Free credit reports - why can't we Brits get them?

Malcolm_Davis

I know we can get them once if we sign up to Experian and Equifax's free trial.

But why is it that the Yanks and Ozzies get them free, when we have to pay £6. And the Americans even get a website they can get them from, and we have to try and decode those statutory things. Cheek of it.

Can't be right, can it? Anybody know the answer. I bet it's to do with money. We are always getting the rubbish deal.

There's a good article about it here: http://ezinearticles.com/index.php?How-to-Get-Free-Credit-Reports-in-the-US,-UK-or-Australia&id=1118783

nzseries1

There is also a free toll number, 1-877-322-8228 where US citizen's can order their annual credit report.

Sorry, but because of the apostrophe in "citizens" which should not be there, I am assuming the person that wrote the article is not very intelligent and therefore am discounting the results of the report!

nzseries1

In all seriousness, as a slightly different example, in the US, Australia (and New Zealand) all companies use free 0800 or 1800 numbers. Here in the UK, Brits think it's perfectly acceptable for companies to use 0870 and 0871 for everyday numbers.

The reason that the credit reports are not free here is because they know that Brits are prepared to bend over and take whatever is given to them without complaint.

skyrider007

virtually everything is *more* expensive in the UK!

Stubert

nzseries1 wrote: »

In all seriousness, as a slightly different example, in the US, Australia (and New Zealand) all companies use free 0800 or 1800 numbers. Here in the UK, Brits think it's perfectly acceptable for companies to use 0870 and 0871 for everyday numbers.

The reason that the credit reports are not free here is because they know that Brits are prepared to bend over and take whatever is given to them without complaint.

Is there really much choice though? I wouldn't say people are happy about calling them! Its where https://www.saynoto0870.com comes in handy though which I'm sure Martin has talked about a lot. Had to phone United Utilities and Scottish Power just now, had 0845 and 0870 numbers on the bill, but found 0800 numbers on there, brilliant!

skyrider007 wrote: »

virtually everything is *more* expensive in the UK!

Baked beans!

nzseries1

Stubert wrote: »

Is there really much choice though? I wouldn't say people are happy about calling them! Its where www.saynoto0870.com comes in handy though which I'm sure Martin has talked about a lot. Had to phone United Utilities and Scottish Power just now, had 0845 and 0870 numbers on the bill, but found 0800 numbers on there, brilliant!

Yeah okay, maybe Brits aren't happy about it but nevertheless this is the only english-speaking country in the world where 0800 numbers aren't the norm! The exact reason for which... we may never know.

Steve1981

Stubert wrote: »

Is there really much choice though? I wouldn't say people are happy about calling them! Its where www.saynoto0870.com comes in handy though which I'm sure Martin has talked about a lot. Had to phone United Utilities and Scottish Power just now, had 0845 and 0870 numbers on the bill, but found 0800 numbers on there, brilliant!



Baked beans!

The above is the reason I have never used Direct Line, they may well be cheaper and uk based, but if they want me to pay to get a quote, well to say it cleanly, they can go and entertain themselves

lucyyy_2

had the same problem myself

nzseries1 wrote: »

Yeah okay, maybe Brits aren't happy about it but nevertheless this is the only english-speaking country in the world where 0800 numbers aren't the norm! The exact reason for which... we may never know.

nzseries1

Steve1981 wrote: »

The above is the reason I have never used Direct Line, they may well be cheaper and uk based, but if they want me to pay to get a quote, well to say it cleanly, they can go and entertain themselves

If only everybody thought like this!
I tried to make a stand once... not call anybody that had any number other than an 01 or 02 number... but I realised after a while that there's just not really any choice.
I was so sick of their "but 0845 doesn't cost any more" bit! Simply not true !!!

Malcolm_Davis

Hi guys thanks for your response re 0800 numbers etc.

It's all to do with money. We don't get free credit reports because big companies whinge about how much it costs them to administer things. Even though those same companies make huge profits.

Credit card penalties are another example of this. £12 to press a few computer keys and lick a stamp - do people still do that? How many of them can you do in an hour? Good work if you can get it. Ha!

The Aussies have a much healthier attitude. They say, hey big companies making large profits from people's credit information, you can let them check them for nowt! After all there might be a mistake. It's about privacy or some high minded principle like that.

Must be something to do with the sun and the surf.

Thanks for your comments and keep on banging on about 0800 numbers and give the grammatically inflicted a break