Mortgage Glossary: Credit Reference Agency

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.

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 (details are below.) You can order your credit file from the two 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
Consumer Help Service
P.O. Box 8000
Nottingham NG1 5GX
http://www.experian.co.uk
0870 241 6212

Equifax plc
Consumer Affairs Department
Spectrum House
1A North Avenue
Clydebank
Glasgow G81 2DR
http://www.equifax.co.uk
0870 514 3700

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

Mortgage Glossary

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