How to correct errors on credit report in the UK

In today’s financial landscape, accurate credit information is paramount. Errors or inaccuracies on your credit report can have far-reaching consequences. Our firm specializes in rectifying personal details on credit agencies to ensure that your credit history reflects your true financial standing.
In order to conduct successful financial activities, it is important to monitor the absence of incorrect data in the credit history. If errors on a credit report are found, it is important to send a request to challenge it to avoid the appearance of financial risks. The report contains data on when and what specific amounts were borrowed, and whether the conditions for their return were met. Uncorrected errors on credit reports in time may later cause refusal to use various forms of lending, such as mortgages, credit cards and loans. In addition, an unreliable customer may have their bank accounts blocked, he will be refused to service mobile communications, and even may be not provided utilities such as gas and electricity.

What is Credit Reporting?

Firstly, it is important to understand what credit reporting is before realising the potential consequences that inaccurate data can have.

Credit reporting refers to a process by which credit agencies collect and maintain information about an individual’s credit activities. Some of the well-known credit agencies include Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, who collect various financial information of an individual, such as their credit accounts, payment history, outstanding balances, public records, and others. This information is then used to generate comprehensive credit reports, which are made available to creditors, lenders, landlords, and other entities who rely on this information. Based on the information in the reports, a credit score is calculated that reflects the risk of extending credit to a particular individual.

Thus, the credit reporting system is a crucial system that is relied upon heavily in today’s digitalised world. It gives insight to financial entities to make informed decisions on their credit extensions, and a positive credit score is essential for individuals to obtain favourable loan terms, lower interest rates, and even qualifying for rental housing or employment.

Impact of Inaccurate data

We have briefly explained the important aspect that our credit report has in our lives, as a financial fingerprint shaping our financial opportunities. However, when inaccurate data is used in the process, the repercussions can be daunting:

Negative impact on credit score – at the heart of financial decisions, your credit score plays a pivotal role. It is a calculated representation of your creditworthiness, influencing decisions on your applications for credit cards, mortgages or loans. Inaccurate data can drag down your score, making you appear riskier to lenders. Even several points’ drop can have an impact on securing a favourable rate loan or interest, and can cost you large sums over your lifetime.
Loan denials and higher interest rates – lenders rely on credit reports to assess the risk associated with lending money. If errors inflate your perceived risk, lenders may deny your application outright. Alternatively, they might approve your application but at significantly higher interest rates. These elevated rates translate to larger payments and increased financial strain, caused by inaccuracies that should not have existed at all.
Financial stress – discovering inaccuracies in your credit report can be emotionally and mentally taxing. Correcting these errors without appropriate guidance requires time, effort, and patience, adding an additional layer of stress.
Identity theft and fraud concerns – inaccuracies in your credit report may also be symptoms of a more severe issue: identity theft or fraud. Unfamiliar accounts, addresses, or transactions could indicate that your identity had been compromised and is being used by someone for financial gain. Hence, addressing these inaccuracies is not done purely for a positive credit score, but also for protection of your identity and financial information.

The consequences of inaccuracies in credit reports are vast and impactful, and are not all explained in this article. They can affect multiple aspects of your life and lead to financial instability, limited access to essential financial services, emotional distress, and more.

Common errors in credit reports

In practice, you may encounter a variety of types of mistakes made in the credit report. It’s essential to understand that even minor inaccuracies can significantly impact an individual’s credit score and their ability to obtain loans, credit cards, or even rental agreements. Here are some of the typical mistakes that can occur in credit reports:

Mistaken identity – sometimes, credit reports can mistakenly include details from another person’s credit history, especially if they have a similar name or other matching details.
Outdated information – credit reports might display old or irrelevant financial data. For example, debts that have already been paid off might still be shown as outstanding, or closed accounts might still appear as open.
Incorrect account details – errors in account-related information, such as the wrong account type, account opening or closure dates, and repayment history, can frequently occur. These mistakes can arise from clerical errors either at the credit reference agencies or the financial institutions reporting the data.
Duplicate reporting – sometimes, the same debt or credit account might be listed more than once. This duplication can falsely inflate the perceived level of indebtedness, adversely affecting credit scores.
Data mismatch and inconsistencies – errors can arise when there’s a mismatch in personal information, like an incorrect address or spelling mistakes in a name. Consistency in personal details is crucial for accurate credit reporting.
Incorrectly reported missed payments – sometimes, these missed payments might be reported in error, either due to a reporting mistake by the creditor or because the payment was actually made on time but not recorded correctly.
Legal judgments misreported – in some cases, satisfied judgements related to debt might not be updated correctly, continuing to show as active long after they’ve been resolved.

