Why You Need Your Credit Report....
Checking that your credit file is accurate and up to date, is only one of the reasons why you need to have regular access to your credit report.
Identity fraud is a huge industry right now, and if you fall prey to having your identity stolen, it can cost you thousands of pounds to put it all back right. In 2005, Which? Magazine reported that 1 in 4 of us had either been a victim of identity fraud or knew someone who had been. Fortunately, most incidents of identity fraud are spotted and prevented but it is a sad fact that it takes a victim an average of 18 months to discover the fraud and several more months to sort out the chaos a fraudster leaves behind.
You can now get access to your credit file online. This offers you a convenient way to find out who has been viewing your credit file. If it shows that searches have been carried out on your credit file, and you have not recently applied for any credit, you need to find out why the searches were run. Being aware of fraudulant activity on your credit file can save you a lot of trouble and expense.
Another reason for checking your credit file is if you have recently been declined credit and you are unsure as to why. You may pay all your bills on time, and meticulously repay your credit cards and loans each month, only to find that you are refused credit. Credit information is subject to human error and you may just be a victim of such an error. Having regular access to your credit file can help you identify any errors.
Where to get your Credit File
There are two main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK.
Experian
Consumer Help Service
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG1 5GX
Tel: 0870 241 6212
www.experian.co.uk
Equifax plc
Credit Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
Tel: 08705 143 700
www.equifax.co.uk
To get your credit file, you need to write to each Company with a cheque made out to them for £2. They will not allow you to order your file over the telephone, nor will they discuss it with you. You will need to provide your full name, your date of birth, your current address and any previous addresses over the past 6 years.
One thing to bear in mind is that Credit Reference Agencies associate you with other members of your family with the same surname and address. Your Credit Score could be affected by this. You may ask the Credit Reference Agency for a 'Disassociation.'
FREE! - When you apply for a loan quote.
Get your Experian credit report online and a 30-day trial of CreditExpert, the UK′s premier credit monitoring service. If you have ever had trouble in the past getting credit, then you need to see this...
- Your Experian Credit Report Online
- Weekly credit report monitoring alerts warns against fraudulent activity
- Online access to a credit expert
- Manage your credit
- Protect your identity against fraudulent use
- and much, much more.
or call us FREE on
0800 061 2197
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