Dispute with Equifax for readding old information on payday loans, previously removed

[Scrumpy11]

Hi all, I am after some advice:

I have a dispute with Equifax for displaying information which has previously been removed from my credit file.

There are three payday loan company's Wonga, Sunny and Lending Stream, all of which no longer exist. There was a forth, Swift Sterling, but this data has miraculously disappeared.

In 2018 I had raised a complaint against all three companies for irresponsible lending. Lending Stream and Sunny were through the Financial Ombudsman, but due to Wonga going into Administration, the administrators dealt with my complaint. All three were upheld and I was reimbursed some money with the data being removed from my credit file.

Sometime in July, Equifax stated that these companies have been in touch with Equifax to have these accounts reloaded on my file, I find this hard to believe due to these companies no longer exist. i stated this to various advisors over numerous phone calls, to be informed on several occasions that these companies have requested the information to be re-added to my file. I supplied evidence that these companies no longer exist to then informed that the data was only temporarily removed whilst I was disputing the accounts. They did not seem to grasp that they had been informed to remove the data previously, that they were wrong

I am banging my head up a brick wall with this company as now they are waiting for these companies to respond to my disputes. This has caused damage to my credit file and other companies are starting to notice. I have seen a credit card reduce my limit from £1200 to £600. Also, I was half way through taking out finance on a car, Initially I was offered 0% interest which then went to 15.1% (30%APR) due to the information on my credit file.

How do I get this information removed?
Can I claim compensation for the damage caused?

There are approximately 29 loans displaying across the three companies with others which have been added and quickly removed, I believe due to the passage of time.

Equifax advisors are blatantly lying when saying that these companies all got InTouch on the same day to add this information and they dont seem to grasp that these companies no longer exist. I have opened disputes through their online portals to have them closed without resolution. I phone back to be informed that complaint is now closed with no explanation.

I tried to give Equifax a way out by stating I thought there had been a computer error, but they would not accept that, informing me the data is correct.

I have now emailed them a full official complaint, including the final outcome of my complaints where my complains were upheld, even providing them with reference numbers where these companies had been InTouch with their company to remove the data, However, this could take upto 8 weeks for a response, is there anything else I can do?


I would be grateful of ay assistance you maybe able to offer.


Kind Regards


Stevieb

[Apollo14LMP]

How old are the loans ?? ... i was victim of fraud contacted the debt collector. Then i did prove the debt letters when they could not prove the debt was mine i demanded they remove them which they did.
i now have a good credit rating it took ages to do . But got there in the end if they can prove they are your im not sure... they don't seem to ever have the correct paperwork which is helpful. Try this perhaps ????

[Scrumpy11]

How old are the loans ?? ... i was victim of fraud contacted the debt collector. Then i did prove the debt letters when they could not prove the debt was mine i demanded they remove them which they did.
i now have a good credit rating it took ages to do . But got there in the end if they can prove they are your im not sure... they don't seem to ever have the correct paperwork which is helpful. Try this perhaps ????

Wonga: The Administrators requested the data to be removed in January but were informed by Equifax that there are delays. A month or two maybe, not eight months. Also, Equifax are stating the data is correct and they need to speak to Wonga. Last loan from them was 2018.

Sunny - Sonny have stated the data has resurfaced as Equifax have changed the account title from 'Elevate' to '-Elevate'. Equifax state data is correct that they need to speak to Sunny. Last loan from them was 2018. Sunny requested that the data be removed in 2018, this has never happened.

I have the same problems with Lending Stream and Swift Sterling.

I have demanded that they remove the data, Equifax states that it need conformation from the respected companies. My evidence does not matter.

Im just not sure what I can do. Can I hold Equifax liable for this and if so what can I hold them liable for? what regulations have they breached?

[Debt Camel]

Equifax advisors are blatantly lying when saying that these companies all got InTouch on the same day to add this information and they dont seem to grasp that these companies no longer exist.

So I have lots of sympathy for your situation but it isn't helped by throwing accusations around. All the companies do still exist.

Lending Stream its legal entity is Gain Credit and they are still lending. They are hard to communicate with - by design - but they are alive and kicking.

I suggest you should complain to Lending Stream and tell them to correct your record.

Wonga and Sunny do still legally exist but are in administration. The firms even though no longer lending are still FCA regulated and should still report to CRAs accurately. Even when they cease to exist, the CRA records will remain although at that point you may be able to get them deleted / corrected by supplying evidence to the CRAs.

