Experian "misselling" of ID theft insurance

[flexeh]

When they make so much money out of storting and selling my data.. I think they have a damn cheek asking me to pay to check that their records are accurate..

 

They can't even get that right. Ask brig and dx I had issues with them over a default that randomly appeared over night. I used experian to manage where I owed money, when this default appeared it became delinquent as experian should of had it on my file 2 years earlier. The ICO agreed they breached DPA about keeping records up to date.

 

This insurance thing doesn't surprise me as they ain't exactly a good company

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Can you SAR Experian and Equifax to find out account details re: how many payments I've made to these companies? I've been on and off with both for years and will undoubtedly have paid for insurance without knowing it.BSBS.

 

 

It Can be done, I have done so and the data received was no more than that visible historically on a normal personal search.

[Surfer01]

Is ID theft as serious as what the CRAs make it out to be? BTW if you just want a simple £2 credit score report, it is not easy to find the correct link as I found out the other day as it kept trying to make me agree to take out a subscription.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Is ID theft as serious as what the CRAs make it out to be? BTW if you just want a simple £2 credit score report, it is not easy to find the correct link as I found out the other day as it kept trying to make me agree to take out a subscription.

 

 

ID theft I a very big concern nationally and internationally and cannot be dismissed, but I do not believe it is fair to impose this type of insurance on users of the CRA.

[Guest funforus]

Well, I wrote when all this was first reported and received a reply a few days ago telling me that no element of my 'subscription' was applied to insurance . . . yet others, as copy email above shows, were told that the insurance was compulsory. Makes you wonder whether these are the kind of people that should have any influence in the financial services industry at all!

Edited June 25, 2014 by funforus
Spelling!

[WhatALife]

I've been Experian customer since 2008 and never knew I was paying for ID insurance until I read this article and actually asked them to confirm I was paying premiums. This is what they told me:-

 

Our records indicate that the monthly fee that your of £9.99 include Identity Fraud Expenses Insurance. The Identity Fraud Expenses Insurance is a mandatory element of the overall CreditExpert service.

If you do not wish to have the insurance policy, you will be unable to take advantage of the CreditExpert service.

I thought all along I was paying for accessing my credit report only since I've never asked for ID insurance and wasn't told it was part of the package when I signed up.

 

The reason some pay £14.99 and some £9.99 is that when Experian changed their subscription pricing, they included all benefits for current members for the £9.99 price. All new members (who signed up after the price increase) are charged £14.99. This was what Experian explained when I questioned the price increase at the time.

 

I've been using Credit Expert on and off for years now and received the same respsonse when I queried the insurance as I didn't want it.

 

Personally, I don't think anyone should have to pay to view info on themselves.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I've been using Credit Expert on and off for years now and received the same respsonse when I queried the insurance as I didn't want it.

 

Personally, I don't think anyone should have to pay to view info on themselves.

Perhaps long term users who have had their subs hiked should flood the company with formal complaints.

[spamheed]

These people have invented a whole industry out of thin air, they created a database of peoples personal details, rely solely on the individual to keep them updated and charge the same individual if they wish to know what data they have, yet dance around when an individual finds fault with the contents of "their" credit record, citing all sorts of quasi legal obstacles. They are also funded by the major financial organisations, so they are earning from both sides of the fence.

 

 

Whilst I appreciate that people who loan money, or manage risk should be allowed a gauge against which to measure any application, I think their existence is incestuous, and disingenuous, this application of unwanted and unwarranted insurance is just another example of the manner in which these organisations operate.

 

 

CRA's are a relatively new animal, they didn't exist in the 60's and 70's and banks existed and operated perfectly well, I see them as just another way to fleece the sheep.

[Surfer01]

What I can't get my head around is them keeping information that is not in the public domain. CCJ are fair enough but why do they keep records of Defaults and searches which have never been in the public domain. Searches is a big bug bear ass sometimes oen has to do several searches to get tghe best rate however the searches count against you. Surely this should be illegal?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

What I can't get my head around is them keeping information that is not in the public domain. CCJ are fair enough but why do they keep records of Defaults and searches which have never been in the public domain. Searches is a big bug bear ass sometimes oen has to do several searches to get tghe best rate however the searches count against you. Surely this should be illegal?

 

 

Unfortunately we the "borrowing" public make the collection of such data "lawful" by a signing an agreement which quite clearly states that we understand that and agree to the creditor/ provider/trader " SHARING OUR DATA WITH 3rd PARTIES " including credit reference agencies.

 

 

Refusal to sign = no credit/phone account etc.!!

