Talktalk and equifax

Sparky111

Hi all, just wanted to pick your collective brains.

I checked my equifax file today and noticed talktalk had started reporting my account history from Feb 2016, although I have actually been a customer since Jan 2015. I intend to switch next month as my contract is done and wish to head off to a cheaper supplier. Now for my questions....

1) Will such a short account history be viewed as 'suspious' as telecommunications contracts are typically 12-18 month minimum terms. (I'm going for a mortgage in January)

2) is it worth the hassle of taking up the non-reporting with talktalk? Am I more likely to benefit or hinder a future mortgage app by raising a dispute (TT account always paid on time, no bad history)

Thanks.

GingerBob_3

It's irrelevant. When you change supplier try to find one that doesn't report - e.g. Sky. That way there's less chance of a c0ckup. Communications suppliers are past masters at shafting people's chances of credit due to minor oversights and errors (on both sides). The sooner they are banned from reporting their customers to the CRAs the better.

Arleen

Nothing to worry about there, in general as long as it's reported as green then it's a good thing to have on your file (with payday loans being an exception sometimes). So if anything this will have a positive impact on your credit history.

National_Debtline

Hi there,


It might be worth checking Experian and Call Credit in case they reported to a different credit agency first. If they haven't and you would like them to add the missing information then you should complain. Initially to Talk Talk but you can escalate the matter to the Telecoms Ombudsman and Information Commissioner.


It is difficult to say whether the overall impact of the extra information would mean a large improvement to your overall credit worthiness but I would struggle to see how a report of 12months of up to date payments could be negative. Good luck,


Laura
@natdebtline

GingerBob_3

I was briefly with TalkTalk (forced move when Virgin ditched their non-fibre customers) and the connection was appalling. During the time I was with them they announced they would start reporting to Equifax (only). I'm pretty certain they don't report you to the others. For current customers they started reporting without consent. Like I say, the fewer non-lenders you have reporting you, the better. Things can, and do, go wrong.

Sparky111

Thanks all, think I will play safe and just leave them alone, I'm assuming the majority of mortgage underwriters are aware that talktalk/Eon and many other providers soley report your account on opening then only report problems not good behaviour. Had a chat with Eon who pretty much said its company policy.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Sparky111 wrote: »

Thanks all, think I will play safe and just leave them alone, I'm assuming the majority of mortgage underwriters are aware that talktalk/Eon and many other providers soley report your account on opening then only report problems not good behaviour. Had a chat with Eon who pretty much said its company policy.

Just to confirm Sparky111, we do share payment information with Equifax. Every month we let them have a true picture of the status of an account at that time. We don't just share information of customers who don't pay or fail payment arrangements though. We also share details of those who pay promptly.

Hope this is of interest.

Malc

Sparky111

Thanks Malc, I had a long conversation on the phone with one of your representatives who has a differing opinion than yourself. I raised a complaint that you had left my file unreported for 15 months and was told you are under no obligation to update the file so that's that. If I wished to complain further up the chain I could but I wouldn't get anywhere as this is common practice. Ill call again today but I'm sure I will get the same response.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

You're welcome Sparky111. Glad to help.

Must admit, I'm a bit baffled by what you were told although I can't see the actual circumstances. As above, we share payment information each month but this is only for our residential customers. If you've a business account, it'll be handled differently.

There are a few exceptions. For instance, where we've identified the data doesn't accurately reflect a customer's payment performance. Also, where there's a particular problem such as if an account has been taken over by mistake or we're billing to the wrong meter. Speculating though. There's more information about how we use personal data on our website.

Definitely escalate the complaint. Not sure who you spoke to but the advisor needs to send this to our Data Share Complaints Team. They'll look at the specific circumstances and, if you're unhappy with their proposal, send the complaint to our Review Team for a second opinion. From there, if you're still unhappy, you can go to the Ombudsman. Although, if the complaints over 56 days old, you can go to the Ombudsman now.

Hope this helps point you in the right direction Sparky111.

Malc

GingerBob_3

Sparky, as with communications providers, perhaps more so, there's a significant danger that these energy non-lenders will report erroneous data against you. Just browse this board to see the large number of complaints about these companies, Eon included. There is so much that can go wrong in your relationship with energy providers, and what these companies do is to use CRA reporting as a blackmailing tool. In effect, they are saying that if you don't toe the line with them they'll blacklist you. Find an energy provider that doesn't report your account. EDF and possibly SSE are worth looking at.

Sparky111

Thanks Malc, I spoke with CS again who said they had an issue with the initial meter readings from the previous supplier and as such placed my account in dispute, therefore not reporting my account to the CRA but this has long since been resolved (I hadn't been made aware of any issue). They were unable to say whether my file would be updated or account would now be reported. My coffee table is starting to get a forehead shaped dent in it.