Equifax credit report showing unknow account?

ukamber1

Hi All,

Anyone know the best way to deal with this? It's a Nothern rock account that has not been updated in over 9 years but is sat on my credit file. Never use Equifax so didnt see it until now. Equifax couldnt give me a linked address for the credit agreement and it was opened by someone that matches my maiden name. I got married over 20 years ago and havent used my maiden name since, so this clearly isnt me and never used this lender for anything, so I know 100% not my account....I was also on the electoral register under my married name at the time this account was opened, so none of this makes any sense...

Will it complicate things that Northern rock are no longer in business?

Any advice on the best way to get this removed from my file would be much appreciated

thank you

[Deleted User]

Raise a dispute with Equifax. If they cannot gain justification for it from anyone, then if should be removed.

ukamber1

Deleted_User wrote: »

Raise a dispute with Equifax. If they cannot gain justification for it from anyone, then if should be removed.

Thanks zx81....Dispute has now been raised!

I hope one day they combine all 3 credit agencies into one credit report file. Would make it alot easier to manage for everyone.

thanks again..

GingerBob_3

ukamber1 wrote: »

Hi All,

Anyone know the best way to deal with this? It's a Nothern rock account that has not been updated in over 9 years but is sat on my credit file. Never use Equifax so didnt see it until now. Equifax couldnt give me a linked address for the credit agreement and it was opened by someone that matches my maiden name. I got married over 20 years ago and havent used my maiden name since, so this clearly isnt me and never used this lender for anything, so I know 100% not my account....I was also on the electoral register under my married name at the time this account was opened, so none of this makes any sense...

Will it complicate things that Northern rock are no longer in business?

Any advice on the best way to get this removed from my file would be much appreciated

thank you

This is yet another case of electronic guessing. If the CRAs obtain account data that can't be precisely matched to an individual on their systems they just take a stab at it. Often they'll get it right, but there'll be many cases where they don't. The practice should, of course, be illegal, but in the essentially unregulated environment in which CRAs operate this has become a standard business practice. A recent example involved Equifax working with Thames Water to guess the account holder for the water account from all those listed in a particular property on the electoral register.

ukamber1

GingerBob wrote: »

This is yet another case of electronic guessing. If the CRAs obtain account data that can't be precisely matched to an individual on their systems they just take a stab at it. Often they'll get it right, but there'll be many cases where they don't. The practice should, of course, be illegal, but in the essentially unregulated environment in which CRAs operate this has become a standard business practice. A recent example involved Equifax working with Thames Water to guess the account holder for the water account from all those listed in a particular property on the electoral register.

Starting to think your right GingerBob....I'm glad to say Equifax have now removed the account after I disputed the entry. Clearly no link to myself and whoever put it on there was clearly "best guessing". Happy to say they have sorted it out, but does go to show how important it is to keep track of our credit reports.....

thanks for your comments