Is Experian Credit score actually free or chargeable?

taless

Hi,

I am in my Experian 30-day trial. I ordered a Experian Credit Score (have only used their Credit Report all this while) yesterday.

As I was browsing the net and looking up about the Credit Score, I read that the Credit Score costs £5.95. I checked the Experian website and found that to be mentioned in the FAQs.

However, when I order the Credit Score online, I never seen any thing mentioning about the £5.95.

Am I actually going to be charged, and do you think it is fair that I am charged this way? I only get to realise this after digging into the FAQs.

Thanks.

Stantheman

Dont really know much about your actual package only that I signed up for the 30 day trial a few weeks back. After signing up I couldnt answer the security question so I was locked out. I tried again a few days later and struggled to navigate the site but eventually ended up with credit report so I then rang to cancel. On the phone they told me I had signed up for the £7.50 a month deal and they would charge me for the minimum of 3 months! I refused to pay and they eventually agreed to close the account but wouldnt return the first payment. They were insistant I clicked on the wrong pacage so I had no choice but to accept it. Once I put the phone down I retraced my steps on the website to find I had clicked the correct link so I rang them straight back and this time wouldnt take no for an answer. After a bit of toing and froing they suddenly said that I had never been charged in the first place! All this after they insisted the payment would stand and that there was nothing I could do to stop it as it was immediatly taken from my bank once I had recieved the first report!

Anyway I think it goes to show that they designed their website to deliberatly confuse people. So much so that they actually ended up confusing themselves.:rotfl: My advice is to call them and kick up a fuss. They must be well used to it...

nickmack

taless wrote: »

However, when I order the Credit Score online, I never seen any thing mentioning about the £5.95.

Am I actually going to be charged, and do you think it is fair that I am charged this way? I only get to realise this after digging into the FAQs.

The places in which I've seen this option appear on the website, it says 'add my National Credit Score to my Experian credit report for £5.95', so it seems fairly clear to me.

Speaking of the Credit Score, I don't think it's worth paying anything for. It's just a figure based on Experian's calculation of your report. It has little or no bearing on how any other lender may view your circumstances.

inmypocketnottheirs

nickmack wrote: »

T

Speaking of the Credit Score, I don't think it's worth paying anything for. It's just a figure based on Experian's calculation of your report. It has little or no bearing on how any other lender may view your circumstances.

Exactly. It is meaningless, just a ploy for the vain to puff out their chests. Each lender uses their own criteria and pays no heed to the credit score of any CRA.

Do not waste your money!

taless

nickmack wrote: »

The places in which I've seen this option appear on the website, it says 'add my National Credit Score to my Experian credit report for £5.95', so it seems fairly clear to me.

Speaking of the Credit Score, I don't think it's worth paying anything for. It's just a figure based on Experian's calculation of your report. It has little or no bearing on how any other lender may view your circumstances.

Thanks. But I really didn't see anything about £5.95, I only know about it after reading from some other's pages/blogs etc.

I have attached screenshots here for proof.

This is the first page after login:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2168/2075081017_3e34261733_o.jpg

After clicking on National Credit Score, this is what I get:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2166/2075081085_f452f9b901_o.jpg

I never seen anything mentioning about the £5.95? The Terms & Conditions also never mentioned anything about the £5.95, except saying that if I will be charged I will be told that in my Order page, which I couldn't see any.

My card which I used for registering for Experian hasn't shown any reduced 'available credit'.

If it is indeed an overlooking on my part, I will be happy to pay the £5.95, as it is my fault. But I never seen anything about the £5.95, even after getting the credit score. It is only after reading from someone's page that I realise it is chargeable, then upon digging into the FAQ that it says there is a notification of £5.95, but I never seen any. If so I shall be most unhappy to pay - I only clicked on it because I thought it is free.

amizaki

taless, I think u have just select credit report not credit score . 1st u will seen ur credit report then at the bottom there is a option saying 'add my National Credit Score to my Experian credit report for £5.95'. if u select that option then u will see ur credit score. if u haven't select credit score option then sure u will not be charged.
And as u mention ur card also not showing reduced available credit, there is very much possibilty, u haven't select credit score option.
More interestingly, same thing happened to me last year, when i checked my credit report, i found credit score when i haven't select that option. And, they haven't charge me for that. So, thankfully, their system is not errorless

so, don't worry

taless

Thanks for all your replies.

Amizaki, I'm sure I've clicked on the National Credit Score icon, and you could see that from the URL in the screenshot of that page. I've looked high and low at the page, the pre-order page and never seen anything mentioning about any charges for the National Credit Score.

I've looked at the T&Cs and it seems to imply that for some package, the National Credit Score is free. It does also mention there that if it is payable, it will be shown before the order page & it shall be taken out from my accoutn straight away.

I hope that is really the case. I shall wait and see until next Tuesday to see if my card is charged. I still have until next Friday before the trial period is over, so fingers crossed!

Btw, in the event there is really a dispute in the charging, Experian cannot use the fact that they are a "credit referencing agency" and do something that will taint your credit report right?

Thanks!

pennypinching_2

Dont have anything to do with them. I paid for it once to find out I was being charged £5.99 out of my bank account monthly! This also doesnt give you full access to your report. I needed to find out why you score had gone down so paid £5.95 to have full access. It was only then that I noticed on my bank statement that I paid them twice in the same month. When I queried with them they said you get charged monthly and one off payments for full access. Apparently this is clearly stated but I didnt see this. What a rip off!!!!!

ukdutypaid

Abbey said they used Experion and where else do they get their data from?
You just don't get access to the level of detail they do....
Don't think for one moment that if you didn't pay any attention to your credit score that it wouldn't affect you...

Lenders do use these commercial services......... plus their own ratings.
Hence some lenders will take anybody, whilst others won't..

taless

Hi, just updating you all about the matter.

I've sent an e-mail to them on Saturday enquiring about the Experian National Credit Score - was it chargeable or not.

Here is a reply from them:

Dear Mr Taless

Thank you for your email, which we received on 01 December 2007.

We note your comments and would advise that the account is currently in a free 30-day trial period. As yet a National Credit Score has not been requested for £5.95 and has not been charged to your credit card.

Kind regards

Mr Nick Hinchcliffe (NH)
Consumer Services Officer
CreditExpert Membership

Looks like for my case, the NCS is free (as I definitely did get the NCS - it does show up on my score library). Why for some others it is 5.95 even in the trial period I don't know!

amizaki

taless, i told u... their system is not errorless. same thing happend once to me earlier. so, u r lucky that they haven't charged u