How do I order my free credit report?
April 28, 2008
Ordering your free credit report is easy and simple. Click Here or on one of the banners to be transported directly to the Credit Expert site then simply fill in the short 4 step form and you’ll gain instant access to the Credit Expert service from Experian were you can view your complete credit report free for 30 days.
To obtain a copy of your credit report online you will need a valid credit or debit card this is to verify your identity only your card WILL NOT be charged unless you chose to order an optional credit score or wish to continue online access after the 30 day trial is up.
The Credit Expert service is provided by Experian the UK largest and number one credit reference agency used by all the major banks and financial institutions so you can be sure the information provided will be transmitted and treated with the highest security.
Is the Credit Expert service safe to use?
April 28, 2008
Yes the Credit Expert service is provided by Experian the UK’s largest and number one used credit reference agency, all the details you enter on the site are protected by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), a proven coding system that allows your browser to automatically encrypt or scramble data before it is sent. All your personal information resides on our secure servers where only our software decrypts and unscrambles it.
Quote From Experian
It is our priority to make sure information is kept secure. All the information we hold is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We screen our employees carefully and our premises are very secure. We constantly review how we can protect our information databases, and our reputation for maintaining privacy.
What should I do if there are errors on my credit report?
April 28, 2008
You have a statutory right under section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1975 to have errors corrected on your credit report.
To do this, if the error relates to payment history information, you will need to contact the lender directly. As every month, lenders report your payment history to the credit reference agencies lenders will then notify Experian of the changes for the next monthly update. There’s little point complaining to the credit reference agency, as the source of information is from your lender. If you are not happy with the lender’s response you can then lodge a Notice of Dispute with the credit reference agency. The information on your credit report is then marked as ‘disputed’ until the matter is resolved within a set 28 day period.
If you are still not happy with the outcome, which is unlikely, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner, and you can also pursue a claim for compensation for any loss, under rights you have under the Data Protection Act 1998.
If the Electoral Roll information is incorrect you will need to get written confirmation from the Electoral Registration Officer at your local council and forward copies of this to each of the three credit reference agencies.
For any queries regarding Court information (County Court Judgments, Decrees etc) you need to contact the Court concerned, quoting the case or plaint number.
Any insolvency queries should be addressed to the trustee or supervisor who originally dealt with the case. See www.insolvency.gov.uk for more details on insolvency.
Queries on fraud warnings should be directed to the company that lodged the warning on your report. Please also see www.cifas.org.uk for more details.
What information will be shown on my credit report?
April 28, 2008
When you sign up to Credit Expert you’ll recieve full acces to your experian credit report. This will contain the following information:
- Your payment history – usually shows credit card and store card accounts, loans, mobile phone accounts and some bank accounts which are reported about you every month to the credit reference agency – in some detail including lender names, how you have kept payments up over the last 4 years on each account, credit limits, balances, account start dates and much more
- Court actions (judgments and decrees) recorded against you over the last 6 years
Insolvencies (bankruptcies, sequestrations, trust deeds, individual voluntary arrangements and more) recorded against you over the last 6 years - Searches – lists those organisations that have looked at your credit report over the past 2 years
- Your Electoral Roll Information
- Financial Associations – displays third parties who you are known to be financially linked to you
- Fraud Warnings – identifies if any fraudulent attempts have been made to apply for credit from your address.
- Notice of Correction/Dispute – any recorded issues still showing on your credit report.
- Details of any addresses that are known to be linked to you
How can I improve my credit rating?
April 28, 2008
Avoid making late payments try to pay on time setting up direct debits can help you to avoid human errors in forgetting to pay a bill.
If you are declined frequently, your credit report will have tell-tale searches recorded, and no account information – lenders will assume that you have had trouble getting credit.
When you move house, contact your local Electoral Registration Officer to arrange to be put on the electoral roll right away.
Check your credit report for errors – regularly.
Remove anyone on your credit report who is not financially connected to you parents siblings or ex partners can sometimes be incorrectly linked to you and this can have a negative effect on you credit report if they have a poor financial history. Its your right to have anyone e.g. wife or current partner not financially linked to you removed from your file.
Don’t pay anyone who claims they can ‘repair’ your credit report, credit rating or claim to hide judgements. Most of the methods they use are unlawful, and can easily end up with a fraud warning on your credit report that you won’t be able to remove for a very long time.
Make sure your credit report is accurate with a 30 Day Free Trial of Credit Expert
Who else has seen my credit report?
April 28, 2008
Your credit report enables you to see who has viewed your credit information either for credit applications or otherwise. This is recorded in the credit applications and searches section of your credit report – searches are kept on report for 2 years and enables you to see who has viewed your credit information.
