Equifax Phonecall...

Dwina

Hi there everyone! I want to check this with you guys because this seems really dodgy to me.

I was setting up an online account on Equifax to view my credit file and after filling out all my info, it didn't take me to the page where you answer security questions about your credit history...instead it took me to a page where it said they couldn't activate my account online and I had to phone them.

So I gave them a call and an Indian gentleman started asking me to tell him all my details again to 'confirm' my identity and he then proceeded to tell me that he wants me to send him an array of documents to prove my identity and 'keep my information secure'.

I immediately stopped him there because I'm not comfortable sending personal documents and telling him everything about me as that doesn't do much for 'keeping my identity secure'.

What the hell is this? Has anyone else had this? I will be honest, if it was a UK call centre, I wouldn't have felt it was so sketchy but it feels like my browser was redirected or something.

If this is legit then they need to change the way they do this so people feel they can trust their system.

We just did my partner's Equifax account last night and had no problems with it so I'm confused.

National_Debtline

Hi Dwina,


You were right to stop giving the details and refuse to send your documents, it certainly doesn't sound right. It is strange if you set up an account the night before with no issues, and it could be to do with the security settings on the device you were using (and being redirected).


You need to be very careful about giving personal information, and sending documents, irrespective of whether it is a UK call centre or not.


For now, you could raise your concerns with Equifax - via email and ask them for a confirmation of the processes. You could try and use www.clearscore.com if you are specifically after your Equifax information, or consider checking the other 2 credit files (Experian and Transunion - previously Call Credit).


Laura
@natdebtline

Willing2Learn

Dwina wrote: »

...I was setting up an online account on Equifax to view my credit file and after filling out all my info, it didn't take me to the page where you answer security questions about your credit history...instead it took me to a page where it said they couldn't activate my account online and I had to phone them.

So I gave them a call and an Indian gentleman started asking me to tell him all my details again to 'confirm' my identity and he then proceeded to tell me that he wants me to send him an array of documents to prove my identity and 'keep my information secure'.

I immediately stopped him there because I'm not comfortable sending personal documents and telling him everything about me as that doesn't do much for 'keeping my identity secure'.

What the hell is this? Has anyone else had this? I will be honest, if it was a UK call centre, I wouldn't have felt it was so sketchy but it feels like my browser was redirected or something.

If this is legit then they need to change the way they do this so people feel they can trust their system.

I voted no...I would have hung up.


I re-registered the other day with Equifax free trial. Anyhow, I just logged on and checked, the number for customer services is 0800-014-2955. Why don't you 'phone them and ask if your experience was kosher or not? They're open 8am-8pm.


Let us know what they say...

Dwina

Good idea Willing2Learn thanks

Joshua, My gut just said Nopenopenope nopenope! so I couldn't continue the call. When I take documents to my bank on the high street, I feel confident in the security of my information but I feel this is a completely different situation.

I'm not racist by any means. The fact that he was asking for all this was sketchy sounding enough without it being a foreign call centre.

T-G-C

When I first turned 18 and opened an account with them, I was asked to phone them and the representative was of a foreign accent, so I can confirm their agents are from across the continent.

I wasn't asked to send documents however, I was asked to upload a picture of my passport and something to prove where I lived - electronically through the official Equifax support website.

If he's asking you to send them to an unofficial email address, an unrecognized mailing address or something else unusual, I would exercise caution.

If you phoned Equifax using their official phone number, from their domain and not another site, then I can't see the call being a scam, although you can ring back using the number from the official site and then question it again.

A lot of people would have the opinion that basing your caution on someone's accent would be discriminatory, however it is understandable to some degree, due to past fluctuations of scam calls from India etc. I don't think a poll was needed, if you require security in your decision to send documentation, use their official phone number and seek a second opinion.

I hope that this has provided some clarification for you.

Dwina

I don't think it's discriminatory at all. The adviser had a foreign accent and that's all I could hear in the background so I don't think I am discriminating against him by thinking it probable that it's an overseas call centre. And yes, I can trust a business operating within the UK more than those operating overseas because we have protections in place in the uk that other countries don't.

It's the same reason you shouldn't trust fake products made in China. Not because you have anything against people from China, but because their laws and product standards aren't always up to our code here in the uk.

Is it discrimination now to assume that a person's accent is a good indicator of their geography? I have a scottish accent...you can probably guess why I have that.

Dwina

Lol Joshua! The thought of a scot living in the heat of Mumbai made me laugh :rotfl:

ywlgy

Take it easy.

If you didn't stop him, he would tell to upload your ID to the Equifax website, not sending them to some fraudulent websites or overseas.

I did this and since then I can access my credit report.

gionnetto

It happened to me last year, and I didn't send any document to them. Experian, on the other hand, does have an ID verification system, which is accredited with the gvt, so I did trust them to be able to keep my information safe. I just waited for Equifax to be able to verify me from the Electoral Roll. Similarly, I wouldn't send my info to CallCredit/TransUnion either - same reason.

Dwina

ywlgy He said to me "I'll need you to send us some documents" to which I asked why and he told me "It doesn't have to be originals if you don't want to, it can be photocopies instead"

He may well have went on to tell me about uploading to the site but I wasn't to know this and from what he told me, I was very wary and so I didn't continue the conversation.

Dwina

Wow Joshua, that's scary...your mate had a close call there! This is why my barriers came up...there are so many scammers around these days so when it doesn't sound quite right or it sounds too good to be true I go with my gut. Paranoid or not, I can always contact Equifax and send them my documents but if I had done it and it turned out to be a scam...well I would be regretting it lol