Wonga is close to the end and will soon be liquidated. It has been going through a protracted process of deleting all the loans it considered to be unaffordable when people had submitted claims .For some unknown reason this is going much slower at Equifax than the other two CRAs. See the comments below https://debtcamel.co.uk/wonga-has-st...issuing-loans/ for how people are getting on trying to get this resolved.

Sunny is just at the start and will be around for at least another 18 months. For some reason they have been changing the firm name on all the credit records which has resulted in some records appearing for the first time - it feels likely they always should have been there and the non reporting before may have been a system error then. If the records which have appeared are among those the Ombudsman said should be deleted, you need to ask Sunny customer services to delete them and attache the evidence of the FOS decision.

[Scrumpy11]

So I have lots of sympathy for your situation but it isn't helped by throwing accusations around. All the companies do still exist.

Lending Stream its legal entity is Gain Credit and they are still lending. They are hard to communicate with - by design - but they are alive and kicking.

I suggest you should complain to Lending Stream and tell them to correct your record.

Wonga and Sunny do still legally exist but are in administration. The firms even though no longer lending are still FCA regulated and should still report to CRAs accurately. Even when they cease to exist, the CRA records will remain although at that point you may be able to get them deleted / corrected by supplying evidence to the CRAs.

Wonga is close to the end and will soon be liquidated. It has been going through a protracted process of deleting all the loans it considered to be unaffordable when people had submitted claims .For some unknown reason this is going much slower at Equifax than the other two CRAs. See the comments below https://debtcamel.co.uk/wonga-has-st...issuing-loans/ for how people are getting on trying to get this resolved.

Sunny is just at the start and will be around for at least another 18 months. For some reason they have been changing the firm name on all the credit records which has resulted in some records appearing for the first time - it feels likely they always should have been there and the non reporting before may have been a system error then. If the records which have appeared are among those the Ombudsman said should be deleted, you need to ask Sunny customer services to delete them and attache the evidence of the FOS decision.

Thank you for the correction.

Lending Stream - I am trying to get hold of the company, as you say, they are hard to reach. Equifax are still adamant they need to speak to Lending Stream, there has been no response despite the 21 days passing.


Wonga - I have spoken to the Administrators after leaving a message on Facebook, all avenues no longer existed and Grant and Thornton were not answering emails and no longer taking phone calls doe to the Covid19 situation.

"Good afternoon


As you will be aware, we requested for customer credit files to be amended by Equifax in January. We were subsequently advised that there was an unforeseen delay on the part of Equifax. We have since been in touch with Equifax who have apologised for the delay and confirmed that your file will be amended as soon as they are able.


Equifax will be confirming timings with us in due course. We will not be able to provide you with any updates until then."

Wonga actually requested the data be removed in November 2019, Equifax said there was a problem with their systems and the data would be removed by January. This never happened.

Equifax are still adamant they need to speak to Wonga, there has been no response despite the 21 days passing.


Sunny - Sunny stated the following:

"Good Afternoon,

We are aware that your ClearScore report recently alerted you to changes regarding Elevate Credit (Sunny.co.uk) loans.

This was due to a change which Equifax (the bureau who provide data to ClearScore) made in July, by changing the Organisation Name from “Elevate” to “-Elevate”."

The data has never been removed from my file, only when the name changed and then it was reintroduced under the new name, this happened the same day. Equifax were told mid last year to remove my data but have failed to do so. Equifax are still adamant they need to speak to Sunny, there has been no response despite the 21 days passing.

I am now being informed that the data will be temporally removed as far as Wonga, due to no response from the company but all other accounts still remain.

This is destroying my credit file, surly it must be illegal.

[Scrumpy11]

[QUOTE=Debt Camel;n1534508]



I suggest you should complain to Lending Stream and tell them to correct your record.

Wonga and Sunny do still legally exist but are in administration. The firms even though no longer lending are still FCA regulated and should still report to CRAs accurately. Even when they cease to exist, the CRA records will remain although at that point you may be able to get them deleted / corrected by supplying evidence to the CRAs.

Wonga is close to the end and will soon be liquidated. It has been going through a protracted process of deleting all the loans it considered to be unaffordable when people had submitted claims .For some unknown reason this is going much slower at Equifax than the other two CRAs. See the comments below https://debtcamel.co.uk/wonga-has-st...issuing-loans/ for how people are getting on trying to get this resolved.


Thank you for the information