How can I see my Credit Report?

Many firms now provide you with the ability to easily access your credit report information online and most will charge you a small fee. The main credit reference agencies are listed below and they are responsible for holding your credit information and making this available to financial services organizations who subscribe to their services.

You have a right to request a copy of any information held about you under the Data Protection Act 1998

For a fee from £2 you can obtain a copy of your credit report (which gives details such as your name, address, current credit commitments, payment records, etc) from the credit reference agencies. If you want to see your credit report then you should write to the credit reference agencies Experian Ltd, Equifax plc and Callcredit Ltd at the addresses listed below, enclosing the relevant fee, or visit their website.

If you believe any of the data is incorrect, the details you receive from the agencies will explain how you can set about having it corrected.

Can anyone see my credit report information?

No, credit report information is private. Only companies who are members of the credit reference agencies account sharing scheme can access credit report information. They can only look at your credit report details if you have given them permission. They usually get your permission when you complete their credit application form.

What information does Swift provide to the credit reference agencies?

Swift only reports information directly to Equifax plc. This may mean that some of your loan accounts may not appear on credit reports produced by Experian or Callcredit although information tends to be shared between them.

As a responsible mortgage lender Swift is obliged to provide Equifax with the status of the account on a monthly basis regardless of whether the loan is in arrears or up-to-date. Swift’s report is generally run on the first Saturday of each month and submitted to Equifax shortly afterwards.

Do you tell Equifax if my account is in arrears?

Yes, we are obliged to provide status details of your loan account on a monthly basis.

What affect will arrears on my account have on my credit rating/credit score?

A credit rating/score is a tool used by a lender to help determine whether you qualify for a particular credit card, loan etc. Many different formulas are used to calculate credit scores and therefore your score may vary, but a record of late payments on your current and past loan accounts will lower your score – the lower your score, the more risk you represent to the lender. To find out more information about this you should contact Equifax.

How long will information stay on my credit file?

The length of time varies depending on the ‘data type’, however for credit agreements the expiry date is generally 6 years from the date the account was settled, written off or defaulted – whichever occurred first. In general, negative information that is more than 6 years old must be removed from your file.

Complaints

If you have any concerns or disputes about the information we send to Equifax please contact:

Compliance Department
Swift Group, Arcadia House, Warley Hill Business Park
The Drive, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 2BE

Telephone: 0845 072 9010

Email: complaints@swift.co.uk