Applications for credit will be noted as a credit search footprint, other viewings of your credit report, such as when you apply for a job or a flat, noted as an enquiry footprint.
No one can view your credit file without your permission except the taxman, the DSS, the police or others with court approval.
Can access my credit report instantly online?
April 28, 2008
In most cases yes Credit Expert will ask for credit or debit card details in the final step of the application process as long as the information you fill out matches the card information name and address etc you will be granted instant access to you credit file.
In a small number of cases further checks may need to be carried out this can be inconvenient but is sometimes necessary due to the sensitive information that will be held on your credit file.
See your credit report online today with a 30 Day Free Trial of Credit Expert
How can I obtain regular credit reports?
April 28, 2008
When you register with Credit Expert - the credit monitoring service from Experian.
You gain unlimited online access to your credit reports as well as alerts by e-mail or SMS text to significant changes to information held about you for as long as you subscribe to the service.
A monthly membership fee is payable though if you wish to access your file after your 30-day free trial
Start your 30 Day Free Trial of Credit Expert
today
Can you tell me why I’ve been refused credit?
April 28, 2008
Unfortunately we are unable to answer this question. The organisation you applied to made this decision and different lenders base their decision on different factors. We are not told why you have been refused so you would have to ask the lender concerned.
It may be that the information on your credit report was taken into consideration but lenders do take other information into account, such as the information you provide on your application form. Credit industry guidelines encourage lenders to give clear explanations about their decisions to refuse credit and they should explain whether the decision resulted from information held on your credit report, as a result of credit scoring, or because of something else.
If you believe you were refused credit when you shouldn’t have been, you should check your file urgently to make it contains no errors or for signs that you have been a victim of Identity fraud.
See your credit report online today with a 30 Day Free Trial of Credit Expert
200 Percent Increase in Phishing Incidents During the First Quarter of 2008
April 28, 2008
APACS, the UK payments association, has published figures showing a 200 percent increase in the number of phishing attacks in the UK. During the period January to March 2008 there were 10,000 reported incidents a new record.
Phishing is the name given to false emails that claim to be from banks and other financial institutions but are actually sent to you by fraudsters. These emails typically tell you to click on a link that takes you to a fake website identical to what you would expect to see. You are usually then asked to verify or update your personal security information but, by doing so, you are actually giving your information to the fraudster who has created the fake website. The fraudster then uses the details to access your real online bank account and take your money.
Number of reported phishing incidents* targeted against UK banks and building societies Q1 2006 – Q1 2008
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Total |
|
|
2006 |
2,369 |
2,738 |
3,967 |
5,102 |
14,156 |
|
2007 |
3,394 |
3,830 |
8,931 |
9,642 |
25,797 |
|
2008 |
10,235 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
A typical phishing incident, involves thousands or even million’s of emails are sent out blindly by fraudsters, in the hope of trying to con unsuspecting people into clicking on a link that will send them to a fake website. The criminals’ objective is to fool people into thinking it is a genuine site so they will enter their online banking security information.
Sandra Quinn, director of communications at APACS, says:
“Although online banking fraud losses fell last year the fraudsters clearly aren’t giving up. Phishing scams are continuing to rise and they are becoming ever more sophisticated, which is why we want to remind people to remain wise to them. The advice is quite simple: just remember that your bank will never send you emails asking you to disclose PIN numbers, login details or complete passwords – if you receive an email of this nature you should delete it. If you think your details have been compromised you should contact your bank immediately.”
APACS research shows that although the number of people either deleting or taking no action when receiving a phishing email has increased from 75% in 2006 to 82% last year, there are still nearly one in five people who don’t follow these common sense precautions. Also, although 93% of people have anti-virus software on their PC, almost one in three people (29%) don’t have any anti-spyware software on their computer.
To avoid phishing scams, we advise you:
- Always be suspicious of unsolicited emails that claim to be from your bank; delete any phishing emails that you receive your bank will never send an email asking for sensitive account information.
- Never give your login details, PINs or passwords in full by email – banks will never request these in this way as email is not secure way to transmit account data online.
- Always access your internet bank account by typing your bank’s web address directly into the address bar on your web browser;
- Ensure that there is a locked padlock or unbroken key in the bottom right of your browser window when accessing your bank’s website. The beginning of the bank’s internet address will also change from ‘http’ to ‘https’ when a secure connection is made.
- Make sure PCs you use for any online transactions are equipped with up-to-date security and virus protection.
- Take extra care when using an internet cafe or public computer for online banking if possible avoid using a public network when making financial transactions online.
- Phishing emails can be reported directly to most banks via their website or to APACS at reports@banksafeonline.org.uk.