Can someone please help? Signed up to equifax and panicking

Liyana89

So, I did something really silly yesterday and signed up to Equifax.co.uk to view my credit score. It said that I could have 1 months free trial and cancel at anytime. I didn’t think much of it as this company is the company banks in UK use to check credit scores, so surely it would be a professional business? 

I was so wrong. Before singing up I made sure I researched how to cancel, however after actually signing up there was NO OPTION available to cancel. Then I read some awful reviews on trustpilot of how bad this company is and they make it horribly difficult for people to cancel their subscription. 

I’ve written two emails to them, also tweeeted them to which the person replied and said it would be cancelled (still have a feeling it won’t). I’ve made myself very clear in my emails and quoted their own policies. I’ve also rang my bank and said I want to order a new card so payments don’t get taken out by equifax. 

I’d be so thankful to hear people’s opinions and experiences about canceling the free trial subscription with this company. Any pointers? Will telling them I’m going to contact the ombudsman help? Any pointers or advice at all, even where I could get additional help if they refuse to help me.. I’d be so grateful for any advice really. Thanks a lot! 

Hasbeen

Just phone them?

Credit report: Check your credit score for free - MSE (moneysavingexpert.com)

finalfantasist

Why not give them a chance to not cancel it before flying off the handle with threats of the Ombudsman?

eskbanker

You signed up to a service with a 30-day trial yesterday and since then you've already emailed them twice, tweeted, and also asked your bank to cancel your card - best calm down a bit, you're overreacting!

Even if you fail to get them to cancel, you can complain and ultimately go to the ombudsman, but not for another eight weeks, after which they'd take months to do anything, so that's unlikely to be a sensible approach.

Ordering a new card was a waste of time, as any authority you'd have given them on the old card carries forward to the new one.  You can, however, instruct your bank to cancel the Continuous Payment Authority, preventing them from taking any payments: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-payments/

If you'd researched on here first, you'd have spotted that you can check your credit files (not just Equifax but the others too, Equifax don't have a monopoly) without charge, via https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

MalMonroe

There's also this from this very forum from 2010, still relevant today:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2398167/how-to-cancel-30-day-trial-of-equifax

'withabix' gives great advice.  And so do all the others tbh!

Also, DON'T PANIC!!

Liyana89

Thanks for everyone’s replies! I admit I’ve definitely gone overboard and panicked lol. I think it’s just because when I signed up, I didn’t see an option to cancel (even though I researched this before)... so when I didn’t see that, I started reading all these horrific reviews. Being in a pandemic, my financial situation isn’t the best so the thought of being stuck to a subscription scared me a lot. I really hope it gets cancelled without issues. 

Does anyone else have experiences with the company, that they can share? I’d love to hear it 

sourcrates

It’s a credit reference agency, what can possibly go wrong ?

From here on in, your financial life will be recorded with them, and others, there’s no “opt out” in theses matters, it’s just the system we are stuck with.

Liyana89

Not sure if you’re being sarcastic but I’m still very new and learning loads about finances, mortgage etc...so yeah, I suppose it wasn’t the smartest move. 

xlnc99

Ive used equifax and cancelled. Very easy and straightforward process - i cant understand why you are finding it so difficult?
Also - let the 30 day run out first or get close to it!

As others have said, major overreaction, e-mailing, cancelling cards etc. - All for £7.95 i think it used to be. Have they gone up in price?

cymruchris

xlnc99 said:

major overreaction

Yes - we wouldn't want to panic over nothing now would we

To the OP - now you've got your 30 days - get a good look through your files - and ensure everything is correct. Have you spotted anything untoward there? You might as well make full use of it while you can before the trial period is over.

Liyana89

xlnc99 said:

Ive used equifax and cancelled. Very easy and straightforward process - i cant understand why you are finding it so difficult?
Also - let the 30 day run out first or get close to it!

As others have said, major overreaction, e-mailing, cancelling cards etc. - All for £7.95 i think it used to be. Have they gone up in price?

Hi thanks for your reply.
Yeah I recognize I panicked and overreacted, but after reading some very horrific reviews about the company I got scared. There is no option to cancel on my page (and I’m techsavy so I know my way around these things) and according to the reviews, other people have also had this same issue.

Granted £7.95 isn’t alot but we’re in the midst of a pandemic which can for some mean that £7.95 becomes a significant fund.