Important​ ​-​ ​Data​ ​Protection

A​ ​Guide​ ​to​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​data​ ​by​ ​Access​ ​Training​ ​(Wales)​ ​Limited​ ​and​ ​Credit Reference​ ​and​ ​Fraud​ ​Prevention​ ​Agencies

Q:​ ​What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agency?
A:​ ​​Credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​(CRAs)​ ​collect​ ​and​ ​maintain​ ​information​ ​on​ ​consumers’​ ​and businesses’​ ​credit​ ​behaviour,​ ​on​ ​behalf​ ​of​ ​organisations​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK.

Q:​ ​What​ ​is​ ​a​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agency?
A:​ ​​Fraud​ ​Prevention​ ​Agencies​ ​(FPAs)​ ​collect,​ ​maintain​ ​and​ ​share,​ ​information​ ​on​ ​known​ ​and suspected​ ​fraudulent​ ​activity.​ ​Some​ ​CRAs​ ​also​ ​act​ ​as​ ​FPAs.

Q:​ ​Why​ ​do​ ​you​ ​use​ ​them​ ​when​ ​I​ ​have​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​your​ ​organisation?
A:​ ​​Although​ ​you​ ​have​ ​applied​ ​to​ ​us​ ​[organisation​ ​name]​ ​and​ ​we​ ​will​ ​check​ ​our​ ​own​ ​records,​ ​we will​ ​also​ ​contact​ ​CRAs​ ​to​ ​get​ ​information​ ​on​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​behaviour​ ​with​ ​other​ ​organisations.​ ​This will​ ​help​ ​us​ ​make​ ​the​ ​best​ ​possible​ ​assessment​ ​of​ ​your​ ​overall​ ​situation​ ​before​ ​we​ ​make​ ​a decision.

Q:​ ​Where​ ​do​ ​they​ ​get​ ​the​ ​information?
A​:

1. publicly​ ​available​ ​information:
   1. The​ ​Electoral​ ​Register​ ​from​ ​Local​ ​Authorities.
   2. County​ ​Court​ ​Judgments​ ​from​ ​Registry​ ​Trust.
   3. Bankruptcy​ ​(and​ ​other​ ​similar​ ​orders)​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Insolvency​ ​Service.
2. Fraud​ ​information​ ​may​ ​also​ ​come​ ​from​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agencies.
3. Credit​ ​information​ ​comes​ ​from​ ​information​ ​on​ ​applications​ ​to​ ​banks,​ ​building​ ​societies, credit​ ​card​ ​companies​ ​etc​ ​and​ ​also​ ​from​ ​the​ ​conduct​ ​of​ ​those​ ​accounts.

Q:​ ​How​ ​will​ ​I​ ​know​ ​if​ ​my​ ​information​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​to​ ​a​ ​CRA​ ​or​ ​FPA?
A:​ ​​You​ ​will​ ​be​ ​told​ ​when​ ​you​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​an​ ​account​ ​if​ ​your​ ​application​ ​data​ ​is​ ​to​ ​be​ ​supplied.​ ​The next​ ​section​ ​of​ ​this​ ​leaflet​ ​will​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​how,​ ​when​ ​and​ ​why​ ​we​ ​will​ ​search​ ​at​ ​CRAs​ ​and​ ​FPAs​ ​and what​ ​we​ ​will​ ​do​ ​with​ ​the​ ​information​ ​we​ ​obtain​ ​from​ ​them.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​also​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​if​ ​we​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​send payment​ ​history​ ​information​ ​on​ ​you​ ​or​ ​your​ ​business,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one,​ ​to​ ​CRAs.​ ​You​ ​can​ ​ask​ ​at any​ ​time​ ​the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​CRAs​ ​and​ ​FPAs.

Q:​ ​Why​ ​is​ ​my​ ​data​ ​used​ ​in​ ​this​ ​way?
A:​ ​​We​ ​and​ ​other​ ​organisations​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​best​ ​possible​ ​decisions​ ​we​ ​can,​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to make​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​you,​ ​or​ ​your​ ​business,​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​repay​ ​us.​ ​Some​ ​organisations​ ​may​ ​also use​ ​the​ ​information​ ​to​ ​check​ ​your​ ​identity.​ ​In​ ​this​ ​way​ ​we​ ​can​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​we​ ​all​ ​make responsible​ ​decisions.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​we​ ​also​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make​ ​decisions​ ​quickly​ ​and​ ​easily​ ​and, by​ ​using​ ​up​ ​to​ ​date​ ​information,​ ​provided​ ​electronically,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​most​ ​reliable and​ ​fair​ ​decisions​ ​possible.

