Equifax - Thames Water

woodchal

I got my water bill today from Thames Water - for the last 26years it has been addressed to me by my initials.

Today's was addressed to my son by his christian name! He has the same initial.

Phoned Thames Water who said that they had got the name from Equifax. They are trying to fill in missing information. Apparently I am not the first to mention this. Equifax give them the name of the most active name with that initial in the house.

Should I be worried that they are mixing up me and my son's credit rating? Is this a problem from data protection standpoint?

HappyMJ

woodchal wrote: »

I got my water bill today from Thames Water - for the last 26years it has been addressed to me by my initials.

Today's was addressed to my son by his christian name! He has the same initial.

Phoned Thames Water who said that they had got the name from Equifax. They are trying to fill in missing information. Apparently I am not the first to mention this. Equifax give them the name of the most active name with that initial in the house.

Should I be worried that they are mixing up me and my son's credit rating? Is this a problem from data protection standpoint?

Well if you don't pay the bill your son will find it difficult getting a mortgage.

Make sure both you and your son check your own credit records and get this sorted.

GingerBob_3

woodchal wrote: »

I got my water bill today from Thames Water - for the last 26years it has been addressed to me by my initials.

Today's was addressed to my son by his christian name! He has the same initial.

Phoned Thames Water who said that they had got the name from Equifax. They are trying to fill in missing information. Apparently I am not the first to mention this. Equifax give them the name of the most active name with that initial in the house.

Should I be worried that they are mixing up me and my son's credit rating? Is this a problem from data protection standpoint?

Yes, you should be worried about this:


You never gave TW permission for this (but then, the ICO say they can do this anyway and stuff you!)


The CRAs have persuaded the water companies to report your accounts to the CRAs without your permission, and if they have incomplete information they are obtaining data back from the CRAs (again without your permission) and then making potentially serious mistakes.


And what else have they got from Equifax - your date of birth I'll wager!


Report them to the ICO - both the CRAs and the water company.

National_Debtline

Hi woodchal


If your water payments are punctual there shouldn't be any major fallout from this. It sounds more like a matter of Thames Water's systems being out of sync with those of the credit agencies more than anything. I expect that their database was a good deal less sophisticated when they started billing you 26 years ago.


I assume that Thames have advised you on what to do in order to revert to having the bill in your name?


Dennis
@natdebtline

GingerBob_3

National_Debtline wrote: »

Hi woodchal


If your water payments are punctual there shouldn't be any major fallout from this. It sounds more like a matter of Thames Water's systems being out of sync with those of the credit agencies more than anything. I expect that their database was a good deal less sophisticated when they started billing you 26 years ago.


I assume that Thames have advised you on what to do in order to revert to having the bill in your name?


Dennis
@natdebtline

Missing the point completely.

woodchal

National debt line missed the point.