Press Release

EQUIFAX SURVEY REVEALS MORTGAGE TROUBLES AHEAD

62% of those coming off a fixed rate deal are hoping for another - but tighter lending criteria could be a barrier

London, April 3rd 2008 - The latest survey* from leading instant online credit information provider, Equifax, reveals that nearly half of respondents (41%) have a fixed rate mortgage that comes to an end this year, with 62% of these hoping to secure another fixed rate deal. But Equifax is warning that in the current economic climate, if the borrower's credit rating isn't very good they may not get the best deal and could face hefty increases in repayments. The fact that 62% of respondents whose fixed rate comes to an end this year haven't yet started looking around for their next deal is also of concern.

"It is vital that homeowners' whose mortgage is coming to an end in the next few months start preparing themselves now", confirmed Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax. "First and foremost they need to think about how they will look to lenders - getting a copy of their credit report is crucial to ensure that all the information that a lender looks at is up to date. And they should give themselves plenty of time to find the best deal. If they leave it too late, there's a danger that they will revert to the lender's standard rate, which could increase their repayments significantly a month."

The Equifax survey also showed a high level of consumer disappointment regarding current lending rates, with 87% saying they feel let down that lenders are not passing on recent Bank of England rate cuts. This disappointment could be further exacerbated by the fact that two major mortgage lenders have actually increased their rates in the last month.

Homeowners with fixed rates aren't the only ones who could be struggling in the next few months. The other area of concern is those who remortgage to clear debts or to pay for home improvements or other major expenses.

Worryingly, 22% of those who responded to Equifax's survey said they have remortgaged to help clear their debt. But as Neil Munroe warns, this could be a risky strategy if house prices dip. 32% have remortgaged to make home improvements, while 29% have done the same to get a better mortgage deal.

However, there is some positive news. Just over a third of respondents said that they intend to overpay on their mortgage this year to help reduce their long-term commitments.

Munroe concludes, "Our survey paints a fairly gloomy picture as 59% admit to having £5,000 or more in short term debt, with 31% saying they are concerned that they will get into financial difficulty in the next 12 months. It looks like many consumers have a hard year ahead, but by planning ahead and choosing their next mortgage deal carefully, homeowners can stay out of financial trouble."

Equifax Top Tips for Re-mortgaging

Before you do anything get a copy of your credit rating report - www.equifax.co.uk. Lenders have tightened their lending criteria, so you want to achieve a high score to get the best deals on the market
Shop around - get at least 3 quotes to compare
When shopping around ensure enquiries are logged as 'quotation' (soft) searches rather than 'application' (hard) otherwise it could impact on your credit rating
Don't be tempted to increase the length of your mortgage term as it will cost you more in the long-term
If you can afford it, take out a shorter mortgage term as you can save thousands in the long run
Ensure you take in all the costs, as some deals look good on the surface, but can be more costly once you have added in the arrangement fee, etc.
Don't lie on your application, such as increasing the amount you earn or saying you have a perfect credit history - you may be found out and it could jeopardise your chance of getting a mortgage!
If you find it all a bit confusing or you don't have time to re-mortgage consider consulting an independent mortgage advisor

*Survey of 518 Equifax customers March 2008

For further press information please contact: Elinor Puzey, Louise Fowler, Cecile Stearn or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or Email: elinor@harrisonsadler.com

About Equifax (www.equifax.com)

Equifax empowers businesses and consumers with information they can trust. A global leader in information solutions, we leverage one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data, along with advanced analytics and proprietary technology, to create customized insights that enrich both the performance of businesses and the lives of consumers.

Customers have trusted Equifax for over 100 years to deliver innovative solutions with the highest integrity and reliability. Businesses - large and small - rely on us for consumer and business credit intelligence, portfolio management, fraud detection, decisioning technology, marketing tools, and much more. We empower individual consumers to manage their personal credit information, protect their identity, and maximize their financial well-being.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax Inc. employs approximately 6,900 people in 14 countries through North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500® Index. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EFX.