[Surfer01]

Unfortunately we the "borrowing" public make the collection of such data "lawful" by a signing an agreement which quite clearly states that we understand that and agree to the creditor/ provider/trader " SHARING OUR DATA WITH 3rd PARTIES " including credit reference agencies.

 

 

Refusal to sign = no credit/phone account etc.!!

 

So basically our data can be passed onto any and every one?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

So basically our data can be passed onto any and every one?

YES and it follows that a 3rd party will share data with other companies it is connected with.

[2Grumpy]

YES and it follows that a 3rd party will share data with other companies it is connected with.

 

Presumably the data can only be used for the purpose that it was provided. There will be a clause allowing the company to share data with a credit reference agency but not to share it or allow access to it for any reason not listed in the contract.

 

Likewise when authorising a search, the search would be for specific data for a specific reason, not a trawl through the credit file for anything useful that can be sold on.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Presumably the data can only be used for the purpose that it was provided. There will be a clause allowing the company to share data with a credit reference agency but not to share it or allow access to it for any reason not listed in the contract.

 

Likewise when authorising a search, the search would be for specific data for a specific reason, not a trawl through the credit file for anything useful that can be sold on.

 

Looking at some agreements today I see " you agree that we can share your data with other companies for the purposes of marketing research, prevention of fraud etc., etc.

 

 

I am afraid it is not that simple the CRAs supply data to numerous entities both businesses and public authorities.

[2Grumpy]

Looking at some agreements today I see " you agree that we can share your data with other companies for the purposes of marketing research, prevention of fraud etc., etc.

 

 

I am afraid it is not that simple the CRAs supply data to numerous entities both businesses and public authorities.

 

We agree that data can be shared with CRAs for specific purposes.

 

Presumably the CRA is storing data on behalf of the company that we supply data to and would be responsible for ensuring that the data is only used for the purposes that it was provided for, and only the relevant data is disclosed, depending on the purpose that the searching company intends to use it for.

 

IMHO the CRAs are being too simplistic in the way that they receive, store & share our data & don't take into account the usage as supplied or as searched for. They just share all data with anyone without regard to why data was supplied and what permissions were allowed in the contract for its use

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

We agree that data can be shared with CRAs for specific purposes.

 

Presumably the CRA is storing data on behalf of the company that we supply data to and would be responsible for ensuring that the data is only used for the purposes that it was provided for, and only the relevant data is disclosed, depending on the purpose that the searching company intends to use it for.

 

IMHO the CRAs are being too simplistic in the way that they receive, store & share our data & don't take into account the usage as supplied or as searched for. They just share all data with anyone without regard to why data was supplied and what permissions were allowed in the contract for its use

 

 

It is more to the point to look at the phrase "and other third parties etc." for where data is sold or placed.

[dx100uk]

its worthy to note

that this ID protection came in on 29/12/2012

 

many people were on £6.99

 

it went upto £9.99

 

so its from that date fwd.

 

dx

[dx100uk]

by email:Sat 29/12/2012 02:42

 

 

As a valued customer, you'll be getting an exclusive new membership package.

 

Shhh. It's not available to our new customers.

 

We're adding some great new benefits to your membership.

You will soon be able to see your Experian Credit Score whenever you like and see what is affecting it.

You'll also get increased awareness of any possible online identity fraud against you.

All this, for a new monthly membership fee of £9.99.

 

Here's a summary of all the features and benefits of your NEW exclusive membership:

 

NEW! Unlimited access to your Experian Credit Score whenever you want it.

 

NEW! A clear view of the factors affecting your Experian Credit Score, and a view of how it changes over time.

 

NEW! We can search for your data on the web, including social networks.

We will then alert you if your information is found where it possibly shouldn't be, with our Web Monitoring service.

 

Customer service support including dedicated help if you are ever a victim of fraud.

 

See a range of credit cards and loans that you may be eligible for, based on your Experian Credit Score.

 

 

Unlimited access to your Experian Credit Report.

 

Weekly alerts when there are changes to your Experian Credit Report.

 

Log in now

 

Important information about the changes to your membership:

 

We will be upgrading your membership in 30 days from now*.

 

Following the upgrade, your new membership price will be £9.99 per month.

Your payment date will remain unchanged.

 

As a result of these updates, the

terms and conditions of your CreditExpert membership have changed, and the privacy policy has been updated.

 

If you do not want us to send you Web Monitoring alerts if we find your details where you wouldn't expect them to be,

you can opt out of this particular feature.

 

You will still be charged £9.99 per month for your new membership,

which will include all of the other above benefits.

 

If you have any questions about these changes to your account,

please feel free to contact our dedicated Credit Experts.

This email address is not monitored, so please use the address

[email protected] if you want to email us.

Many thanks

 

The Experian team