Do you use Experian or ClearScore? Help our investigation.

I regularly use Experian via the Martin Lewis Credit Expert Credit Club along with Noddle. I do this to monitor how my credit file is improving after having suffered a blip a few years ago, largely because health and other circumstances saw me living on benefits. I am a law graduate with a particular interest in commercial, credit and financial services law and regulations. It worries me that whilst the credit reference agencies can provide helpful tools, that many regard them as important agencies, the watchdogs on credit matters. The reality is that they are business and sell our data for profit and the bottom line - profit is their reason for existing. They cut costs and try to evade responsibility saying that some of our data may be processed outside our country. This should still impose a duty of care. Cost savings lead to lax security and DATA BREACHES. Experian has just been fined with a record fine for allowing data security to be breached. We are forced to subjugate to the Credit reference agencies, but can they really be trusted in the light of this? How do we know the extent to the data breach and are we due for compensation to the self imposed credit watchdogs?

So in effect, if Experian and Clearscore merge, we can kiss goodbye to the statement of:

ClearScore allows you to access your credit report and score. Free, forever.

I use Experian service to see my credit score, MSE Credit Club to see my Experian Credit Score and report and Clearscore to see my Equifax credit score and report (also use Noddle for CallCredit score and report).

The only way to see Equifax credit report is through Clearscore. CMA shouldn't allow the merger unless it guarantees that people can still see their Equifax credit report for free.

From my experience, the 3 credit score services have some rubbish data such as incorrect or wrong formatted addresses. Also, it's not easy for a user to change the data.

I have heard occasions when people that had perfect credit score but the credit check failed because Experian provided the address in the wrong format (Flat number in the second line, building number in first line etc). This is silly and the users should have the power to correct things themselves rather than been victims of credit scores companies incompetence. Also, the response from Experian was very slow as it took weeks to respond.

Experian report also differs between the hard copy report and the one available at MSE Credit Club. I enquired why and the excuse they gave is due to the search returning different results. This inconsistency should be fixed.

So if the merger is to be approved there should be clauses that:
1) both Experian and Equifax reports should remain freely accessible
2) users will have full and easy control of their data
3) all systems should be in sync and show accurate information eliminating excuses of the likes 'the search was different'. Each individual should have only 1 report.
4) support should be readily available and able to help with issues such as failed credit check on the same day

As they say " With great power, comes great responsibility". Please CMA, help to make these firms responsible.