Credit Reference Agency

A credit reference agency holds files on the borrowing records of nearly every adult in the UK. The information is collated from a variety of sources. The file may hold details of: people on the electoral register at your address(es); your credit agreements, including details of any late payments & defaults - this can be held for up to six years; court judgments and bankruptcy orders against you - these are also be held for six years; previous applications for credit; and people living at the same address as you, such as your family.

These agencies do no more than supply information to lenders. The lenders use the information as part of their credit scoring. If you'd like to have a look at your own files, contact the agencies. You can order your credit file from the main agencies over the internet and your file will be sent back to you within seven days When you receive a copy of your own credit record, if you spot information you think is incorrect, write back asking for the record to be amended.

The three main credit reference agencies:

Experian plc
The Sir John Peace Building
Experian Way
NG2 Business Park
Nottingham NG80 1ZZ
http://www.experian.co.uk
0344 481 0800

Equifax plc
Customer Service Centre
PO Box 10036
Leicester LE3 4FS
http://www.equifax.co.uk
0870 514 3700

Callcredit plc
One Park Lane
Leeds
West Yorkshire LS3 1WZ
http://www.callcredit.plc.uk
Helpline: 0870 060 1414

See also: Financial Services