Wow - this is all very interesting. Was the outstanding data on table 1 or 2? If its table 2 then, no one else can view it except you or your wife. Other European countries dont have the same way of processing data - i dont knwo why DCRs are allowed to keep our data the same way. Well - i have left it now as they have removed the search.

I am in complete agreement with you Allwood - CRAs should definetly be in sight of agreements between lenders and borrowers before allowing DCAs to use our information.

Hello Fergalthing, I am sorry to hear about your problems. By law if a credit reference agency contact a debt collectior and they have failed to respond to them in 21 workings days, they will have to remove the errornous data. I think you should write a letter explaining to them your rights and ask them to remove this data immediatly. i dont have template to say this exactly but you could look in google for templates. Good luck and keep us informed. Dissiargent.

Hi ODC, Good news:). I just checked my email and equifax informed me that Lowells have asked them to delete the search - they must have realised i was the wrong person:). Many thanks for all your help - really much appreciated. Fatima

Hi ODC, Many thanks for your prompt reply - much appreciated. Do you happen to have some complaints letters templates that i could use with Trading Standards ant the OFT? I have a feeling i might have to do that after all based on Lowell's reputation. Thanks again.

Dear all, I desperatly need some help. I am new in this country - i move in the UK 3 years ago from France and so far have had few problems with my credit file where companies have put in wrong information. Thankfully, I have succesfully managed to fight because of the advice and help i had from this marvelous site. I can't thank the site enough and its users and i encourage anyone who is able to donate money to keep the site running. The latest problem i have is by a company called Lowell Financial Ltd who did a search on my Equifax credit file for an 'outsanding debt'. I have naturally followed the steps i took with the other issues i had and disputed the information on-line with Equifax and by sending Lowell Financial a letter of dispute also via special delivery asking them why a search was carried out as i dont owe them any money and do not know them. I am now really worried as to what my next steps are ... Judging by what i have read so far about this company, they seemed to be very bad and extremelly ruthless. I have worked so hard to save and to have a good credit file in order to purchase a home for my family and i am scared to see it all go down. I do not have any outstanding debt with any company and do not understand why a search was carried out with my name. Can anyone help me please? Thanks in advance, Dissiargent

Hello, I am currently disputing/appealing an overpayment for Tax Credits:( and wondering if those also get recorded in our personal credit report. Thanks, Dissiargent

Not at all - they are not a data storing company - but only stores data if an individual is subject to fraud.

Hello, I contacted them and received a letter informing me that they dont have any data about me which is good news. If they did, i would be be worried and it suggest some kind of fraud.

NewLad, You are welcome - i will try and help as much i can. I now understand about the credit agreement but dont worry about that. As soon as you manage to remove the errousnous data, the search will also go away as they are linked. Equifax will realise that you are not that person, does not have an account with Natwest and hence the search is not valid. I must insist that you keep on at them (both Equifax and Natwest - specially Natwest). I would even write a letter to Natwest CEO - i beleive his name is Sir A Stephen Hester (The Royal Bank of Scotland, Gogaburn, Edingburgh, EH12 1HQ). Keep on at them and it will come to an end. They will realise you mean busines. Have you sent proof of who you are i.e. id and signatures specimens? I know you dont have to send it but just to show willingless and the fact that you want to solve this quickly, it may be the best thing to do. I have do to do it too and was not happy to provide it. Anyway - good luck and keep us updated. Let me know if you have further questions.

Hi Newlad, I did indeed thank you. It also took me some time to get any reaction from Equifax. I wrote to a Equifax legal team and addressed it to a lady called Anne-Marie Horgan, and the address is Equifax PLC, Legal Department, Capital House, London, NW1 5DS. Explained to them exactly what happened and that you need your details corrected right away - use the template letter i sent to you and adopt it accordingly. I also have a contact in Natwest by the name of Alex Lyons who is the Data Protection Manager. His address is Retail Regulatory Risk, 2nd floor, Business House B, Gogarburn, Edinburgh, EH12 1HQ. I also have his direct telephone number: 0131 626 1152. Please make sure you send those letters via special delivery. You really have to keep on at them - i used to call Natwest every other day and they really got sick of me. You mentioned something that confused me - you said that you already have a credit agreement with Natwest? Let me know if you have further questions.

Hello, I had a similar experience but with a utility company. I logged a disupute with Equifax and after 21 days, as the utility company have not got back to them - they have removed the search for me.

Hi Danielanthony, Many thanks for this - appreciate the feedback.

