Anyone heard of Credit Expert?

[The Hitman]

Hi guys, I've been meaning to check my credit rating for a little while but just haven't got round to it but recently I received a email from Credit Expert which is apparently a part of Experian. It's also UK based...any of you guys heard of it and is it safe to trust them with my details?

[andy_quantum]

You can do a direct online report with Equifax, and I think Experian are the same

Dont know about Credit Expert (*edited), they sound like a broker/reseller who'll do the same thing as what you can direct.

Basic report doesnt cost much and can be run instantly online

Edited by andy_quantum on Monday 24th September 21:13

[bimsb6]

yes i have used them ,bit of a waste of time really unless you are concerned about your rating .just remember to cancel your account before the 30 days .

[mr motor]

Experian is the company which compile most credit reports. Do a search on Google or click on this link http://www.experian.co.uk/

Incidentally, the cost for a credit report is £2

It's quite interesting reading, displaying time of ownership of card, late, and missed payments, together with most of your credit cards, your credit card limits and current balances plus any hire purchases and info on late or missed payments.

Also shows stuff about your current and previous addresses and linked names - Sometimes you may wish to disassociate yourself from other members in the same household!

[Boosted LS1]

Yes and you probably have to give them even more of your data to get a report. It's one great big dodgy database that isn't anywhere as secure as you'd think!

[Scraggles]

google

CreditExpert at Experian
www.experian.co.uk/creditreport

guess it is ok, nice things these search engines, so simple anyone can use them

[stara]

i have used for the last 5 yrs and still do use creditexpert, you can see your entire credit history, you can get you current credit score, and you will get alerts mailed to you if anything changes on your file (such as credit applied for in your name), although the only alerts i ever get is when previous credit has expired (credit stays on your file after settlement for 6yrs iirc).

[tigger1]

Credit Expert is the consumer credit product of Experian, who are based in Nottingham and for a while they paid by bills. If you want to use the free trial, make sure you un-subscribe to it in good time to avoid having to pay fees. Other credit refernce agencies are available etc etc

Boosted - I have a lot of faith in the data protection standards in place at Experian, but I'm a little more dubious about what some of the people they supply data to (legally, contractually), and what they do with it. For one, I know for a fact that at least one company that uses Experian data has re-sold it without permission (to another credit reference agency) - as there have been times when Experian planted false info into dummy reports to check for this.

[Boosted LS1]

tigger1 said:

Boosted - I have a lot of faith in the data protection standards in place at Experian, but I'm a little more dubious about what some of the people they supply data to (legally, contractually), and what they do with it. For one, I know for a fact that at least one company that uses Experian data has re-sold it without permission (to another credit reference agency) - as there have been times when Experian planted false info into dummy reports to check for this.

Yep, that's exactly what happens on a regular basis. A guy at the bank or building society will request a full credit status report and sell the info onto third parties. Nobody ever knows who made the request and the subject doesn't know it was ever done.

Boosted.

[NobleGuy]

bimsb6 said:

yes i have used them ,bit of a waste of time really unless you are concerned about your rating .just remember to cancel your account before the 30 days .

Yes and yes again. They're OK and the report seemed to me to be accurate.

[JustinP1]

I have had services from Equifax and Experian (Credit Expert) in order to sort some issues, there is an important point about data accuracy.

Both Equifax and Experian very accurately represent the data they are given...

...however, if there is something which doesnt ring true it is because the data they have been given by the company you have had credit with is incorrect.

Both credit reference agencies will sell you a report where they advertise they can change incorrect data. This probably wont happen. Due to their contractual obligations to the companies they are not allowed to change or remove the data. So, in effect you will still have to do the chasing yourself, despite what is advertised.

With Equifax if the company involved does not get back to them confirming the data on your account is correct in 30 days, if you ask them they will remove it.

However, with Experian their system is even though you can in effect pay them to chase up the company with the false data about you, if they company does not reply or they give a one word answer that the information is correct, then according to them they have done their job.

Indeed, one argument I had with Experian was that despite paying my money to them and explaining that data that a bank had given them was false they would not change it. They contacted the bank and didnt get a reply. According to Experian, this is all legal, and nothing I can do if the bank doesnt reply.

I waited two years and still the bank did not reply and Experian did not remove the data, so I took the bank to court and they only backed down after they received the summons.

My advice is to spend £2 on the 'statutory report' which is a paper copy. Then chase up anything directly with the companies you had credit with. The credit reference agencies get paid by the banks indirectly and the more 'adverse' information there is out there the more people would be spending. It will never be in their interest to do it for you...

[djohnson]

I've used credit expert for a while to keep a track of my credit history to prevent identity theft. No problems at all with them.

[JustinP1]

djohnson said:

I've used credit expert for a while to keep a track of my credit history to prevent identity theft. No problems at all with them.

I agree, the actual service to give you an up to the minute view of what your credit report says is excellent.

The problems start when you want to correct any inaccurate data... All Experian do is pass on your comments to the credit company, and you are better doing that yourself as at least you can get to see their reply!

[tigger1]

JustinP1 said:

djohnson said:

I've used credit expert for a while to keep a track of my credit history to prevent identity theft. No problems at all with them.

I agree, the actual service to give you an up to the minute view of what your credit report says is excellent.

The problems start when you want to correct any inaccurate data... All Experian do is pass on your comments to the credit company, and you are better doing that yourself as at least you can get to see their reply!