Equifax, breach and passports

NutkinsTale

My wife and I have been trying to check our credit reports. Experian and Noddle OK. Also her Equifax. But I've got stuck with my own Equifax report.

18 months ago I found an unrecognised linked address on my Experian (not Equifax) report. There was no financial loss - just an attempt to take out a phone contract in my name. But on advice I applied for CIFAS protective registration, and password protected my report. Since then I've successfully applied for bank accounts and credit cards, so no probs there.

Then today I applied for my Equifax report. It stopped at a screen saying they had been unable to confirm my identity and that I should ring a certain number. The lady I spoke to confirmed it was because of my protective registration, and proceeded to ask me to send in a copy of my passport or photo driving licence. I politely pointed out that in view of their 143million data breaches in the US it was a bit soon for me to feel comfortable with that, and offered instead to prove my identity using the password CIFAS had specifically set up for that purpose. Just like the banks I had recently applied to had done. She refused - company policy etc etc.

So having been the victim of ID fraud (in a small way) I am expected to entrust big-breach-Equifax with a photocopy of my passport, whilst they refuse to use the proper process set up for me by CIFAS.

Of course, my fallback position is to refuse to send them a copy of my passport and walk away. But I have a legal entitlement to see my report.

Any thoughts?

Shakin_Steve

They will say that they have a legal duty to protect your report, and are not satisfied with the information you have given them.
I must admit, though, things are getting a bit messy around data breaches and the vast amount of info these companies require to protect themselves due to legislation.

tenchy

Why do they need "photo ID"? This is only of use if the person presenting the document is also present, to be compared with the photo. Sounds to me like a case of "computer says no". Equifax would be the last organisation on Earth I'd entrust with a copy of my passport!

chanz4

Equifax breached my data not long ago

pollypenny

I’m one their victims as well. And I had the same palaver as you, OP.

There is no way I am sending those idiots anymore personal information for them to lose.

RG2015

Shakin_Steve wrote: »

They will say that they have a legal duty to protect your report, and are not satisfied with the information you have given them.
I must admit, though, things are getting a bit messy around data breaches and the vast amount of info these companies require to protect themselves due to legislation.

Yes, messy, and Equifax are right in the thick of it.

I registered for the free month trial with Experian, Equifax and Checkmyfile in 2014. I had no problem verifying my ID with Experian and Checkmyfile but Equifax needed me to submit PDFs of my driving licence and a utility bill or bank statement.

When I got the infamous letter from Equifax I was able to obtain the free Equifax Protect product without submitting any further information. This gives me free access to my credit report which can be updated every day if I want.

Yes, I have significant concerns with Equifax but if they already have all of this information on me I'm definitely going to accept them giving me free access.

NutkinsTale

Thanks for replies so far.

Tenchy - that's exactly how I feel, but I would still like to see my report and believe I should be allowed to, since it was me who asked to have a password put on it in the first place.

Since posting I have spoken to both CIFAS and Action Fraud, and got a very sympathetic hearing. Action Fraud recommended I put in a formal complaint to Equifax, which I have done. But I haven't heard back yet, and suspect they might not be listening anyway. But that hasn't stopped them from pestering me with 3 followup emails asking me to complete my application - from a DO NOT REPLY email address of course, so that I can't engage them in meaningful dialogue.

I do feel that the fact that a company who have just lost 143million customers' data is asking people to send in photo copies of their passport or driving licence is of such widespread concern that it may be something that Martin Lewis himself might like to take up. Does anyone know how to escalate this thread for his attention?

pollypenny

I made a formal complaint to Equifax. I had a banal apology in reply.

tykesi

NutkinsTale wrote: »

hasn't stopped them from pestering me with 3 followup emails asking me to complete my application - from a DO NOT REPLY email address of course, so that I can't engage them in meaningful dialogue.

It will be an automated email set to generate when someone has started an application but not completed, stop being so precious about it, it's not personal.

NutkinsTale wrote: »

may be something that Martin Lewis himself might like to take up. Does anyone know how to escalate this thread for his attention?

He has nothing to do with these forums, if you want his attention try tweeting him but I seem to remember he's finished on Twitter for Christmas so it may take a while if he responds at all.

NutkinsTale

Thanks for the heads-up on Mr Lewis, tykesi. He's probably got plenty other issues on his hitlist anyway.

Re the emails, of course I realise they're automated. But if they really wanted some proper feedback they would include an email address you could send it to. Suggesting you phone if you have probs is no help because these folks are just working off scripts anyway. Like tenchy said - "Computer says no"

sargeantsalt

tenchy wrote: »

Why do they need "photo ID"? This is only of use if the person presenting the document is also present, to be compared with the photo. Sounds to me like a case of "computer says no". Equifax would be the last organisation on Earth I'd entrust with a copy of my passport!

I think the passport office give them your detail anyway as they have a contract with HM passport office for processing all new passport?