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Welcome to Credit Secrets. This site is designed to dis-spell some of the myths surrounding credit and debt and give you an understanding of what can be done if you have suffered debt in the past, are currently suffering debt problems or may do in the future. It explains the importance of your credit file and the information on it.

To get the best out of the site it is recommended you follow the pages through, but you can also just navigate to the pages of interest to you.

If you wish to contact us, please see details on the contact page. We are happy to try to assist with individual questions, should you not be able to find your answer within these pages.

Getting Started

There are various reasons people are refused credit, some people have an exemplary credit rating, but may still be refused credit simply because the company they are applying too believes they already have to much credit commitment. Some have adverse credit, while others have mistakes on their credit file which is hindering them obtaining credit.
The most important piece of information required before you start to repair your credit or understand how you look to credit companies, is to obtain a copy of your credit report.

You can obtain your credit report in two ways, either instanty on line, you will find adverts on the left hand side for these, what you should know before you take this option is you will get an instant free credit report, but they will want your debit or credit card details, as you are signing up to a monthly credit report and they will bill you each month unless you cancel it.

The other option is a one off payment of £2.00 by post, the details of how to do this and the addresses are below, you only need to apply to one agency as they should all hold the same information on you.

You have the right to write to any of the credit reference agencies and ask for a copy of your credit reference file, which will cost you £2.
Your letter should include:

  • your full name;
  • any other names you have used or been known by in the last six years eg your maiden name;
  • your full address including postcode;
  • any other addresses you have lived at in the last six years;
  • your date of birth; and
  • a cheque or postal order for £2 made payable to the credit reference agency.

You should keep a copy of your letter and you may want to send it by recorded delivery. Unless the agency needs more information, they have seven working days from receiving your letter to provide you with a copy of your file.

Sometimes the credit reference agencies need more information from you before they can send you your file. For example, they may need proof of your name and address from a utility bill or bank statement. This is important to make sure that no one else gets your file by mistake or to check that no one else has fraudulently applied for your credit reference file. The agencies do not have to send you your file until they get this information.

The addresses of the credit reference agencies are:
Equifax Ltd
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
0844 335 0550
www.equifax.co.uk

Callcredit Plc
Consumer Services Team
PO Box 491
Leeds
LS3 1WZ
0870 060 1414
www.callcredit.co.uk

Experian Ltd
Customer Support Centre
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG80 7WF
0844 481 8000
www.experian.co.uk