Correcting Information Supplied by Nationwide Building Society.

reliquit

I was recently declined for a credit card by my bank (Co-op). My original thought was "Oh well - it happens - apply again in six months". Although I was a bit surprised because I thought that I complied with all their published eligibility criteria.

But a few days later I had a letter from them stating that the refusal was "as a direct result of information contained in my credit report from Experian". So I obtained my statutory report from Experian and sure enough, in the section for Aliases it says "Aliases: Mrs L...... W......, also know as Miss L...... M......". The first surname is the same as mine, and my first initial is also L. Both Aliases were apparently reported by Nationwide Building Society. I can absolutely assure you all that I have never used either of those names (neither would suit me - I'm a 70-year-old male), neither do I know anybody who uses either of those names.

So I contacted Experian and told them of the error. They replied that they were unable to change it as the information was supplied by Nationwide, so they advise me to contact them. So I rang Nationwide - and their automated telephone system requires me to input my account number "in order to direct my call to the correct section". But I don't have an account number - because I don't have an account with Nationwide!

Help! Where do I go from here?

ThisnotThat

Nowhere.

You were not declined because of aliases.  You were given the usual "go look at your credit files" excuse because telling why you were actually declined is commercially sensitive.

The Co-op think you're high risk for some reason.  Try someone else.

reliquit

I don't think that's the case. Their letter states "In this instance, the decision was based on information we received from Experian".

However, whether or not that is true, I still have aliases incorrectly shown on my Experian file, which need to be corrected.

MalMonroe

reliquit said:

I don't think that's the case. Their letter states "In this instance, the decision was based on information we received from Experian".

However, whether or not that is true, I still have aliases incorrectly shown on my Experian file, which need to be corrected.

Hi, I agree, you're right. The information on at least one of your credit reports is wrong and needs putting right. You will have to write to Nationwide. Even if you do manage to speak to someone there they won't be able to do anything unless you put your request in writing. They then have to respond to you in writing, advising what they are going to do. In the meantime you should write to the three main CRAs and ask for a note of correction to be put on your credit reports. 

Here's some information from debt camel about how to do it. https://debtcamel.co.uk/notice-correction-credit-record/

And here are the Nationwide head office addresses : https://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/support-articles/contact-numbers-address/address-and-maps-of-our-head-offices

eskbanker

As you've ascertained, it's Nationwide you need to pursue rather than Experian, so exercise your right to have personal data corrected: https://www.nationwide.co.uk/about/corporate-information/cookies-and-privacy/your-information-rights#tab:Yourinformationrights

[Deleted User]

MalMonroe said:

reliquit said:

I don't think that's the case. Their letter states "In this instance, the decision was based on information we received from Experian".

However, whether or not that is true, I still have aliases incorrectly shown on my Experian file, which need to be corrected.

Hi, I agree, you're right. The information on at least one of your credit reports is wrong and needs putting right. You will have to write to Nationwide. Even if you do manage to speak to someone there they won't be able to do anything unless you put your request in writing. They then have to respond to you in writing, advising what they are going to do. In the meantime you should write to the three main CRAs and ask for a note of correction to be put on your credit reports. 

Here's some information from debt camel about how to do it. https://debtcamel.co.uk/notice-correction-credit-record/

And here are the Nationwide head office addresses : https://www.nationwide.co.uk/support/support-articles/contact-numbers-address/address-and-maps-of-our-head-offices

OP - do NOT even consider a notice of correction, it'll cause all searches to require manual intervention and may even auto-decline applications, it's only useful in extreme cases like the debt camel article covers. Just write to Nationwide, mark the letter as a complaint and tell them to remove the incorrect aliases, if they cause a problem you can complain to the FOS after they respond formally or after 8 weeks of no response.

ThisnotThat

reliquit said:

I don't think that's the case. Their letter states "In this instance, the decision was based on information we received from Experian".

However, whether or not that is true, I still have aliases incorrectly shown on my Experian file, which need to be corrected.

And it's the usual runaround.

They were NOT declined because of aliases.  Nobody gives two hoots about that.  Why would they?

There may be something on their Experian credit file that is an issue, but it certainly isn't aliases that are the reason for them being declined.  What happened to that other nutter who keeps ragging on about being declined by Nationwide but neglected to mention the multiple defaults on their file?

reliquit

ThisnotThat said:

And it's the usual runaround.

They were NOT declined because of aliases.  Nobody gives two hoots about that.  Why would they?

