The Importance Of Your Credit Reference And How To Get It

How do lenders decide make their decisions No one has a given
the right to credit. Before giving credit lenders check whether
to them you are an acceptable risk and they all have different
ideas of what is acceptable. One of the decision factors is your
credit rating.

There is no such thing as the fabled lacklist and agencies do
not give an opinion about whether or not you should be given
credit. The lender decides this once they have looked at the
information they have gathered. Some lenders use a credit
scoring system which gives points to pieces of data such as age,
job, home ownership, and of course your credit record. Once
these points are totalled it gives a Credit Score which helps
the lender make their decision..If you have been shopping around
for credit then there will be a number of searches recorded on
your credit reference file. In some cases this may be sufficient
reason for lenders to refuse you any credit even though you may
have no intention of taking up all the offers. The best way to
avoid this is to compare companies by rates and quotations
without actually going through a full application with each one.

Lenders do not have to tell you why they refused you but should
give an idea such as - your credit record. If you think this
decision is wrong you should ask the lender how to get the
decision reviewed. This could be by providing additional
information such as showing that the debts shown as unpaid have
now been paid.

You are able toput a statement onto your credit file explaining
the situation and about your current and/or previous
circumstances. This entry will be included with your file in the
future and will be seen by lenders searching your file. How do I
obtain a copy of my credit reference file? It is very important
that the information held about you is correct and you have the
right to request a copy of your file under section 7 of the data
Protection Act 1998 to check this. The easiest way to order your
file is online (Equifax and Experian) or by telephone
(Experian), as long as you have either a credit card or debit
card in your own name. Alternatively you can write enclosing a
cheque for 2 (made payable to Callcredit, Equifax or Experian),
giving your full name, date of birth, current address and any
addresses you have had in the last six years (this helps the
agency to track all the information it has on you). If you run a
business, give its name and address as well, because separate
information could be held on you under your business. If you've
changed your name in the last six years, please provide those
details too. There are three credit reference agencies, each of
which may hold different information about you. You may find it
useful to obtain a copy of your file from each agency.

Callcredit PLC Consumer Services Team PO Box 491 Leeds LS3 1WZ
Helpline: 0870 060 1414 www.callcredit.plc.uk

Equifax PLC Credit File Advice Centre PO Box 1140 Bradford BD1
5US Tel: 08705 143700 www.equifax.co.uk

Experian Ltd Consumer Help Service PO Box 8000 NOTTINGHAM NG1
5GX Tel: 0870 241 6212 www.experian.co.uk

You should receive a copy of your file within seven working days

What can I do if I think my credit reference contains inaccurate
information?

Details of how to correct any mistakes will be sent with a copy
of your record. If you have any difficulty in either accessing
your file or making amendments, further assistance is available
from your local Trading Standards
Department.(www.tradingstandards.net)

The Office of the Data Protection Commisioner has responsibility
for credit reference agencies and produces a leaflet No Credit?
on how to consult your credit record and correct any mistakes.
You can order copies of it by phoning 0870 44 21 211.