Q:​ ​Who​ ​controls​ ​what​ ​such​ ​agencies​ ​are​ ​allowed​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​my​ ​data?
A:​ ​​All​ ​organisations​ ​that​ ​collect​ ​and​ ​process​ ​personal​ ​data​ ​are​ ​regulated​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Data​ ​Protection Act​ ​1998,​ ​overseen​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Information​ ​Commissioner’s​ ​Office.​ ​All​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​are in​ ​regular​ ​dialogue​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Commissioner.​ ​Use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Electoral​ ​Register​ ​is​ ​controlled​ ​under​ ​the Representation​ ​of​ ​the​ ​People​ ​Act​ ​2000.

Q:​ ​Can​ ​just​ ​anyone​ ​look​ ​at​ ​my​ ​data​ ​held​ ​at​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies?
A:​ ​​No,​ ​access​ ​to​ ​your​ ​information​ ​is​ ​very​ ​strictly​ ​controlled​ ​and​ ​only​ ​those​ ​that​ ​are​ ​entitled​ ​to​ ​do so,​ ​may​ ​see​ ​it.​ ​Usually​ ​that​ ​will​ ​only​ ​be​ ​with​ ​your​ ​agreement​ ​or​ ​(very​ ​occasionally)​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a legal​ ​requirement.

Please​ ​read​ ​this​ ​section​ ​very​ ​carefully,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​vary​ ​from​ ​lender​ ​to​ ​lender
What we do

1. Check our own records for information: -
   1. Your​ ​personal​ ​accounts;
   2. and,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one,​ ​your​ ​financial​ ​associates’¹​ ​personal​ ​accounts;
   3. if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​an​ ​owner,​ ​director​ ​or​ ​partner​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small​ ​business ​ ​we​ ​may​ ​also​ ​check² on​ ​your​ ​business​ ​accounts.
2. Search​ ​at​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​for​ ​information​ ​on:
   1. Your​ ​personal​ ​accounts:​ ​-
   2. and,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​making​ ​a​ ​joint​ ​application​ ​now​ ​or​ ​have​ ​ever​ ​done​ ​the​ ​following​ ​we will​ ​check​ ​your​ ​financial​ ​associates’​ ​personal​ ​accounts​ ​as​ ​well:
      1. previously​ ​made​ ​joint​ ​applications
      2. have​ ​joint​ ​account(s);
      3. are​ ​financially​ ​linked³;
   3. very​ ​occasionally​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​insufficient​ ​information​ ​to​ ​enable​ ​us​ ​to​ ​assist​ ​you,​ ​we may​ ​also​ ​use​ ​information​ ​about​ ​other​ ​members​ ​of​ ​your​ ​family;
3. if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a​ ​director​ ​or​ ​partner​ ​in​ ​a​ ​small​ ​business​ ​we​ ​may​ ​also​ ​check​ ​on​ ​your​ ​business accounts;
4. Search​ ​at​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agencies​ ​for​ ​information​ ​on​ ​you​ ​and​ ​any​ ​addresses​ ​at​ ​which you​ ​have​ ​lived​ ​and​ ​on​ ​your​ ​business​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one)

1. Information​ ​that​ ​is​ ​supplied​ ​to​ ​us​ ​will​ ​be​ ​sent​ ​to​ ​the​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies.
2. If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​making​ ​a​ ​joint​ ​application​ ​or​ ​tell​ ​us​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​spouse​ ​or​ ​financial​ ​associate, we​ ​will:

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So​ ​you​ ​must​ ​be​ ​sure​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​their​ ​agreement​ ​to​ ​disclose​ ​information​ ​about​ ​them.

1. If​ ​you​ ​give​ ​us​ ​false​ ​or​ ​inaccurate​ ​information​ ​and​ ​we​ ​suspect​ ​or​ ​identify​ ​fraud​ ​we​ ​will record​ ​this​ ​and​ ​may​ ​also​ ​pass​ ​this​ ​information​ ​to​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agencies​ ​and​ ​other organisations​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​crime​ ​and​ ​fraud​ ​prevention.
2. Your​ ​data​ ​may​ ​also​ ​be​ ​used​ ​by​ ​us​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​you​ ​other​ ​products,​ ​but​ ​only​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​given your​ ​permission.​ ​That​ ​will​ ​be​ ​on​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​any​ ​form​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​completed.

1. Assess​ ​this​ ​application​ ​for​ ​credit​ ​and/or;
2. Check​ ​details​ ​on​ ​applications​ ​for​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit​ ​related​ ​or​ ​other​ ​facilities
3. Verify​ ​your​ ​identity​ ​and​ ​the​ ​identity​ ​of​ ​your​ ​spouse,​ ​partner​ ​or​ ​other​ ​directors/partners and/or;
4. Undertake​ ​checks​ ​for​ ​the​ ​prevention​ ​and​ ​detection​ ​of​ ​crime,​ ​fraud​ ​and/or​ ​money laundering.
5. We​ ​may​ ​use​ ​scoring​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​this​ ​application​ ​and​ ​to​ ​verify​ ​your​ ​identity.
6. Manage​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​and/or​ ​business​ ​account​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one)​ ​with​ ​ourselves.
7. Undertake​ ​periodic​ ​statistical​ ​analysis​ ​or​ ​testing​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​the​ ​accuracy​ ​of​ ​existing​ ​and future​ ​products​ ​and​ ​services.
8. Any​ ​or​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these​ ​processes​ ​may​ ​be​ ​automated.