Check your credit report

When the question arises: what do I do if my credit report is wrong, contact the scoring agencies that specialize in these issues. In the UK, you can check the information at the following agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Turning to each of them, you will need to give answers to specific questions that relate to your financial activities.

The peculiarity of the Experian agency’s work is the following: provided you find out for free whether my credit report is incorrect, you need to spend at least 7 days. First, two identity verification letters will be sent by email, and only then by post. To speed up the process, users need to subscribe to the service, which will cost £14,99 per month. The first month is free, and after receiving the necessary information, the subscription can be canceled.

You can confirm incorrect information on the UK credit report at Equifax. You will be asked for a credit card number. The user should confirm the zero payment. According to the rules of the service, you need to agree to a monthly payment of £7,95 when signing up for a subscription. Cancel the payment immediately after registration, otherwise it will be made without authorization in the future.

You will be able to see your credit report online by becoming a client of the TransUnion agency. For it a code will be sent to your email, which will be a confirmation of your identity. You will be asked to answer 4 personal questions related to financial activities. After that, you will receive access to the resource. You can view the report online. For convenience and further use, you can download it in PDF format.

How to correct a mistake on your credit report?

When identifying errors or inaccuracies in the data, you should know: how to dispute credit reports. What exactly do you need to do for it:

Contact the company whose activities the error is related to. For example, when fixing a missed payment, you need to contact the lender directly.
You must have supporting documents on hand. They can be statements, paid receipts, checks.
Upon receiving official confirmation of an error made by the lender, you must make a request to update the entry in the credit report. It is handled by a company that made a mistake. The corrected data is sent to the agency.
If the lender does not confirm the fact of payments and everything is done correctly on their part, contact the Sterling Law for help. Our lawyers will deal with credit file amendments.

Do not forget to check the information in other credit bureaus and, if necessary, make a request for removing incorrect information from the credit report. Information is not always updated in them at the same time.

Regular checking of the credit file is necessary, first of all, to minimize the risks of fraud. The report shows the different forms of loans that were issued in your name. In the absence of control, information can be used by intruders.

What happens after I submit a dispute?

If you have a question: how to correct errors on a credit report, first of all, contact the lender directly or the company that provides some services with identified erroneous debts. After a certain time, you will receive a response to the request. You may be asked to submit payment documents for reconciliation. After the error is detected, the information will be transmitted to the credit agency.

How can we help?

If you need to resolve a dispute on a credit report quickly and effectively, contact Sterling Law. We employ a comprehensive strategy to rectify these errors and help you restore your creditworthiness. Below is an in-depth look at the steps we take to resolve any credit reporting discrepancies:

We start with an in-depth analysis of your credit report, by scrutinising every detail, identifying inaccuracies, and potential areas of concern. This lays the foundation for the subsequent steps to develop a tailored strategy for your case with customised solutions.
Once the discrepancies are identified, we initiate the dispute process, consisting of drafting formal dispute letters to credit agencies, outlining the errors. These are backed by supporting documents and evidence that leaves no room for ambiguity.
Our team of experts acts as your representatives, liaising with credit agencies, to ensure that constant communication is upheld and the dispute process is progressing accordingly. By directly liaising with credit agencies, we expedite the resolution process.
In the event that your dispute becomes complex, Sterling Law houses legal experts able to navigate the legal intricacies, and leverage their skills and expertise to resolve disputes effectively.
Even after the initial disputes are resolved, credit reports need continuous monitoring to prevent future discrepancies. Our team can monitor your credit profile to ensure that it remains accurate and error-free.

Hence, at Sterling Law, we recognise the challenges posed by credit reporting discrepancies and the substantial impact it has on your financial reputation. We are dedicated to assisting you in navigating these complexities, and empower you to reclaim control over your financial future. Don’t let credit reporting discrepancies hinder your progress; let us guide you toward a brighter, financially stable tomorrow.