Hi NewLad, Equifax must have closed the case as they got back to you explaining that you should contact Natwest - this is what they did to me. So i wrote them a letter and sent it via special delivery and that made them look into it more. As for Natwest - keep calling them everyday if you can - they are very slow to track down the progress. I take it you sent them your identification for proof etc....? If not, i can anticipate their next move - is to ask you to prove who you are... I am going on holiday for a week and wont have access to internet but please keep us updated. Happy Easter

Hi Joox, If its you doing the searches, it wont appear in the credit file for lenders to see. I hope that helps.

Can someone - please help? I have a question: now that Equifax have removed this info, can Natwest can back and put it again? Thank you.

Of course - below: Natwest: Credit Management Services 0 1952 206 114/116 Equifax: 0870 010 0583 As i am subscribed to Equifax Gold Watch, i disputed the wrong data online and have been communicating with them via it. I kept on and on at them and also Natwest. Then equifax asked me to provide them my birth certificate, passport and doc for proof of address which i did and after that, it literarly took them 2 days to remove the incorrect info. I have not contacted Natwest as i dont care anymore now this errornous data is not in my filea nd that Equifax is happy with the proof i gave them. Let me know if you ahve further queries.

Hello there, I am not the best person to advice on default but i do know that data only stays in our records for 6 years and not more. You should contact Barclays Bank and ask them to remove it or more importantly show evidence that this account is more than 6 years old to Credit Reference Agency and ask them to remove it. I hope that helps.

Dorabell, I am not the person to advise on defaults matter, but do a search on the site as they are a large amount of info on defaults. Good luck with it.

Newlad, I have had a breakthrough - Equifax have agreed to removed the default (Natwest is still investigating and i dont care anymore). They (Equifax) needeed me to send them my birth certificate, passport, and proof of address which i have done and they called me this morning to tell me they are going to remove it and do a dissassociation:).

At long last - had a breakthrough in this issue. Equifax have removed the default after i sent them my birth certifcate, passport to prove who i am...I am so happy and they told me that they have done a dissassociation with the name on the file so that way - it wont happen again if another company try to put it in my file.... They said they can't control Natwest coming after me for the sum owed though - which is fair enough. Guys - you have been tremendous with your help and advice - much appreciated. Needless to say that i will keep in touch now that i have found this wonderfull site and have and will continue donating money to keep it functioning and helping consumers.

Hi Newlad, I contacted Natwest again and they said they have forwarded my detials to another department - looks like they are struggling to find anything and they keep telling me that my details are going to different departments.... I want to file a complaint with the ICO as i can't afford a lawyer but i have to wait toll Natwest come back to me with a final answer. How are you getting on?

Hi Letterman , Indeed, looks like the only power consumers have is to write letters - i also have a similar problem with a utility company who did a search on credit file and still disputing it. Its so absurd how they can ruin everything after so many years of keeping my credit file clean... Below is the sample letter - adjust it accordingly. REF: WRONG SEARCH IN MY CREDIT REPORT This letter serves as a formal written dispute against the search that you have carried out in my Equifax personal credit file (attached and highlighted). I am concerned that you have made a search and entered my personal information without my consent and with no apparent reasons. The listed item is completely incorrect and is a very serious error in reporting. I don't have an account with your organization and more importantly do not owe you any money. This incorrect data in my credit file is defamatory and suggest that my credit worthiness is poor and this will have serious consequences should I need to consider applying to any form of credit not to mention the negative impact on my family’s lifestyle. Unless you can provide evidence immediately, to continue to publish inaccurate data about me is derogatory and detrimental and more importantly you have a duty to remove information of that nature whilst investigating this error. As you are aware, I am afforded principled rights under the Data Protection Act (Data Protection Act), Schedule 1, Part 1 ("The Principles") in relation to the manner in which my data is collated, stored and processed. Of particular note, are Principles 3 and 4: “3. Personal data shall be adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose or purposes for which they are processed. 4. Personal data shall be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. The following information therefore must be removed please and I respectfully request this misleading item to be deleted from my file as soon as possible: List the search and info here…. Thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, CC: Equifax Plc PO Box 1140 Bradford BD1 5US

You are welcome. Sometimes, it takes a while before someone spot threads - dont take it personally. No i dont have their addressed i am afraid but try local yellow pages or google. I have a sample letter you could use to write to them - let me know if this will help.

New Lead, Is the search on table 1 or table 2? If its in table 2, then no one can see it but if its in table 1 then you need to contact the ocmpany and ask them to remove it. Did they do the search without your consent?