ClearScore's lax attitude towards personal data security

Nasqueron

vadek said:

Experian has a free app. TransUnion is available via MSE Credit Club (or Lloyds Bank, if you're with them). Equifax is only available for free via ClearScore - otherwise you have to pay Equifax (after a free month).

You can see TransUnion on Credit Karma which is their equivalent of Clear Score for Equifax

x44

vadek said:

So I contacted ClearScore and, after an initially friendly and helpful email asking which email address I wished to proceed with, they told me to send a picture of my passport or driving licence in the same frame as my face by an email attachment!! Good grief! How unprofessional can you get? Sending this kind of personal data in the clear by email is flouting basic security tenets.

Exactly the same method as I was requested to use by Scottish Widows when I wanted to sell some old unit trusts held with them: this about 2 years ago along with scans of my Chartered accountant certified passport copy and bank statement copy.   All done and accepted within a day as I recall: Easy!

Humdinger1

@vadek the Information Commissioner (ICO) might be worth contacting. 

brynhils

I recently started getting 'spam' emails from a number of companies offering finance for various goods and services (such as carfinance247). These emails were all sent to a specific and unique 'alias' address which I had only used as a sign-up/login for 'Clearscore', so it was obvious as to who had provided them with my contact details. I have now deleted my Clearscore account and disabled the email alias, preventing any future spamming. I wouldn't trust Clearscore with any personal data given my experience. I do however, suggest the use of disposable contact details when using these online services as data breaches are so common nowadays.