Moneysavingexpert.com/ Your Credit Rating discussion area

leeegglestone

Have noticed I have been Charged by Experian, how do I cancel?

Gonzo1966

I have just recieved a letter of apology from Capital Bank PLC following finding an incorrect entry on my credit file stating that I owed £14,422 and had seriously defaulted on the agreement, when in actual fact I had voluntarily terminated a financial agreement back in 2003.

Although I am very happy to have this letter of apology and checking my credit file today the information has been rectified, I feel a bit miffed, as I was turned down for a mortgage with Northern Rock back in 2004 and Northern Rock actually use Experian.

The above information did not appear in my Equifax report and I did present my Equifax report to the people at Northern Rock, and they were very confused.

Any views on this would be greatly appreciated.

studdmuffin2

I have always had contact with both Experian/Equifax when dealing with credit applications. Back in the days when I sent £2for the report I alway believed they were up to date with the information. However this is not true, whilst we are being advised to check our current status via the CRA before aplying for credit, this will probably not help. I have just been informed that there is a huge glitch in the system being operated by the lenders and the CRA's in that the information can be out of date by as much as three months, even though the lenders have updated their records with the CRA's. The CRA test the monthly updates sent to them for acuracy, quality etc.If 5% is wrong them the whole batch is returned to the lender for cleaning up meaning many records are not updated and may not be for a period of up to two months. Clearly the CRA's are holding and publishing inacurate information which may affcet countless credit applications. Sobering thought in these so called days of internet super information highway.

prundle2005

Hi there,I have just followed advice on Martin's Credit Scoring page, and decided to sign up for the £16.95 Checkmyfile INSTANT online report service. I basically put in all the details and paid for all three agencies, but it hasnt showed me anything instantly? Its just told me that it has sent me a Security code by post which I need to use for accessing my report? Have I been fidled? Why havent I received my instant report? Has anyone else had this problem? Very annoying as I followed the tips carefully that Martin has given

Experian_company_representative

studdmuffin2 wrote:

I have always had contact with both Experian/Equifax when dealing with credit applications. Back in the days when I sent £2for the report I alway believed they were up to date with the information. However this is not true, whilst we are being advised to check our current status via the CRA before aplying for credit, this will probably not help. I have just been informed that there is a huge glitch in the system being operated by the lenders and the CRA's in that the information can be out of date by as much as three months, even though the lenders have updated their records with the CRA's. The CRA test the monthly updates sent to them for acuracy, quality etc.If 5% is wrong them the whole batch is returned to the lender for cleaning up meaning many records are not updated and may not be for a period of up to two months. Clearly the CRA's are holding and publishing inacurate information which may affcet countless credit applications. Sobering thought in these so called days of internet super information highway.

Each credit account record on a credit report shows the date the entry was last updated - so it should not be misleading at all. Occasionally the monthly updates are delayed if we spot problems with a lender's data, but a (usually) small delay is surely much preferable to loading inaccurate data.

On another issue, lenders do not see the names of other lenders that have provided information on your credit report, just general classifications such as bank or finance house. Of course, when you check your own report you see everything recorded in your name, including the names of your lenders.

James

michelle1985_2

Hi i have had some arrears with items a few years ago these are all paid off now and im trying to improve my credit by getting a credit card and using just a bit on it and paying it straight back off but no one will give me one not even the companies that say they give people with bad credit. I have tried with capital 1 vanquis and a few others but cant seem to get one from anyone. Anyone got any ideas what to do. I had my credit report sent to me and it is showing that the debt is paid off.

gogogeegee

Can anybody give any advice? I have got a bad credit score for an account which wasn't even mine! I used to be an Orange employee and my brothe had a phone on their 'friends and family' deal which gave a 33% discount. My name was on the account but the phone was his and the bills were addressed to him at his address and he paid them. When I left Orange, they immediately charged my brother the full whack on his bill. I rang them up and said it wasn't very fair and they agreed to knock £20 off. We heard nothing from them until 4 months later my brother got a letter from a debt collecting agency for the £20. Orange denied ever agreeing to knock the £20 off, but several emails later agreed to as a 'goodwill gesture'. However when I applied for an Argos card to buy a shed, I was turned down. I got my report from Experian and it is showing 4 missed payments to Orange on this account. I wrote to Experian and Orange. I was told someone would contact me from Orange but they didn't and they have now come back to Experian and said the details are correct! I have written to them again enclosing duplicate bills to show the phone was my brother's but still no reply. I want to move house soon and am very worried this is going to affect my ability to remortgage! Can anyone offer any advice???

Kevmo

Hi, I recently applied for the free trial with Experian. They have asked me to supply more info about myself ie passport/driving license. Now I think I might just pay the £2 and do it by post. I dont know if I am signed up to them now and if Im going to start getting charged even though I have not recieved any info from them?

katykitten

BEWARE EQUIFAX PAYMENT ERRORS!!!!
Just tried to access the Equifax Gold free 30 day trial via their site - what a hassle!!! Instead of signing up for a free 30 day trial they automatically deducted £14.95 from my switch card for a Credit Rating that i didnt ask for! Getting an email address or a phone number where you actually speak to a real person was a nightmare and at at least 10p per minute on an 0870 number this is no laughing matter - having waited upwards of 10 minutes to get through and asking to speak to customer services i had to relate the whole tale twice to separated people.
Yes they eventually refunded my £14.95 and said someone will call me back within 2 days about the delayed and expensive phone call, but the hassle, time and £££ involved id say was definitely not worth the effort - so beware when using the site!!!!

katykitten

i think you have to phone them, but beware its an 0870 number and they keep you waiting for ages once you get through - its virtually impossible to speak to a real person you just end up going round in circles - the best option is to selection option 3 i think and eventually you get to speak to someone!!!!