A question about : How to obtain credit reports
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Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs) have a statutory obligation to provide you with your credit file and charge no more than Ј2. These reports are paper based and will be posted to you.
You can apply online for your reports from the two leading CRAs using the following links:
https://www.wiseconsumer.uk.experian.com
https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/...erletter.ehtml
Alternatively, CRAs also offer online reports and other products for a charge. In my opinion only the reports are valuable, additional services like credit ratings are expensive and are of little use to most people. As they say though, your mileage may vary.
Both Equifax and Experian offer a 30 day free trial of their online subscription services, you can apply online via these links.
https://www.creditexpert.co.uk/UK/Order1_1.aspx
https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/...999_ANNUAL_TRL
If at the end of thirty days you do not wish to continue with the subscription you should contact the CRA and cancel, if you fail to do so you will be charged the annual fee (approx Ј60). These services are expensive but they not only offer you the valuable information contained in your credit reports, they also offer a means to combat identity theft and fraud.
Hope this helps.
Best answers:
- Hi Glastonian
Apparently there is a service that offers you your credit information from the 3 CRA's simultaneously for approx Ј70 and with an initial free trial period. Do you know what this service is and who the third CRA is? - The third CRA is Call Credit (https://www.callcredit.com) who offer an annual subscription service for Ј29.99 (https://www.mycallcredit.com/home.asp) but no "try before you buy" option.
In my experience CallCredit hold very little info. My report had no searches and all accounts that were listed appeared on both Equifax and Experian too.
I think the service you refer to is Check My File (https://www.checkmyfile.com) and they do offer a service to monitor all three agencies for Ј69.99 but, if I am correct, they only actually obtain quarterly reports and provide some analysis of them (i.e. data you could get yourself for Ј2 x 3 x 4 = Ј24). The other services allow you to obtain a new report every day and will send alerts if new searches are made, new accouts opened etc.. They do offer a one month trial but I have not used their service so cannot say if it is worthwhile, if anyone else wants to post a review please feel free.
Also note that because this is a third party service there is a full credit search carried out to obtain the information from each agency each quarter - if you are concerned about the number of searches on your files you might want to avoid this. - I don't understand this - I thought Call Credit were the new big third credit reference agency - at least that's what I understood from listening to BBC Radio 4's 'Money Box' the other weekend:
https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ox/4321713.stm
But when I look at their website:
https://www.callcredit.plc.uk/
I can't find anything about the statutory Ј2 report. Does anyone know how you can get this from them? Presumably they have to provide it?
If so, they seem to be doing a pretty good job of hiding it but promoting their own 'added value' (a.k.a. expensive!) reports on their site, which is something both Experian and Equifax have been criticised for in the past.
I'm not desparate to know this info, I just want to make sure whatever these people are holding about me is correct - I seem to have quite a good record but I want to keep it that way!
Any help much appreciated.
Pete. - Here's the link
https://www.callcredit.plc.uk/corpora...editreport.asp
It was under consumer services, "my callcredit", "Alternatively, if you would like to receive a copy of your statutory creditfile by post, please click here" - Thanks for the speedy response
I'd just found it actually by googling for 'Call Credit statutory report'. But they do a pretty good job of hiding it - I do think the OfT/Information Commissioner should look into that one.
And a shame they don't do it online of course, I hardly ever write letters! - Thanks for pointing this out, it wasn't an error, it is simply that the links keep getting moved around. Please bear this in mind and read all agreements before signing up to them.
Galstonian
I think Gal meant to provide the following link for Equifax rather than the one detailed in the initial post which links to the Ј8.25 priced online version. The below link is simply an order form for the statutory paper based posted out to you version which is a more humble Ј2.00 !https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/...erletter.ehtml
Be wary when using any of the Credit Agency sites as they will constantly lead you astray into buying their products which cost more when you can get the same info you need for the Ј2.00 sum. Be sure your paying for the Ј2.00 version if that is simply what you are after... - I've posted this elsewhere but now think it should really be here.
https://business.timesonline.co.uk/se...,18669,00.html
Hope it's useful - Has anyone else had problems ordering a statury credit report on Experian's website? I've tried a few times, but every time I get a message saying there has been an error and my card has not been charged.
- I ran one the other day and it worked fine - maybe a problem at their end (or your card's no good )
- Maybe it's because it's a Solo card. Which is quite ironic if you think about it - I can't find out why I can't get a credit card, because I don't have a credit card.
- From memory I think it said to put an X in the issue number box for Solo cards. I'll give it another try, maybe they've fixed the problem now. Obviously I could just use the paper form but that means queuing at the post office for a postal order. I tried reporting the problem through the website but that didn't work either.
- Well just tried again and got the same message as before, so looks like I'll have to do it the old fashioned way.
- don't worry Freddie, Equifax are just being very cunning, if you scroll down through this page
https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/...rning_credit14
you'll see a section called By Post: That's the way to get a paper copy of your report for Ј2
Tondella! - In vouchers section you can find a voucher for credit rating/report which brings down the cost from Ј12.95 to Ј6.25 (full report)
HTH - Does the amount of times you apply for a credit card affect your future credit scoring? (Even if you are accepted and always pay off your balance)
- Yes. Lenders will do a credit search before deciding whether to lend to you. This search shows up. If you have lots of searches in a short period it makes you look desperate and lenders become wary.
Have a read about credit scoring by clicking on the "Credit Rating" link in the blue box above. - Can anybody help me i am trying to cancel experian credit report and cannot find how or where to do it.
thanks jean
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