How Credit Reference Agencies & Fraud Prevention Agencies process data Before giving you credit, lenders such as banks, loan companies and shops want to be confident that you can repay the money they lend. To help them do this, they may look at the information held by companies called credit reference agencies. What are credit reference agencies? Credit reference agencies give lenders a range of information about potential borrowers, which lenders use to make their decisions. The information shared may include information about your previous credit history and how you have repaid credit or bills in the past. They hold certain information about most adults in the UK and collect and maintain information on consumers’ and businesses’ credit behaviour, on behalf of organisations in the UK. This information is called your credit reference file or credit report. What is a fraud prevention agency? Fraud Prevention Agencies (FPAs) collect maintain and share information on known and suspected fraudulent activity. Some CRAs also act as FPAs. How your data WILL be used by credit reference agencies: 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: • Prevent crime, fraud and money laundering by, for example checking details provided on applications for credit and credit related or other facilities • Check the operation of credit and credit-related accounts • Verify your identity if you or your financial associate applies for other facilities • Make decisions on credit and credit related services about you, your partner, other members of your household or your business • Manage your personal, your partner’s and/or business (if you have one) credit or credit related account or other facilities How your data may be used by fraud prevention agencies: The information which we provide to the fraud prevention agencies about you, your financial associates and your business (if you have one) may be supplied by fraud prevention agencies to other organisations and used by them and us to: • Prevent crime, fraud and money laundering by, for example: - checking details provided on applications for credit and credit related or other facilities - Managing credit and credit related accounts or facilities - Cross Check details provided on proposals and claims for all types of insurance. - Checking details on applications for jobs or when checked as part of employment How to contact us about the information in this leaflet • Verify your identity if you or your financial associate applies for other facilities including all types of insurance proposals and claims • Trace your whereabouts and recover debts that you owe unitedutilities.com/ personaldetails • Conduct other checks to prevent or detect fraud • Undertake statistical analysis and system testing. Information about Credit Before giving you credit, lenders such as banks, loan companies and shops want to be confident that you can repay the money they lend. To help them do this, they may look at the information held by companies called credit reference agencies. The three main consumer credit reference agencies in the UK are Callcredit, Equifax and Experian. If you have any specific queries about your own account, our data sharing activities or you are having difficulty paying your water bill, please call us on 0845 746 2034. If you have any specific questions about data protection call our team on 01925 731347 or 01925 731310. • Trace your whereabouts and recover debts that you owe 10/11/SD/4827 • Undertake statistical analysis and system testing • Credit reference agencies can also be fraud prevention agencies. United Utilities PO Box 459 Warrington WA55 1WB How do I get my credit reference file? You have the right to write to any of the credit reference agencies (see addresses below) 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. The credit reference agencies addresses 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 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. 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. About us United Utilities Water PLC , Haweswater House, Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Warrington WA5 3LP. Registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 2366678. 02/13/SD/5584 United Utilities is the North West’s water company. We keep the taps flowing and toilets flushing for seven million customers every day. From Crewe to Carlisle, we work hard behind the scenes to help your life flow smoothly.