Get paid £6 to check your credit files for free

jo_b_2

Surprised that nobody has mentioned that you can earn more by signing up to Credit Expert via www.pigsback.com

They offer 800 points (worth £8) for Credit Expert.

There is a really useful thread HERE which explains how Pigsback works and ways to earn lots of points.

kevinc1

I have signed up with credit expert and have checked my score a few times over the past couple of years.

If other organisations check my score (if for example I apply for several credit cards), this can adversely affect my rating as it shows I am applying for lots of credit, and lots of credit could potentially mean I am spreading myself too thinly.

BUT

If I check my own rating does this still affect my credit score?

If anyone knows the answer I'd be really interested.
Thanks

kevx

norangeduck

Hi - I checked my credit report with this company (credit expert) (or experian) a couple of moths ago for this "free trial" - I got a fee of £5.95 on my credit card - I phoned them now and they said it because I looked at my credit rating aswell - I told them this was not made clear to me, and the website is misleading - so all I paid for was them to tell me an irrelevant number of what they tell me is my credit rating! Im quite bitter about it, as I feel I was misled, and it wasnt clear that there was going to be a charge - they wouln;t budge so i put the phone down! not a happy bunny

benf90

norangeduck wrote: »

Hi - I checked my credit report with this company (credit expert) (or experian) a couple of moths ago for this "free trial" - I got a fee of £5.95 on my credit card - I phoned them now and they said it because I looked at my credit rating aswell - I told them this was not made clear to me, and the website is misleading - so all I paid for was them to tell me an irrelevant number of what they tell me is my credit rating! Im quite bitter about it, as I feel I was misled, and it wasnt clear that there was going to be a charge - they wouln;t budge so i put the phone down! not a happy bunny

You could always contact your credit card provider to dispute the charge. I doubt it will be successful but you never know. I take it what you got charged for is the charge explained in Q4 of the FAQs? (http://www.creditexpert.co.uk/MCCFAQNew.aspx#link4) No doubt its somewhere in the T&Cs or explained elsewhere, which is why I doubt a dispute would be successful.

This isn't the same but... I had the 30 day free trial around 2 years ago. At the time it was a one off yearly charge of £60 (not the £6.99 monthly charge like it is now). I forgot to cancel the trial so I got charged. I wrote them an email explaining I'd just forgotten to cancel the trial, that I was just about to start uni and although the service was useful I just wouldn't be needing it. To my surprise they wrote back saying they'd refund the charge, it got credited to my card within a couple of days. Like I said though... that was two years ago so who knows what would happen in the same situation now.

Sandy_Beech

MSE_Martin wrote: »

I fundamentally disagree in this case. This isn't a 'get car insurance just for quidco payment then cancel'. Here the companies are offering and specifically plugging a 30-day free trial. Their payment is delineated on that. Therefore by cancelling you are actually taking the trial - and using it - just not signing up for the longer deal. This is a very different scenario

Martin

I agree with martin on this one as well.... Keep it up pal!!!! Like it says ITS FREE FOR 30 days. So what is everyones problem??????????????

Sandy_Beech

MSE_Jenny wrote: »

Yep, that's mentioned in the post. But as Quidco charges a £5 a year admin fee, Topcashback might be better for people who won't be using cashback websites all the time.

I agree Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

urban469

kevinc1 wrote: »

I have signed up with credit expert and have checked my score a few times over the past couple of years.

If other organisations check my score (if for example I apply for several credit cards), this can adversely affect my rating as it shows I am applying for lots of credit, and lots of credit could potentially mean I am spreading myself too thinly.

BUT

If I check my own rating does this still affect my credit score?

If anyone knows the answer I'd be really interested.
Thanks

kevx

Hi Kevin,

Credit Expert makes it quite clear that if you check your credit record it is not visible to others checking. What that means is that they don't register YOUR check in the same way as if a CREDIT CARD company made the check.

The same applies if a company accesses your credit record SIMPLY to check your identity. That won't affect your credit record - as, indeed, your mobile phone company may do this every year.

YOU will, however, be able to see everything: i.e. when YOU have accessed the record, when credit card companies have, or even when identity checks have been run.

I hope this helps.

full-time-mum

Can you still get the free trial if you have already had one? Not sure how long ago but, off the top of my head, OH did one between 6-12 months ago.

dahjoh

Thanks for the tip MSE Jenny. I have got my experian report and cancelled my subscription all in the space of 10 minutes. Now, how do I physically get my hands on the cash back? I know it will be 'in my account' in a few days but then what do i do to get it?

Mahatma__Steven

Note: You have to have a credit card for this. Debit won't cut it.

So the rich get richer and those who can't get a credit card can't see their credit rating! Brilliant.