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  • All About Credit Reference Agencies & CIFAS

    [COLOR=#000000][SIZE=5]credit reference agencies[/SIZE][/COLOR][SIZE=5]
    [/SIZE]
    There are a lot of stories going round about Credit Reference Agencies (CRA's) and what data they [B]can[/B] hold and how long they can hold it for. The CRA's are actually governed by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) meaning they choose not to make decisions; they simply hide behind the ICO - especially when things go wrong. So, time for a new thread where we can all discuss the CRA's and share thoughts and experiences regarding data and the usage of such data.

    To start with, the info below will give the factual version of rules - the ones set out by the ICO. These should be referred to in any argument you may have with either the CRA or a lender.

    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Searches:[/B][/COLOR]
    Whenever you apply for credit a search is performed against you and will contain the date of search, the searchers name and the type of search. If it is a credit search then it will show either credit card/loan/store card etc. If, however, it is not a credit search but a comparison search for say car insurance, this will be registered as an unrecorded entry which means only you (and the CRA) can see this data - lenders cannot.

    The suggested amount of searches per year is around 6 but lenders tend to be a little flexible and so long as you have 10 or less searches performed against you (excluding unrecorded entries) in the last 12 months then you should be alright. Lenders usually look back 6 months, 4 or 5 searches is considered acceptable with too many being a high risk (suggests you are keen to get into debt, i.e. are you skint or something?).
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    Searches stay on your credit file for a period of 1 year with the exclusion of Call Credit who retain it for 2 years.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Traces:[/B][/COLOR]
    Unlike searches, a trace is performed by a tracing agent, sometimes referred to as a debt search. These are performed randomly by a Debt Collection Agency (DCA) and will show a date of search/trace and their name. Usually you will find one of these if you have a popular surname or have run-away from debt in the past. Incorrect searches/traces can be removed easily enough by writing to the CRA direct.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    Trace Searches stay on your credit file for a period of 2 years but can be appealed and removed if it is proven not to be you they are looking for.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Electoral Register:[/B][/COLOR]
    Lenders check the electoral register for all credit based facilities. If you do not complete the proxy form that your local council sends out (usually Aug/Sep time) then you will not appear on the register which in turn will have a major impact on your ability to obtain credit. Being on it shows stability and confirms your identity - something all credit scorecards require before granting a facility.

    To get added to the register, you can apply to the rolling register which will add you at the next monthly update. [URL="http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/"][B]Click here[/B][/URL] for full details and to get registered.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    Electoral data remains on your file indefinitely and will contain all previous addresses that are declared to the council and/or the CRA's.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Public Data:[/B][/COLOR]
    Public data, such as Bankruptcies/CCJ's/IVA's etc will remain on your credit file for a period of 6 years from the date of registration and can be seen publicly, by anyone, unlike the rest of your credit file. Having Public Data on your credit file will have a major impact on your ability to obtain credit, regardless of whether it has been settled or not.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    The data will remain on your file for a period of 6 years from judgement unless directed otherwise by the court that dealt with the case.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Linked Addresses:[/B][/COLOR]
    Lots of rumours about linked addresses keep flying around the forum, the truth of the matter is that there is no clear guidance for the period of retaining a linked address although 8 years seems to be the 'norm'.

    The ICO stipulate that [size=5]"A linked address may stay on your credit file as long as this information is relevant for credit referencing purposes." However, this was changed recently because it used to say "A linked address may be created when an account moves between addresses, such as when you move house, or when a lender checks your records at your previous address, or if you tell a credit reference agency about a previous or forwarding address. A linked address may stay on your credit file for 6 years after the link has been created."

    So, to sum up, a linked address will be created when an account moves between addresses (such as when you move house); when a lender checks your records at your previous address or if you tell a CRA about a previous or forwarding address.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    The link will remain for a period of 6 years but no longer than 8 years. Each specific case is looked at by the CRA's between the 6 - 8 year period.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Credit Information:[/B][/COLOR]
    This is data pertaining to live or closed accounts that you may currently have or previously had. The data consists of green [[COLOR=#008000]0[/COLOR]]'s when you pay on time, factors which improve your credit score. The more green [[COLOR=#008000]0[/COLOR]]'s you have the better chance of being accepted for a new account. If you have late payments then the marker will increase and show as follows [[COLOR=#ff8000]1[/COLOR]]; [[COLOR=#ff8000]2[/COLOR]]; [[COLOR=#ff0000]3[/COLOR]]; leading to [[COLOR=#ff0000]D[/COLOR]] (default) or [size=5] (settled). A [U] means it is a new account or unrecorded, i.e. the lender doesn't update the record or the account is dormant (sometimes shows as Zzzz).
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    All data is retained for a period of 6 years except in the case of a live account in which case the data will remain for 6 years from the date you closed the account. Meaning if you have had the account 10 years then close it, the data will show for a total of 16 years on your credit record.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Adverse Information:[/B][/COLOR]
    This includes; Defaulted accounts and arrangements to pay and both are extremely derogatory and will affect your ability to obtain any credit, regardless of status (i.e. settled/outstanding).

