Equifax corrections

JonnyMK

has anyone else had to deal with Equifax. I really have no faith in this company in holding my personal data. I became aware of a couple of mistakes on my credit file since I joined ClearScore. One was an open vodafone account that was closed many years ago, got that one resolved by dealing with vodafone complaints (also an unbelievable hassle) but the latest one is an incorrect address on my credit file. One account with o2 has the correct address but the wrong house number, so two entries with the same street but number 3 and number 9. I thought a simple request to remove the incorrect one would sort it. 2 weeks later and got a message to say the data is correct and therefore it won’t be removed and the case is closed. Like as if I don’t know my own address for one thing? And really do they think I live at two houses in the same street at the same time ? This company is unbelievable, how can this be allowed to go on…

MalMonroe

Hi, if you look at the info in the following link, it tells you what to do if you are unhappy with the information CRAs have on your file. You need to scroll right down to number 13 but then the advice is comprehensive.

https://www.experian.co.uk/legal/crain/

It also tells you how to contact the ICO and the FOS.

I do hope you find the information helpful and that you will be able to get the error corrected. It really is frustrating when nobody will actually listen to you.

JonnyMK

thanks, thats a good tip, I guess I will just have to go through the slow and painful escalation process.  

When I was with o2 around the time of this incorrect credit file entry, my phone stopped working one day, and my account closed down. Using the online chat when I got home, they reactivated my account and apologised, but never really got a clear answer from o2 about it. It's pretty clear now from viewing my credit report, with the incorrect house number on it. My neighbours must have got a letter in the post about a new o2 contract under their address, and called o2 to close the account. Even to do this day when I sign into my old o2 account it shows the correct address, so definitely a data error in their billing system.

MrFrugalFever

I have found Equifax to be fairly straightforward to deal with (have had to make a few corrections over the last year or so), however, Transunion is a completely different kettle of fish. Absolutely diabolical in fact.

I’ve now resorted to raising a dispute for the same issue every time they deem it closed and don’t act, so far I think I’ve reached about 6 disputes for the exact same problem, you’d have thought they’d have got the message by now! I’m persistent and just being arbitrary now for the sake of it.

PRAISETHESUN

My experiences with Equifax in the past have been similar to what OP describes. Took ages for my complaint to be looked at, which they then got wrong, and took ages to respond when I pointed how they screwed up - and they then tried to close it prematurely, even though the ball was in their court to respond to the info I had provided. They also took the liberty of placing a notice of correction on my file while they were addressing my complaint - which then took another complaint to get removed. Got some "go away" money when everything was said and done, but I'd rather not to have dealt with them for what should have been a fairly straightforward request.

dariakruk

I just recently had to deal with them and I must say I have same bad experience. 

They report many accounts as default worsening my credit score, while other agencies have the correct information. I tried to contact them, but they told me they have closed my account in 2020 when they migrate the data (apparently I did not respond to their email, which I might). 

Anyway, this will be a long process to clear my credit file. So I completely understand your frustration.