1. Where​ ​you​ ​borrow​ ​or​ ​may​ ​borrow​ ​from​ ​us,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​give​ ​details​ ​of​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​and/or business​ ​account​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one),​ ​including​ ​names​ ​and​ ​parties​ ​to​ ​the​ ​account​ ​and​ ​how you​ ​manage​ ​it/them​ ​to​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies.
2. If​ ​you​ ​borrow​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​repay​ ​in​ ​full​ ​and​ ​on​ ​time,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​tell​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies.
3. We​ ​may​ ​make​ ​periodic​ ​searches​ ​of​ ​our​ ​own​ ​group​ ​records​ ​and​ ​at​ ​credit​ ​reference agencies​ ​to​ ​manage​ ​your​ ​account​ ​with​ ​us,​ ​including​ ​whether​ ​to​ ​make​ ​credit​ ​available​ ​or to​ ​continue​ ​or​ ​extend​ ​existing​ ​credit.​ ​We​ ​may​ ​also​ ​check​ ​at​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agencies​ ​to prevent​ ​or​ ​detect​ ​fraud.
4. If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​borrowed​ ​from​ ​us​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​make​ ​payments​ ​that​ ​you​ ​owe​ ​us,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​trace your​ ​whereabouts​ ​and​ ​recover​ ​debts.

1. Place​ ​a​ ​search​ ​“footprint”​ ​on​ ​your​ ​credit​ ​file​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​this​ ​application​ ​proceeds.​ ​If the​ ​search​ ​was​ ​for​ ​a​ ​credit​ ​application​ ​the​ ​record​ ​of​ ​that​ ​search​ ​(but​ ​not​ ​the​ ​name​ ​of​ ​the organisation​ ​that​ ​carried​ ​it​ ​out)​ ​may​ ​be​ ​seen​ ​by​ ​other​ ​organisations​ ​when​ ​you​ ​apply​ ​for credit​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future.
2. Link​ ​together​ ​the​ ​records​ ​of​ ​you​ ​and​ ​anyone​ ​that​ ​you​ ​have​ ​advised​ ​is​ ​your​ ​financial associate​ ​including​ ​previous​ ​and​ ​subsequent​ ​names​ ​of​ ​parties​ ​to​ ​the​ ​account.​ ​Links between​ ​financial​ ​associates​ ​will​ ​remain​ ​on​ ​your​ ​and​ ​their​ ​files​ ​until​ ​such​ ​time​ ​as​ ​you​ ​or your​ ​partner​ ​successfully​ ​files​ ​for​ ​a​ ​disassociation⁴ ​ ​with​ ​the​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies.

1. Credit​ ​information​ ​such​ ​as​ ​previous​ ​applications​ ​and​ ​the​ ​conduct​ ​of​ ​the​ ​accounts​ ​in​ ​your name​ ​and​ ​of​ ​your​ ​associate(s)​ ​(if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​link​ ​between​ ​you​ ​–​ ​see​ ​1b​ ​above)​ ​and/or your​ ​business​ ​accounts​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one).
2. Public​ ​information​ ​such​ ​as​ ​County​ ​Court​ ​Judgments​ ​(CCJs)​ ​and​ ​bankruptcies.
3. Electoral​ ​Register​ ​information.
4. Fraud​ ​prevention​ ​information.

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1. Credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​will​ ​record​ ​the​ ​details​ ​that​ ​are​ ​supplied​ ​on​ ​your​ ​personal and/or​ ​business​ ​account​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one)​ ​including​ ​any​ ​previous​ ​and​ ​subsequent names​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​used​ ​by​ ​the​ ​account​ ​holders​ ​and​ ​how​ ​you/they​ ​manage​ ​it/them.
2. If​ ​you​ ​borrow​ ​and​ ​do​ ​not​ ​repay​ ​in​ ​full​ ​and​ ​on​ ​time,​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​will​ ​record the​ ​outstanding​ ​debt.
3. Records​ ​shared​ ​with​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​remain​ ​on​ ​file​ ​for​ ​6​ ​years​ ​after​ ​they​ ​are closed,​ ​whether​ ​settled​ ​by​ ​you​ ​or​ ​defaulted​.

