Experian vs. Equifax

A question about : Experian vs. Equifax

In my experience more lenders use Experian than Equifax for credit searches.

To back this up (or refute it) I was wondering if anyone who has access to reports from both Equifax and Experian could send me details of who used which one (purely for searches).

Rather than posting too many details of who you hold accounts with you can send me a private message if you prefer, I'll collate the information then delete your message.

Online applications for statutory reports (Ј2 each):

Equifax: https://www.econsumer.equifax.com/co...consumerletter

Experian: https://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/index.html

RESULTS SO FAR

Equifax:-
credit/charge cards:
American Express *
Barclaycard *
Cahoot
Capital One *
HFC (Marbles and others)
Halifax (one report only, all others with Experian)
RBS (one report only, all others with Experian)

others:
3
Cahoot
ebay
Intelligent Finance *
Northern Rock
One Account *
O2
Telewest

Experian:-

Credit Cards:
Amex
Bank of Scotland
Capital 1
Co-op
Egg
First Direct
HBoS (Hfx One, NSPCC etc)
HSBC
MBNA (incluing A&L, abbey, virgin etc..)
Nationwide
RBS (Mint and others)

Others:
Admiral Insurance
ING
Lombard Direct
Orange
RedCats
Royal & Sun Alliance

Best answers:

• I don't know if this is useful to you or not but... the last time I used Equifax was some time last year (I have subsequently moved home). I applied for my credit report from Equifax and Experian at around the same date. Experian had no problems sending it out; Equifax couldn't identify my address! After sending proof of address, they finally produced a couple of pages along the lines of "address not confirmed so we don't want to put anything on file, here's your empty worthless report".
  This being the case, I can only assume that HBOS, Capital One, Egg, Smile, Lloyds TSB, Orange, etc are all happy to rely solely on Experian as, according to Equifax, my (previous) address did not exist! Btw, I did in fact give them the address in the exact format used by Royal Mail, as checked on the Royal Mail website.
• Can we make this a sticky thread? I know it'll be very useful to me when I apply for my next card (I think it's going to be an equifax one!)
• I think the expiran website is: https://www.uk.experian.com/
  Also you can get a one month free trial to use the Experian service, and this enables you to check your credit file.
• There seems to be another credit agency around, called Callcredit: https://www.callcredit.plc.uk/corpora...ipts/index.asp.
  Has anyone had any dealings with them, or obtained a record from them? Thanks
• Useful but this post isnt stricktly true... ive only ever received my experian credit report and barclays have stamped my different addresses over it so its clear Barclaycard arent just using Equifax
  Cheers!
  Dave
• I've had one reply about callcredit - they had no searches whatsoever on the report. That is all I know about them, sorry.
• Howdy :-)
  Nope, ive had the barclaycard for 6years so unsure where they conduct credit searches, all i know is they use experian for address details etc. Lets hope that they dont, i'd love to have a definitive proven list of which company uses which company to do searches! :-)
• equifax:
  three
  royal bank of scotland
  telewest
• I have three to add to the list.
  BARCLAYCARD Check new appliactions with Equifax, and report payment history to both agencies.
  TEXACO Check new applications with Experian.
  TESCO check with Equifax, but is connected to the Royal Bank of Scotland, so if you have bad history from them it may show up regardless.
  I always advise that BEFORE you apply for credit, get both your credit files from the agencies to check. Sometimes one agency does not report from certain companies, so if you know who to apply for credit from and who they use, it may increase your chances of acceptance.
  Some people dont always want to give a list of all the addresses they may have lived at in the last 6 years, if thats the case with you, write a credit file application along with the words "I am Mr. X, live at X, My D.O.B. is X/X/X Please supply me with my credit file information along with any linked addresses you may have on file"
  If anyone knows anything i'm missing, or incorrect information, please follow up.
• https://www.equifax.co.uk/news/eq013.htm
  There seems to be a bit of confusion about Barclaycard / Barclays searches. Read the above link and that should clear it up, but in summary,
  BARCLAYCARD check new apps with Equifax
  BARCLAYS are are a seperate company. Checking unknown.
• One more -
  Marbles Check with EXPERIAN - seems to contradict the original post, so treat with caution, they may use either agency.
• Anybody know who Sainsburys CC are using?
• Sainsburys don't use Equifax. Their card is Halifax/Bank of Scotland (HBOS). Experian is their prefered credit reference agency.
  J_B.
• One of these two Credit Reference Agencies has their call centre in Eire. Has anyone any idea which one?
  Personal details are of great value to crooks never mind terrorists. I like to think that any personal information I have is being held in the UK and dealt with solely by UK citizens who can be held accountable under UK law.
  Any thoughts, readers?
  James
• I have a feeling that it's Equifax (having spoken to them over the phone recently).
  Can't confirm the location though so don't know whether it's nothern or southern.
  They did have nice accents though.
• My report from Experian shows up:
  Barclaycard - search+payment status (new application)
  Barclays bank plc
  Citibank International
  Nationwide Current account
  Nationwide credit card
  I have been previously refused credit cards by Halifax and Lombard Direct, but their searches dont appear here. Probably they might then be using Equifax.
• Hi people - first post - ;D
  My problem with experian and equifax is quite simply frustrating! AAAAAAH!
  My address is formatted differently on experians database (theve put my flat number as the building number) than on equifax's and all the automated systems when you apply online. So it doesnt show up with these companys that im on the electoral role unless the company is using equifax! I applied for a halifax one card using the wrong address - knowing that they use experian and i got one straight away even though ive had real problems getting credit!
  I have contacted experian and they say they are right and everyone else is wrong! can you believe it! My local councils electoral role department agree with me and equifax but experian wont budge!
  im so cross!
• Off topic a little....but related to the companies.
  Was wondering,...on the experian web site you may obtain a paper based postal quarterly credit report for Ј8, and monthly for Ј20 - both for a year.
  Curious if this is detailed on the credit report itself each time it is produced like it does when you buy the one-off Ј2.00 paper postal version!?
  Also, With equifax...anyone noticed if on their website they offer the same quarterly/monthly service? ! If so and it is located.....please detail where please and let this post know as I could not locate it personally...
  Cheers.....Lopo!