EON suddenly reporting to Equifax

artyboy

I'm 18 months into a 2 year fix with EON (well... Sainsbury's Energy, but same thing), and today I get a notification from Clearscore (ie Equifax) that they are about to start reporting my account with them.

They aren't currently on my Experian or Transunion files so is this a new thing for EON? I don't really care as all DD payments are in order. Just as long as being a few hundred quid in debit to them - not surprising coming out of winter - doesn't get viewed as a negative. 

Just hope that it doesn't impact my perfect 1000 credit score (yes, I'm joking of course  )

fergie_

British Gas already do this and if you are in debt to them, it shows like a loan basically.

cymruchris

Many utility companies already report to credit reference agencies, and have done for some time. They're just catching up.

TheMilkmansDad

and the "score" is completely meaningless.

molerat

(The old) E.On always reported to Equifax and I was shocked when my SOLR'd account did not start reporting.  Today I got a notification from Clearscore of a new account and it was E.On Next.

Posted by me back in 2012 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4132951/eon-reporting-to-equifax/p1

artyboy

TheMilkmansDad said:

and the "score" is completely meaningless.

Oh for heaven's sake... perhaps you missed my ever so subtle take on that point? 

artyboy

And to everyone else... thanks, I suspected they might just have been catching up, fair to say they are more than a bit late in my case! 

Interesting if it does end up showing as a 'loan' - I can sort of see the argument for that, and for a few hundred quid it's neither here nor there to me. But for other people on tighter budgets, I guess it could negatively impact their ability to get credit. 

Which is perhaps not entirely appropriate given that the whole idea of a fixed DD is that you 'should' be flat over a period and it just smoothed out the seasonal variations. So the affordability aspect of your credit file will get no 'boost' for the months your energy account is in credit, but it could hit you for those months when you are in debit - even if you have a perfect payment history...

artyboy

In case it is affecting anyone else, it looks (admittedly based on very limited data) that EON is selectively reporting accounts as being an "Arrangement to Pay" (not good!). If you are using Clearscore to check your Equifax report, this may be displayed as a "Special Arrangement" but make no mistake, this is an AP, and is harmful to your credit file.

Unclear if this is based on customers being in debit, but given that's a perfectly normal aspect of a fixed DD arrangement to smooth out seasonal usage, it would be very concerning, not to mention misrepresenting the account. 

I started a separate thread so to avoid duplication, you might want to read this...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6448714/equifax-what-does-special-arrangement-mean/p1

K_S

Eon Next have started reporting to Equifax and appear to be reporting some accounts with a debit balance (entirely normal for this time of the year) as being on an 'Arrangement To Pay' which is an adverse marker that can cause issues when remortgaging or applying for other credit.

Please see this thread here.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6448714/equifax-what-does-special-arrangement-mean/p1

The Clearscore report is showing a more benign "Special Arrangement" but the actual Equifax report is showing as below.

If your report is showing the same and there's no valid reason for it, please consider making a formal email complaint to Eon Next at unhappy@eonnext.com
https://www.eonnext.com/unhappy

born_again

Not the word "Score" which is a meaningless figure made up by the CRA's.
It is never seen by lenders. Who are interested in Credit History (missed payments) & available debt to income figures.

K_S

born_again said:

Not the word "Score" which is a meaningless figure made up by the CRA's.
It is never seen by lenders. Who are interested in Credit History (missed payments) & available debt to income figures.

@born_again Yes, ignore the score. But an AP marker is indeed something that lenders are interested in as it generally means that the customer is unable to keep up with payments and has agreed for and negotiated an arrangement.
https://www.checkmyfile.com/articles/arrangement-to-pay-markers.htm#:~:text=An Arrangement to Pay marker effectively shows that the lender,out in the credit agreement.

Let me take that off though, else people will miss the point of the post.