1. It​ ​will​ ​​not​ ​​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​blacklist
2. It​ ​will​ ​​not​ ​​be​ ​used​ ​by​ ​the​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agency​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a​ ​decision.

The​ ​information​ ​which​ ​we​ ​and​ ​other​ ​organisations​ ​provide​ ​to​ ​the​ ​credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies about​ ​you,​ ​your​ ​financial​ ​associates​ ​and​ ​your​ ​business​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one)​ ​may​ ​be​ ​supplied​ ​by credit​ ​reference​ ​agencies​ ​to​ ​other​ ​organisations​ ​and​ ​used​ ​by​ ​them​ ​to:

1. Prevent​ ​crime,​ ​fraud​ ​and​ ​money​ ​laundering​ ​by,​ ​for​ ​example​ ​checking​ ​details​ ​provided​ ​on applications​ ​for​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit​ ​related​ ​or​ ​other​ ​facilities
2. Check​ ​the​ ​operation​ ​of​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit-related​ ​accounts
3. Verify​ ​your​ ​identity​ ​if​ ​you​ ​or​ ​your​ ​financial​ ​associate​ ​applies​ ​for​ ​other​ ​facilities.
4. Make​ ​decisions​ ​on​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit​ ​related​ ​services​ ​about​ ​you,​ ​your​ ​partner,​ ​other members​ ​of​ ​your​ ​household​ ​or​ ​your​ ​business.
5. Manage​ ​your​ ​personal,​ ​your​ ​partner’s​ ​and/or​ ​business​ ​(if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​one)​ ​credit​ ​or​ ​credit related​ ​account​ ​or​ ​other​ ​facilities.
6. Trace​ ​your​ ​whereabouts​ ​and​ ​recover​ ​debts​ ​that​ ​you​ ​owe.
7. Undertake​ ​statistical​ ​analysis​ ​and​ ​system​ ​testing.

1. Prevent​ ​crime,​ ​fraud​ ​and​ ​money​ ​laundering​ ​by,​ ​for​ ​example;
   1. checking​ ​details​ ​provided​ ​on​ ​applications​ ​for​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit​ ​related​ ​or​ ​other facilities
   2. ​Managing​ ​credit​ ​and​ ​credit​ ​related​ ​accounts​ ​or​ ​facilities
   3. Cross​ ​Checking​ ​details​ ​provided​ ​on​ ​proposals​ ​and​ ​claims​ ​for​ ​all​ ​types​ ​of​ ​insurance.
   4. Checking​ ​details​ ​on​ ​applications​ ​for​ ​jobs​ ​or​ ​when​ ​checked​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​employment
2. Verify​ ​your​ ​identity​ ​if​ ​you​ ​or​ ​your​ ​financial​ ​associate​ ​applies​ ​for​ ​other​ ​facilities​ ​including all​ ​types​ ​of​ ​insurance​ ​proposals​ ​and​ ​claims.
3. Trace​ ​your​ ​whereabouts​ ​and​ ​recover​ ​debts​ ​that​ ​you​ ​owe.
4. Conduct​ ​other​ ​checks​ ​to​ ​prevent​ ​or​ ​detect​ ​fraud
5. We​ ​and​ ​other​ ​organisations​ ​may​ ​access​ ​and​ ​use​ ​from​ ​other​ ​countries​ ​the​ ​information recorded​ ​by​ ​fraud​ ​prevention​ ​agencies.
6. Undertake​ ​statistical​ ​analysis​ ​and​ ​system​ ​testing.

How​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​more

You​ ​can​ ​contact​ ​the​ ​CRAs​ ​currently​ ​operating​ ​in​ ​the​ ​UK;​ ​the​ ​information​ ​they​ ​hold​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be the​ ​same​ ​so​ ​it​ ​is​ ​worth​ ​contacting​ ​them​ ​all.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​charge​ ​you​ ​a​ ​small​ ​statutory​ ​fee.

CallCredit, Consumer​ ​Services​ ​Team,​ ​PO​ ​Box​ ​491,​ ​Leeds,​ ​LS3​ ​1WZ​ ​or​ ​call​ ​0870​ ​0601414

Equifax​ ​​PLC,​ ​Credit​ ​File​ ​Advice​ ​Centre,​ ​PO​ ​Box​ ​3001,​ ​Bradford,​ ​BD1​ ​5US​ ​or​ ​call​ ​0870​ ​010 0583​ ​or​ ​log​ ​on​ ​to​ ​www.myequifax.co.uk

Experian​,​ ​Consumer​ ​Help​ ​Service,​ ​PO​ ​Box​ ​8000,​ ​Nottingham​ ​NG80​ ​7WF​ ​or​ ​call​ ​0844​ ​4818000 or​ ​log​ ​on​ ​to​ ​www.experian.co.uk.