Linked addresses on report

[Jae1704]

I recently sent experian a request to have some of the linked addresses on my report removed because they are over 6 years old, and surely any information that is recorded against that address should have already been deleted (my understanding is that CRA do not store information over 6 years old),

 

The earliest linked address is dated 2001

 

This is the reply i got

 

Quote

 

Thank you for your email, which we received on 21 July 2009.

 

I note your concerns but would explain that we keep linked address entries on your report for up to eight years. This is to ensure that any relevant financial information at your previous addresses is made available to lenders.

 

I would also advise that there arent as many address links registered as you may think there are. A linked address entry may appear more than once if there is more than one address in your CreditExpert profile. Although you may see the same linked address entry several times when you check your report, there is only one entry on our records. These entries are retrieved when we search your current address and again when we search each previous address. So please don't worry. Although you can see the same link more than once, when lenders look at your information they can only see the entry once at each address that they search.

 

Unquote

 

Its really confusing, they are saying linked addresses for eight years !!

 

but if there is no information about me at the address it is irrelevant

 

Any ideas as to whether i can insist that all adresses over 6 years can be deleted

 

Many Thanks

Jae

[foolishgirl]

You can't 'insist' on anything with CRAs unless the information is inaccurate.

 

They are a law unto themselves & can record more or less exactly whatever they feel like & for whatever length of time they want & are not governed by any legal requirement to do otherwise.

 

If your 'linked' address is correct, there is very little you can do about it to remove it before the 8 years.

 

Why would it bother you anyway if you don't live there anymore & they have your current address on file? I'd be much more indignant about other (possibly more personal) info. they might hold that is possibly detrimental to my credit rating.

[crk81]

I emailed the CRA a few weeks back and they confirmed the same to me, 8years, although if there is any data it would be removed after 6years so don't see the point of 8years. query the linked address information with the company concerned and they may just advise the CRA to remove it & as FG says they can record more or less what they want for however long they want.

[Jae1704]

Thanks for your replies, I just wanted to tidy up my credit file and get

old records deleted

[crk81]

just what i'm doing, i done a disasociation form with the CRA with one address as i never resided at it or had any kind of financial connection & it removed about 8 linked addresses in the process