    Paying a default or leaving it outstanding makes no difference. A default is a default and if you have one on your credit file then applying for credit can be a waste of time.

    An arrangement to pay is just that, whereby you and a lender have agreed an amount of repayment suitable to both parties, usually less than the agreed amount within the credit agreement - although frowned upon by lenders, it does show that you're trying.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    The data will remain on your credit file for a period of 6 years from the date of default or if statute barred (see here for details), then 6 years from the date of last payment/acknowledgement of the account.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]Gone Away Information Network (GAIN):[/B][/COLOR]
    This data can only be viewed by other participants of GAIN (i.e. other lenders). GAIN works by the lender telling the CRA's that their customer has moved without notifying them of the new address.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    GAIN stays on your credit file for a period of 6 years.[/LIST]
    [COLOR=#ff8000][B]C.I.F.A.S:[/B][/COLOR]
    This is a system that records elements of fraud and is primarily used by lenders, insurers and/or employers ultimately to prevent fraud taking place. There are different CIFAS markers, each having its own unique affect on your credit file. For instance a Cat '0' is classed as [B][URL="http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=565-85"]Protective Registration[/URL][/B] and would have no effect (it was requested by you). A Cat 4 (application fraud) entry would be classed as adverse in the eyes of other lenders.

    CIFAS data can be either stored on your credit file or be 'hidden from view' in which case you have to send in a [B][URL="http://forums.all-about-debt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1862&postcount=16"]SAR Request[/URL][/B], with £10, to CIFAS in order to view the data. [B][URL="http://www.cifas.org.uk/default.asp?edit_id=564-28"]Click here[/URL][/B] for additional details such as case studies and to see the CIFAS website.
    [LIST][*][B]How long does the data remain?[/B]
    CIFAS usually remains for 13 months from date of registration and can only be removed by the lender; or by the CRA after the 13 month period has elapsed if the lender authorised it. However, the marker can remain indefinitely if the lender that registered the marker believes fraud is still continuing. The lender can also extend a CIFAS marker at any time.[/LIST]
    Last edited by Never-In-Doubt; 7 June 2014, 14:15. Reason: updated with completions
    I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

    If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

  • #2
    Credit Reference Agency Addresses

    [FONT=Verdana][COLOR=#ff8000][SIZE=5][CENTER]Credit Reference Agency Addresses[/CENTER]
    [/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Verdana]
    [B]How to obtain your credit file:[/B][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]
    You have the right to write to any of the credit reference agencies and ask for a copy of your credit reference file, which will cost you £2. Alternatively you may see your statutory report online, for the same £2 fee (see links below each CRA).

    To apply by post, your letter should include:[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]
    [/FONT] [LIST][*][FONT=Verdana]your full name -also any other names you have been known by e.g. your maiden name;[/FONT][*][FONT=Verdana]your full address including postcode;[/FONT][*][FONT=Verdana]any addresses where you have lived over the past six years;[/FONT][*][FONT=Verdana]your date of birth; and[/FONT][*][FONT=Verdana]a cheque or postal order for £2 made payable to the credit reference agency.[/FONT][/LIST]
    [FONT=Verdana]You should keep a copy of your letter and you may want to send it by recorded delivery. The credit reference agency has 7 working days to send you your file after receiving your letter and fee. Sometimes the credit reference agencies need more information from you before they can send you your file. For example, they may need proof of your name and address from a utility bill or bank statement. This is important to make sure that no one else gets your file by mistake or to check that no one else has fraudulently applied for your credit reference file. The agencies do not have to send you your file until they get this information.

