CRA’s issuing routine monthly reports and “scores” to subscribers

[CityLad77]

I have been doing some digging after changes in my account limits and range of products offered shortly after new accounts were opened with other providers.

 

It would seem that Experian routinely publish “data sets” including credit “scores” to their corporate subscribers, and where the company concerned has an existing relationship with the data subject if the contract “allows” regular review or access of the subjects data (credit file)

 

This may go some way to explaining how lenders are currently revaluating risk and credit limits without undertaking “full” and visible searches of an individuals file.

 

 

Original Question

 

 

Dear Experian,

 

I write in order to obtain a response on a specific question in regards to the processing and publishing of my personal data, and I hope that you can help me in this matter.

 

I would respectfully request that you provide a response on the following question;

 

“Do Experian provide regularly published data sets to their subscribers which may contain information in relation to data subjects, and which may included, but not be limited to some or all of the following;

 

· Current number of credit accounts held

· Current outstanding balance on existing accounts

· Current % utilisation of available credit

· Current % available credit expressed as a value against total stated salary which Experian may hold as result of data submitted by subscribers as a result of previous applications for credit by the data subject, and which I know Experian do hold as result of specific data contained within a previous S.7 DPA SAR (Subject Access request) that Experian have provided in respect of data you currently process in relation to myself.

· Number of searches of the subjects file in a given period

· Current Electoral data

· Current address data in relation to a data subject

 

 

N.b for the purpose of this enquiry a “subscriber” is an organisation, i.e. a bank or other financial institution with whom Experian have a contractual relationship to provide subject data, and a “data set” is a consolidated report containing information on one or more data subjects, (a data subject being as defined in the Data protection Act)

 

 

I would wish to make absolutely clear at this juncture that this enquiry is not any of the following;

 

• A request for my own “Credit File” ( I already subscribe to the credit expert service)
  
• A request for you to explain how the standard credit referencing process works, i.e data subject submits application for credit, and Subscriber undertakes “real time” search of subjects file in specific relation to that application.
  
• A request for clarification on Credit scoring, or how lenders may use the data you provide
  

The request is however a specific question asking if Experian provide consolidate data sets to subscribers, the definition of which I have outlined above.

 

I would be grateful if you could give this matter your prompt attention, and I trust I have provide adequate information to allow you to investigate this matter; if however you should require any further information or clarification in respect of this question then please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

 

 

 

Response Received

 

 

Thank you for your email, which we received on 19 June 2009.

 

I can confirm that we do not provide regular updates to our client's showing this level of detailed information.

 

We provide a service to some companies where they are simply provided with a monthly score on all of their existing customers, based upon the information held on our records. This is for the purpose of managing the accounts of their existing customers. We can only provide this information to companies where the terms and conditions of the account, as agreed by the account holder, permit the companies concerned to receive a regular check of your credit report as part of the ongoing management of that account.

 

In these circumstances the lender does not see any specific pieces of information and is simply provided with a scored assessment. Companies use this information to ascertain whether there is likely to have been a significant change in the financial circumstances of their customers and will then manage those individual's accounts accordingly.

[banker_rhymes_with]

We provide a service to some companies where they are simply provided with a monthly score on all of their existing customers, based upon the information held on our records.

 

Find out who they are, and never bank with them ever again.

 

Cheers,

BRW

[CityLad77]

Find out who they are, and never bank with them ever again.

 

Cheers,

BRW

 

From anecdote evidence gained in conversations with call centre staff; Natwest / RBS, and Barclaycard are very likely to be party to this practice, and I am sure many others are also.

 

Whether the “scores” provided by Experian to the lenders act as a precursor / trigger to a full search where permission has been authorised is not clear. I personally have not seen any searches on my files other than those I have specifically authorised, but I am aware that Natwest/ RBS use these pro-actively published scores to influence their internal behavioural score / customer rating on current accounts.

Edited June 27, 2009 by CityLad77

[sillygirl1]

How about signing my petition, the more the DCAS get hit by us the more Experian will feel it and have to dream up new ideas to essentially 'sell' our data

 

Petition to: state that only the original creditor can place a negative marker on your credit file. | Number10.gov.uk

[MrCollio]

American Express use this service also.

 

They sent me a letter saying they had received adverse information and all credit was removed.