Experian "free" credit report

tali

Experian are doing a "free" credit report - my only concern is why they need credit card details- surely they can give a free credit report without requiring credit card details?- as they will have sufficent user info/details anyway

YorkshireBoy

They're not giving you a "free report" as such. They're giving you a free 30-day trial of a product they'd like you to buy from them.

Anyway, the reason they want your card details is given on the application form...

We need your card to verify your identity. If you choose to stay as a member after your free 30 day trial your card will be charged the monthly membership fee of £6.99.

Don’t worry, your card will NOT be charged for membership during your free 30 day trial and there is no obligation to continue with the service after the trial period.

KylieFan24

I would have thought they have access to this kind of information too!

I had an issue with the credit reports from Experian. Lloyds bullied me in to signing up for a free trial so i thought I would get my credit report for free and sent off the application for the information and then a week later I got a letter from Experian (with my name spelt wrong!) Saying they needed a copy of a utility bill and proof of identity eg passport etc so they could send me the credit report.

To be fair I was not that bothered about getting the credit report so rang to cancel the trial and the girl on the other end of the phone was a rude cow and I thought pah whats the point!

YorkshireBoy

KylieFan24 wrote: »

I would have thought they have access to this kind of information too!

As I said above, they need to verify your identity, ie they need to know it's YOU who is ordering the credit report. The ONLY way to check this is to compare the card details you provide (which are also held on a database that Experian have access to) with the name & address (and other) details you provide.

For example, I know my brother's full name, his address, his date of birth, and the date he moved into his house, etc. Without the card verification, I could very easily obtain an online copy of his credit file.

Does that make sense?

amos71

If you want Martin's opinion on this you should watch it pays to watch extra at www.five.tv/itpaystowatch where he discuses how to get your credit report and mentions this service.

Browntoa

I did the trial , was no problem cancelling when I rang up, no hard sell at all

PinkGrapefruit_2

I also did the 30 day trail, though I didn't find it very useful (for me personally) and just emailed to cancel which wasn't a problem.