    [B]The addresses of the credit reference agencies are:[/B][/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana]
    [/FONT][INDENT][FONT=Verdana][B]Experian Ltd[/B]
    Customer Support Centre
    PO Box 8000
    Nottingham
    NG80 7WF[/FONT][INDENT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][B][COLOR=#ff8000]
    --->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html"]Access your £2 statutory report (postal) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html"]Access your £2 statutory report (online) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="https://www.creditexpert.co.uk/order1_1.aspx?sc=410032&bcd=UKMApmid0710B&mboxSession=1283395110494-143914&areaid=22&pkgid=UKMON&SiteID=100002&SiteVersionID=487"]Access your online instant report here[/URL][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana]
    [/FONT] [/INDENT]
    [FONT=Verdana][B]
    Equifax Plc[/B]
    Credit File Advice Centre
    PO Box 1140
    Bradford
    BD1 5US[/FONT][INDENT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][B][COLOR=#ff8000]
    --->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html"]Access your £2 statutory report (postal) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/consumer/uk/order.ehtml?prod_cd=UKSCR"]Access your £2 statutory report (online) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/credit-report.html"]Access your online instant report here[/URL][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana]
    [/FONT] [/INDENT]
    [FONT=Verdana][B]
    Call Credit Plc[/B]
    Consumer Services Team
    PO Box 491
    Leeds
    LS3 1WZ[/FONT][INDENT][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=1][B][COLOR=#ff8000]
    --->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="http://www.callcredit.co.uk/files/creditfile-app.pdf"]Access your £2 statutory report (postal) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="https://www.callcredit.co.uk/stat-report-online/index.php?action=basket_add&tpl=setRegister&package=63&amount=1&mode=clear"]Access your £2 statutory report (online) here[/URL]
    [B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [URL="https://www.callcreditcheck.com/index.php?mod=intro&act=link&fld=ServiceName&key=1&"]Access your online instant report here[/URL][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana]
    [/FONT] [/INDENT]
    [/INDENT]
    [FONT=Verdana][B]
    * Important Note: [/B] If you decide to see your "free" instant report you must cancel within the specified times otherwise it is not free, but rather very expensive so make sure you do not forget to diary 30 days, then get the thing cancelled![/FONT]
    Last edited by Never-In-Doubt; 26 January 2011, 04:29.
    I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

    If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

    Comment


    • #3
      CIFAS Categories

      [COLOR=#ff8000][SIZE=5][CENTER]CIFAS Categories[/CENTER]
      [/SIZE][/COLOR]
      The CIFAS categories are as follows:[INDENT]
      0 [B]Protective Registration[/B]
      Recorded at request of the person named or to protect the identity of a deceased person

      1 [B]False Identity Fraud[/B]
      Use of a false name with an address

      2 [B]Victim of Impersonation[/B]
      Use, by another person, of this name and/or address

      3 [B]Application Fraud (Facility Granted)[/B]
      An application/proposal for any facility with one or more material falsehoods in the information provided - the facility was granted

      4 [B]Application Fraud (Facility Refused)[/B]
      An application/proposal for any facility with one or more material falsehoods in the information provided - the facility was refused

      5 [B]Conversion[/B]
      Conversion (disposal or sale) of goods (to which the hirer/buyer does not have title) under a hire-purchase, conditional sale, contract hire, leasing or rental agreement

      6 [B]First Party Fraud[/B]
      Opening an account or other facility for a fraudulent purpose, or the fraudulent misuse of an account or facility

      7 [B]Aiding & Abetting[/B]
      Aiding, abetting or assisting, or conspiring with, another or others to fraudulently procure credit, hire or other facilities, or other product or service

      8 [B]Insurance Claims Fraud[/B]
      The making of a claim(s) under one or more insurance policy(ies) with one or more material falsehoods or by presenting a false or forged document.
      [/INDENT]

      Where a CIFAS record is marked with a category '0' this means the entry on the database has been made at the request of the person named. In the majority of cases, the person has been a victim of a crime such as burglary or mugging and has had personal documentation, which could be used to fraudulently open an account, stolen from them.

      The other categories describe different types of fraudulent activity. Particular attention should be paid to category 2. This category covers the 'victims of impersonation'. Their details appear on the database for their own protection. The information does not mean these individuals have committed frauds.

      Category 6 covers a variety of situations. For example, someone who deliberately reports their credit card as stolen, when it has not been stolen and they are continuing to use it would be covered by this category. The same would apply to someone who reported they have not received some goods by mail order, when the goods had been delivered and the individual was using them.
      Last edited by Never-In-Doubt; 26 January 2011, 04:29.
      I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

      If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

      Comment


      • #4
        National Hunter Database

        [COLOR=#ff8000][SIZE=5][CENTER]National Hunter Database[/CENTER]
        [/SIZE][/COLOR]
        It does not publicise its phone number or give an address beyond a PO box number belonging to a small office on a run-down street in Stoke-on-Trent. Its name is unknown to the public. Yet it carries out around 100,000 credit checks every day, probing applications ranging from mortgages to car loans and store cards.

