Is my passport linked to my credit rating

DCFC79

Marcio I agree with you, banks ask for the passport to verify the identity of the applicant. Nothing to do with the credit reference agencies.

GingerBob_3

DCFC79 wrote: »

Marcio I agree with you, banks ask for the passport to verify the identity of the applicant. Nothing to do with the credit reference agencies.

Yes, I sort of agree with that. However, the answer from Experian was ambiguous. So here's the question again.


If a bank takes a copy of your passport (or driving licence, or any other document), is an image of that document, or the details from that document, passed to the CRAs?


And another question to the CRAs: Do you have any databases that hold images or details of identification documents of UK citizens?

Marcio45

I find that very doubtfull.
Due to data protection act it would be very risky for banks to supply credit agencies with a copy of a costumer document. They would be overstepping ten fold the role of a credit reference agency. That would be outrageous.
Where did this idea even came from?

sargeantsalt

So here's the question again. If a bank takes a copy of your passport (or driving licence, or any other document), is an image of that document, or the details from that document, passed to the CRAs? And another question to the CRAs: Do you have any databases that hold images or details of identification documents of UK citizens?

sargeantsalt

No answer from the Eperain rep. So here's the question again. If a bank takes a copy of your passport (or driving licence, or any other document), is an image of that document, or the details from that document, passed to the CRAs? And another question to the CRAs: Do you have any databases that hold images or details of identification documents of UK citizens?

Aced2016

Seargansalt

As someone who used to work for a large banking group in which it had several umbrellas the answer is yes (kind of).

We took the actual passport no itself. This is stored and relevant details shared with relevant agencies if needs be.

For example you open an account with your passport. Default on the account etc, move address and go to open another account with another bank using said( passport no) this would link to previous debt and previous addresses and I can confirm this. I will not mention the banking group and I can't speak for other companies ! But in these terms there is definitely a link somewhere all be it not directly on your credit report. But the passport is initially only used to confirm your identity.

GingerBob_3

Aced2016 wrote: »

Seargansalt

As someone who used to work for a large banking group in which it had several umbrellas the answer is yes (kind of).

We took the actual passport no itself. This is stored and relevant details shared with relevant agencies if needs be.

For example you open an account with your passport. Default on the account etc, move address and go to open another account with another bank using said( passport no) this would link to previous debt and previous addresses and I can confirm this. I will not mention the banking group and I can't speak for other companies ! But in these terms there is definitely a link somewhere all be it not directly on your credit report. But the passport is initially only used to confirm your identity.

Passports are not particularly helpful at uniquely identifying someone when only the base data is available. I expect the banks keep a record of the passport number because they've been told to do so as a result of MLP.


However, the key questions - which remain to be answered - are, who do the banks send the passport numbers and/or images to? Do they send them to the CRAs or other organisations?


Where, in the T&Cs when opening an account, does it state that they might, or will, do this? I'm thinking they'll claim it's covered by their general 'privacy (lol)' policies which basically allow them to do what they want with any data they hold about you. But then, they do take your privacy "very seriously". :rotfl:

rtho782

I can see how keeping a log of things like passport number, driving license number, would help to link apparently new debtors to previous "gone away" debtors.

I'm not sure if there is such a database though. They do use things like DoB, Email Address, mobile numbers, etc to try to link in this way.

KoshB5

Passport / driving licence data is not collected as part of a persons credit file. A persons credit file file is made up of financial account information (open and closed accounts) and their associated address, electoral roll information, public information (CCJs, bankruptcies....) search histories (soft and hard for no more than 2 years) and fraud markers (CIFAS). Financial account information is only stored for 6 years.

CRAs services are about proving somebody is who they say there are based on their name / address / DOB (and for certain search pusposed by details about an account they providet). Preventing fraud being perpetrated by or against an individual. Assessing affordability for an individual (credit risk) when opening a new account. They also provide collection and recovery services.

There are very strict rules on the type of data that can be held, for how long, what its permitted usage is and who can use the data (based on a permitted use). CRAs operate under some of the most severe compliance regime anywhere in the world adhering not only to regulators (ICO/FCA) they have to adhere to strict standards (E.g. PCI which covers credit card data) and data provider contractual compliance (the are custodians of other people's data after all). A CRA is constantly being audited by somebody almost everyday on how they operate and the controls they have in place.

GingerBob_3

KoshB5 wrote: »

Passport / driving licence data is not collected as part of a persons credit file. A persons credit file file is made up of financial account information (open and closed accounts) and their associated address, electoral roll information, public information (CCJs, bankruptcies....) search histories (soft and hard for no more than 2 years) and fraud markers (CIFAS). Financial account information is only stored for 6 years.

CRAs services are about proving somebody is who they say there are based on their name / address / DOB (and for certain search pusposed by details about an account they providet). Preventing fraud being perpetrated by or against an individual. Assessing affordability for an individual (credit risk) when opening a new account. They also provide collection and recovery services.

That's part of the answer, but it doesn't get to the bottom of "Do they send them to the CRAs? [to be stored in some other database]"?