There may be something on their Experian credit file that is an issue, but it certainly isn't aliases that are the reason for them being declined.  What happened to that other nutter who keeps ragging on about being declined by Nationwide but neglected to mention the multiple defaults on their file?

Once again I think you are wrong. I think lenders care a great deal about aliases. The implication is that I have used two completely different names in addition to my own in order to attempt to get credit. How could they possibly NOT care about that?

Anyway, time will tell. I have written to Nationwide detailing my complaint and I await their response. When this matter is resolved I will re-apply to the Co-op and, and as I have no defaults or missed payments, I have a reasonable expectation of being accepted.

Many thanks to those who gave useful answers to my dilemma.

[Deleted User]

reliquit said:

ThisnotThat said:

And it's the usual runaround.

They were NOT declined because of aliases.  Nobody gives two hoots about that.  Why would they?

There may be something on their Experian credit file that is an issue, but it certainly isn't aliases that are the reason for them being declined.  What happened to that other nutter who keeps ragging on about being declined by Nationwide but neglected to mention the multiple defaults on their file?

Once again I think you are wrong. I think lenders care a great deal about aliases. The implication is that I have used two completely different names in addition to my own in order to attempt to get credit. How could they possibly NOT care about that?

Anyway, time will tell. I have written to Nationwide detailing my complaint and I await their response. When this matter is resolved I will re-apply to the Co-op and, and as I have no defaults or missed payments, I have a reasonable expectation of being accepted.

Many thanks to those who gave useful answers to my dilemma.

Aliases don't need to be anything untoward, it can simply be something like a maiden name or a name change
That said, I would also thoroughly check your report on MSE Credit Club and ensure there is no credit history other than yours on there, no applications etc just in case.
I somewhat agree with ThisnotThat however, it seems unlikely that an alias which has no credit history will be the sole reason for a declined application - is your credit record good i.e. a solid 6 years of good credit management e.g. having another card you pay monthly in full, a phone contract, on the electoral role etc? It's worth checking all these to avoid another declined application even when the incorrect names are removed.

reliquit

Deleted_User said:

Aliases don't need to be anything untoward, it can simply be something like a maiden name or a name change
That said, I would also thoroughly check your report on MSE Credit Club and ensure there is no credit history other than yours on there, no applications etc just in case.
I somewhat agree with ThisnotThat however, it seems unlikely that an alias which has no credit history will be the sole reason for a declined application - is your credit record good i.e. a solid 6 years of good credit management e.g. having another card you pay monthly in full, a phone contract, on the electoral role etc? It's worth checking all these to avoid another declined application even when the incorrect names are removed.

Thanks for your input. I have two credit cards (Vanquis and New Day) both paid in full every month. The Vanquis one (which I have had since May 2016) is 39.9% and the New Day one (held since May 2020) is 29.9% but has a credit limit of only 1000. I have no defaults and no missed payments. I have a phone contract and I have been on the electoral role at the same address for 33 years. I have banked with the Co-op since 2016 and I also have a savings account with them. I did have financial problems about 10 years ago, which is why I don't have better cards than Vanquis/NewDay, but those problems are well behind me and long since fallen off my credit report. I recently moved my mortgage from Prestige Finance (ludicrously expensive but all I could get 10 years ago) to Halifax.

So having read my statutory credit report from all three CRAs, the only "contra" information I can see is this alias data (which is only on Experian), which is why I am convinced that it is the cause of the refusal.

ThisnotThat

reliquit said:

ThisnotThat said:

And it's the usual runaround.

They were NOT declined because of aliases.  Nobody gives two hoots about that.  Why would they?

There may be something on their Experian credit file that is an issue, but it certainly isn't aliases that are the reason for them being declined.  What happened to that other nutter who keeps ragging on about being declined by Nationwide but neglected to mention the multiple defaults on their file?

Once again I think you are wrong. I think lenders care a great deal about aliases. The implication is that I have used two completely different names in addition to my own in order to attempt to get credit. How could they possibly NOT care about that?

Anyway, time will tell. I have written to Nationwide detailing my complaint and I await their response. When this matter is resolved I will re-apply to the Co-op and, and as I have no defaults or missed payments, I have a reasonable expectation of being accepted.

Many thanks to those who gave useful answers to my dilemma.

You can think whatever you want. They don't care about them and you were not declined because of that.

And good luck with your re-application, if nothing else has changed in your circumstances or on your credit file (not the irrelevant aliases) you'll get knocked back again.