred to as "your" credit file is a de-facto blacklist if there are any negative markers on it.

GingerBob_3

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Why would just a default affect renting a place?

I did some legwork for a friend who is a discharged bankrupt, who had no problems renting a property as she has the means to pay for it.

The bankruptcy and its circumstances were disclosed at the time of application, and despite the LL wanting to meet T before agreeing to a tenancy (which isn't normal IME), after seeing that the previous rented property was paid on time every month for 5 years and a quick chat, the let was agreed.



Nope, I was born in the USSR and despite what you may think, it was a much better system than the current one, especially in the countries that aren't Russia. There was an income for 99% in 1990, and by 1992 more than 90% unemployment in my home country, which still hasn't recovered 25 years later.



Good for you. I've always funded myself too, and what funding I have had from outside has been repaid in full, with interest.



It's not beyond your control, though. Contracts are freely signed after being agreed, and if one doesn't like it, they're free to go to a company that won't report to a CRA.

Keep up with the debate . Companies don't need your permission to report you to the CRAs, nor to carry out a credit check. They just need a "legitimate reason" and to tell you they are doing so. This whole business of consent and permission is a load of old baloney; spin from the CRAs mostly.

Superscrooge

GingerBob wrote: »

As mentioned elsewhere, what's euphemistically referred to as "your" credit file is a de-facto blacklist if there are any negative markers on it.

Your credit file is a record of whether you are a good reliable borrower who complies with credit agreements, or you are someone who has borrowed money in the past and failed to repay debts.

Credit providers clearly need this information before they can make a lending decision.

Are you suggesting that when someone enters into a credit agreement and doesn't bother to pay their debts, there should be no record of it?

Brooker_Dave

Its the mission creep, not just a credit blacklist, but also a blacklist that stops people getting rented housing, water, electricity or gas and in some cases employment.

These blacklists aren't in the public interest.

Thrugelmir

Brooker_Dave wrote: »

That's not true.

Nor is Santa Claus and his elves.

usefulmale

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Do you know what it does do? It makes products and services cheaper for those that do pay their bills on time. That do not default on their debts. Enables companies to avoid dealing with the low life that does exist. I'm not referring to the poor either. Through all levels of society there's plenty of chancers. Out to profit from others. .

Boatload of twaddle. Here, where Yorkshire Water report to the CRAs, all on our street pay EXACTLY the same for our water. I know because I asked them all. Plus, I have to pay for the water IN ADVANCE.

Same unit price for all the people who have the same gas and electric supplier as me as well.

Thrugelmir

DavidP24 wrote: »

What is clear to me is that you have bought into what they tell you,

No. I've worked in the real world for more years than I care to remember. Encountered the good, the bad and the downright ugly. Do you have any experience of the world before consumer credit ratings even existed. I doubt it.