CreditCards Blog

First of all, my apologies as I'm not sure if this is the correct forum or not. I'm posting here because the post concerns Equifax and Experian...

Yesterday I tried to apply for a second current account from First Direct. No problem you'd think - except they did a credit check and saw 'something dodgy' in my equifax report from the last six months.

This has got be baffled. Only three weeks ago I got an American Express card no problem, with a 6.5K limit! I'm not behind on any payments (to the best of my knowledge anyway!)

I've never had a credit card or bank account opening request refused before. My question is... I recall the First Direct rep mentioning Equifax - i'd like to get the report, but Equifax is 11.95 !!! compared to Experian which is 2 ! Would the 'dodgy' thing on my file show up in both Equifax and Experian?

PS: Whats the difference between the 'free' experian report and the one which they charge you for?

Thanks in advance.

1. Are you sure FirstDirect used Equifax? I've heard they check Experian

2. How do you know there is 'something dodgy' on your credit file?

3. How well have you behaved with your current Frist Direct account? Have you incurred charges etc?

1. Are you sure FirstDirect used Equifax? I've heard they check Experian

2. How do you know there is 'something dodgy' on your credit file?

3. How well have you behaved with your current Frist Direct account? Have you incurred charges etc?


Nope, no charges. I have saving accounts/current acc/ISA with First Direct worth close to 50K (yes I'm well aware of the 50k limit for protection given the current financial woes :money:). I am only going by the info FD gave me - she said theres something 'bad' on my credit file from Equifax (!!??) so she cant proceed with my current account application.

I'll call FD again just to make sure its equifax.

To repeat my original question - whats the diff between the free and 2 reports from Experian? Do Equifax and Experian hold the same data?

they both offer 2 reports in the mail or you can go to their respective websites, sign up for a free trial offering you unlimited accesss to your credit reports and then cancel once you're done. equifax.co.uk and creditexpert.co.uk

I guess you may be surprised by what you find on your credit reports.

Thanks for the info. I can see the 2 and free options for Experian, but can only see 11.95 + other more expensive options for Equifax? Can you pls post the link to the free report on Equifax? Thanks.

This should help you with the report your after

https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/consumer/uk/gb_consumerletter.ehtml

Heres the order form to get the 2 Equifax Credit report via post:

https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/consumer/uk/uib/images/EFX_UK/en_GB/your%20equifax%20credit%20file%2012-07.pdf

They really bury the fact that by law they are required to give a 2 credit report. It took me about 10 mins hunting round their website, going via the customer services link and then linking into products, but I found it. You used to be able to fill out an online form but I cant find that any more (although it never seemed to like my address and had to request one by post).

just found the link to order the 2 report via electronic means, although its still posted out to you ... its buried deep within http://www.myequifax.co.uk

https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/consumer/uk/sitepage.ehtml;jsessionid=d9fd1911c59a7d7ec8a64116 59c31:YYWf?forward=gb_elearning_credit14

Thanks to the helpful rep at First Direct for pointing that out :)