Removal of financial associate from credit file

pedgepuk

I've recently requested for a financial associate to be removed from my Equifax credit file via their online portal, since the joint utility account was closed 4 years ago with my ex-flat mate. Yesterday they added the below entry under the Notice of Corrections section which I feel will create problems with my upcoming remortgage application. I'm now feeling I've made a mistake in not doing this any sooner.

NOTICE OF DISPUTE - THE INDIVIDUAL CONCERNED HAS DISPUTED THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION REGISTERED AT THIS ADDRESS AND WE HAVE NOW CONTACTED THE SUBSCRIBER CONCERNED. CARE SHOULD THEREFORE BE TAKEN WHEN USING THE DATA AT THIS ADDRESS TO ASSESS THE CREDITWORTHINESS

Equifax do not have a timeline after speaking to their customer services team, since it needs to be passed through a Data Analysis team to investigate. Now Covid-19 will impact any timelines further, and I've no idea if this will be resolved within the next 6 weeks which is when I'm planning for a remortgage application. I think the messaging they've added could be defined better as it sounds negative.

Has anyone had experience of removing financial associates from their file and how long this process took? Did the agencies require evidence?

Thanks

D3xt3r5L4b

Did you fill the form out or just raise a dispute?

Equifax always add NOC’s when disputes are raised. 

Scattle18

I've recently had an associate removed from my Equifax report, asked them on 19th March, I got a email from them on 12th May to say it had been removed and resolved, 7 weeks in total.

pedgepuk

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Did you fill the form out or just raise a dispute?

Equifax always add NOC’s when disputes are raised. 

Yes, I used their online help form and not a dispute, but they've just applied an NOC to the file. Customer Services basically said that it's normal procedure to add an NOC until resolved based on investigation. I just feel the messaging should be a bit more transparent rather than state "tread carefully if providing credit to this customer... there's a problem here!"

craigh1980

Scattle18 said:

I've recently had an associate removed from my Equifax report, asked them on 19th March, I got a email from them on 12th May to say it had been removed and resolved, 7 weeks in total.

What did you do to ask them to do this? Thanks

NatalieAGC

I had the same last month right before mortgage application! Equifax still have an ex on my file from northern rock mortgage in 2004! I emailed them to say its clear there is no financial link anymore and to remove it.. 
they then added a NOC! livid I was I spent 3 days constantly calling them up as I demanded they remove the NOC - they did within 48 hours. 

needless to say the link is still on my report.  
their own website says it keeps them on file if they believe there is a financial link... after 16 years its clear to see there isn't 

pedgepuk

NatalieAGC said:

I had the same last month right before mortgage application! Equifax still have an ex on my file from northern rock mortgage in 2004! I emailed them to say its clear there is no financial link anymore and to remove it.. 
they then added a NOC! livid I was I spent 3 days constantly calling them up as I demanded they remove the NOC - they did within 48 hours. 

needless to say the link is still on my report.  
their own website says it keeps them on file if they believe there is a financial link... after 16 years its clear to see there isn't 

Good to know thanks. Yes I'm unhappy with their lethargic approach and how they word these NOCs as it has no reflection on the correction I need on my file. If I were a lender and read the wording on the NOC, I'd be saying "ah problem with this applicant - declined!"