Credit reference agencies ( 13.3.4 )
LOCAL INFORMATION
13.3.4
Credit reference agencies
Extent: Jersey
Updated: 6 February 2020
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Words you may need to know
Credit rating – an estimate of somebody’s ability to pay their debts which is based on the way a person has paid back debts in the past eg paid off mortgage, credit or store card instalments
Taken in error – if a decision is made based on wrong information
Set aside – here, cancelled, removed
Judgement – here, decision of a court
Creditor – person who is owed money
Receipt – a written proof that something has been paid
Specific – relating to one thing in particular eg here, a debt for one thing , not an amount towards several debts
Electoral role – having your name on the official list of people entitled (qualified) to vote
What is a credit reference agency (‘CRA’) ?
A credit reference agency is an organisation that collects information about people’s credit rating and supplies this information to banks, finance organisations, retailers etc . The information is provided so that if an organisation is going to lend money to someone eg to buy a car, get a mortgage etc they can make their own decision about whether they think the person will be able to pay back the loan.
Where do credit reference agencies get their information?
Credit reference agencies use Court Judgements to build their files on individuals. In Jersey these judgements are published in the Jersey Business Brief, and are also available for inspection in the Court Registry. This is why it is important to make sure that judgements taken in error are set aside by the Court. The Court Registry is at the Magistrate's Court Union Street, St Helier. It is open during the lunch period.
How long is a judgement held on a 'Blacklist'?
A judgment is kept on record for a period of ten years in Jersey and is enforceable during that time. A judgment is kept on record for a period of six years in the UK, Guernsey and Isle of Man. If a debt is paid, written proof should be obtained from the creditor and this can be noted on the file.
What happens if the judgement was the result of a dispute?
If the reason for non-payment of money was due to a dispute such as faulty workmanship, it should be possible to ask the CRA to add a note on file to explain this.
There are a number of CRA organisations
Channel Islands Data Services
This is an On-line credit reference and debt recovery service.
For details see: www.cidsltd.com
Channel Islands Data Services Limited
PO Box 379
Third Floor
4 Market Street
St Peter Port
Guernsey
GY1 3YZ
Channel Islands
Telephone: +44 (0) 1481 713050
Credit reference agencies in United Kingdom
Everyone has a right to see their credit files and correct any mistakes. The following companies are based in the United Kingdom. Each have websites with advice on how they can help and what you need to do.
Send each agency a £2 cheque or postal order, your full name and address and date of birth together with a list your addresses for the past six years.
Say that you are applying under Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
If it contains false information, you can ask for it to be changed.
Letters should be sent to:
Registry Trust Limited
153-157 Cleveland Street
London
England
W1T 6QW
United Kingdom
Website: www.registry-trust.org.uk
Telephone: +44 (0) 2073800133
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Experian Limited
Consumer Support Centre
PO Box 9000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF
Website: www.experian.co.uk
Telephone : 0344 481 0800
http://www.experian.co.uk/downloads/consumer/creditRefAgencyExplained.pdf
Equifax Ltd
Customer Service Centre
PO Box 10036
Leicester
LE3 4FS
Website: www.equifax.co.uk
Telephone : 0845 603 6772
Callcredit Ltd
Consumer Services Team
PO Box 491
Leeds
LS3 1WZ
Website: www.callcredit.co.uk
Telephone: 0330 024 7579
Sometimes credit information may be refused when UK credit reference agencies are not aware that you are on a Channel Islands electoral role. This is because they do not get information about Channel Islands electoral roles in the same way they get details of UK ones. If you find that your record does not include your electoral role information you can get it added - see leaflet from the Office of the Data Commissioner here.