        Ask a bank or finance company why you've been rejected, and you will probably be told to contact one, or all, of the credit reference agencies - Callcredit, Equifax, and Experian - to see what they have on you. Send them £2 and you'll get a copy of your file by return. there's a fourth agency, called "National Hunter", whose approval - or otherwise - can make or break an application. But, unlike the others, you won't find out the information it holds on you for £2, or be invited to apply online to check your data. Instead, National Hunter charges £10, the maximum allowed under the Data Protection Act.

        Last year, 5m applications for credit were turned down across the industry, but how many were as a result of National Hunter is unknown. And, until now, the organisation's extremely low profile has meant that few individuals rejected for credit will have thought to check with National Hunter. It was set up by a group of banks in 1993, but is now co-owned by 60 banks, building societies and specialist lenders. Its official headquarters are in Stoke-on-Trent though little of what it does takes place in the building. Although it's owned by the banks, National Hunter is managed and operated on a day-to-day basis by Experian, the giant of the credit agencies, based in Nottingham.

        It does not assess creditworthiness in the same way as the other agencies - its sole purpose is fraud prevention. It is one of the most important weapons used by lenders in the continuing battle against financial crime. National Hunter will warn a lender if its checks suggest that an application is "suspect". In turn, the lender's computer may then turn down an application, without informing the applicant precisely why, or which database was checked. The vast majority of its rejections are likely to be for entirely legitimate reasons.

        But quite how many files National Hunter holds on individuals is unknown. And what if the "suspect indication" arises because of human or computer error - or because you presented the lender with facts that it cannot easily check?

        "Suspect" or "inconsistent" facts, which may cause applications to be flagged as fraud risks, can include:
        [INDENT]· Change of employer over a short period;
        · Differences in spelling of a surname, initial, or date of birth;
        · Change in driving licence number or a variation in other identification documentation;
        · The same mobile phone number from more than one applicant;
        · A substantial change in stated salary over a short period;
        · Income which is difficult or impossible to verify;
        · Applicants using details that are apparently from a deceased person.
        [/INDENT]

        Barclaycard is a major user of National Hunter. "Every night, we send it almost all our card applications. Next morning, its computers send them back, either with OK or showing a potential fraud," a spokesperson says. "If it's the latter, then we might decide to contact the applicant, although that may depend on other factors." Mortgage lenders tend to use the standard Experian and Equifax systems first, then decide whether to lend. Only then do they contact National Hunter to check it is not potentially dishonest.

        But while the system weeds out many possibly fraudulent applications, legitimate applicants could fall foul of a check for innocent reasons - you might have had a big salary increase, or simply handed over an old mobile to a member of your family. According to a recent National Hunter presentation, to be "inconsistent" there has to be "a clear discrepancy between information provided by the consumer and information found, or not able to be found or verified elsewhere". So the information you provide could be true, but it will be treated as potentially fraudulent if National Hunter cannot find enough information to check what you say. But if you question the rejection, banks will generally send a standard letter pointing you to one or more of the three credit agencies.

        You won't be told about National Hunter - although you have a right under the Data Protection Act to demand a "subject access request" requiring a company to reveal what it holds on you. The difficulty is, very few know about National Hunter's existence, let alone what it does.

        Members (lenders) are required to include certain key elements within the declaration/fair processing notices section of their application forms. The wording should indicate that applicants can find out which fraud prevention agencies are used and the method by which they can find this out. The members must ensure that this information is made readily available to the applicant and preferably by means of a dedicated telephone contact number. If you ask your bank, it has to tell you about our existence.

        Banks should not turn someone down simply on the basis of one of its alerts - the rules say members can't make automated decisions, National Hunter themselves said that they would be concerned if banks did that. The information commissioner, responsible for data protection issues, has expressed "strong views" on rejecting applications on fraud suspicion grounds alone, realising that no database is 100% foolproof.

        Firms involved with fighting fraud recognise there is a clash between those who believe visibility harms fraud prevention and those who believe better knowledge of what can happen to a false application is a deterrent to potential fraudsters.

        To see what National Hunter holds about you - Send an [B][URL="http://forums.all-about-debt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1863&postcount=17"]Advanced SAR[/URL][/B] along with £10 (statutory fee) to the following address:
        [INDENT]N Hunter Limited
        PO Box 2756
        Stoke-on-Trent
        ST6 9AQ

        [/INDENT][INDENT][INDENT][B][COLOR=#ff8000]--->[/COLOR][/B] [B][URL="http://www.nhunter.co.uk/"]National Hunter Website[/URL][/B][/INDENT]
        [/INDENT]
        Last edited by Never-In-Doubt; 26 January 2011, 04:33.
        I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

        If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

        Comment

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