EQUIFAX MARKS CREDIT AWARNESS WEEK BY GIVING FREE ACCESS TO CREDIT REPORTS FOR THE SERIOUSLY INDEBTED
London, 11th May 2007 – Equifax, the company that pioneered instant online access to credit files for consumers, is reinforcing the importance of credit information in the debt management process during Credit Awareness Week with free access to credit files for the seriously indebted.
Equifax is working with the leading debt advice organisations – Citizens Advice Bureau, Consumer Credit Counselling Service and National Debtline – to enable these organisations to provide their clients who are most seriously in debt with free access to their credit file. The client must request their credit file from Equifax themselves, which they can do using a request form and a supporting letter from their local debt advice organisation. Once they receive their file, they can then work with the debt advice organisation to try to resolve their debt problems.
“Often individuals who have got into serious debt problems have difficulty in understanding the full extent of the credit agreements to which they are committed”, confirmed Neil Munroe, External Affairs Director, Equifax. “We believe that providing free access to credit files for these consumers, via the debt advice organisations, is a crucial step in the process.
“It is only the recognised credit reference agencies – not third party resellers of credit information – who can provide advice and assistance to individuals about their credit files. This includes contacting lenders who have entered inaccurate information on individuals’ credit files and arranging for other changes to a credit file.
“The advice provided by our Credit File Advice Centre, which features a team of experts who have first-hand knowledge of many of the issues affecting an individual’s credit file, also plays a key role in helping consumers to understand the content of their credit file and deal with any queries they might have regarding the information.”
The free credit file service offered by Equifax through the debt advice organisations provides consumers with their statutory credit report. This will be sent in the post within 7 days of the request. However, for those consumers who want quicker access to their credit information, they can go online to www.equifax.co.uk and order an instant copy of their Equifax Credit Rating™ for just £14.95.
The advice and information provided free on the Equifax website is also valuable in helping those who have taken on too much credit or whose circumstances have changed, putting them under increased financial pressure.
Equifax is exhibiting at the Credit Show which is running alongside Credit Awareness Week.
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Notes to Editors
For further press information please contact: Claire Foster, Kate Clements or Wendy Harrison at HSL on 020 8977 9132 / Fax: 020 8977 5200 or Email: claire@harrisonsadler.com
About Equifax
Equifax Inc. is a global leader in information technology that enables and secures global commerce with consumers and businesses. We are one of the largest sources of consumer and commercial data. Utilizing our databases, advanced analytics and proprietary enabling technology, we provide real-time answers for our customers. This innovative ability to transform information into intelligence is valued by customers across a wide range of industries and markets. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax employs approximately 4,600 people in 13 countries throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Equifax was founded 107 years ago, and today 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. .
Equifax. Information That Empowers.
