Hi folks,

we have been asked by a few mortgage advisers and realtors to get a credit check from the UK Credit Burea. Have been searching on line and have come up with loads of sites, thought there would be one main one????

Anybody recommend one to use please?

Many thanks,
regards,
Carl

I used Experian - sometimes they have free offers. I think I paid about £5 for a full credit history in 2001 (needed to dissociate myself from ex-OH).

just checked their website www.experian.co.uk and indeed they have a 30 day free trial!

I was told that Canadian finance institutions prefer Equifax so I got one from them. It took about 5 minutes, cost about £14 and was valid for 30 days if I remember correctly.

Ha thanks folks, will have a look in a bit.

They only last for so long then, when you have paid?

Thanks again,
Carl

I have used both those mentioned at various periods, the report is based on when you pay for it, the 30 day period mentioned is just how long it is viewable online for, you should just print it anyway.

I prefer equifax.

Use Equifax. Even though the Canadian version is different from the English one, Canadians will not recognise Experian as readily as they will English Equifax

HTH

Carl
You need to use equifax as most canadian mortgage companies do not recognise experian. You will need to get the one that has the full credit rating on for both of you.
Take care
Julie

I got credit reports from all three bureaux (experian, equifax and call credit)
before I left the UK and the canadian bank looked at all three but as others have said the Equifax one was the one that seemed most readily accepted.

MrM

I recommend Equifax as I beleive it is actually a Canadian outfit.
Anyway, it's what the majority of banks use here and it got us a 90% mortgage offer and unsecured credit cards and overdrafts.
Do remember though to shop around the banks - research them before going with the one who makes the best offer and do be sure to tell them you are shopping around.

Hi

Can you still get these reports even if you have lived in Canada for a couple of years? I heard that once you leave a UK address you cannot get them. Could a Canadian mortgage broker get them?

thanks

Pete

Pete, the credit report is a snapshot of your credit report for that day showing all your accounts with stores, credit cards, loans, car finance, mortgages etc. so if you have non of these in the UK then you will not get much on the report.

I guess it's fine for those who have recently arrived and didn't do it before they left as there would still be some relevance.
The data is updated monthly so soon enough nothing much will show.

Hope that helps.
Rob.

Hi

I am thinking more along the lines of if we get a newer car out here after being here for a couple of years.....or a mortgage as we are renting at the moment until we decide where we want to live in Canada!!!

thanks

Pete

how do you go about getting the equifax one with a canadian address? the experian one was easy, just send it by post with £11.99 and proof of current address. however experian is online only that i can see and it will only allow UK addresses. should i just use my last UK address?

Yes it must be a UK address as it is part of the credit search.
Your accounts will all have to be linked to that same address.
I'm not sure about applying from Canada if you have changed your old UK mailing address to a Canadian one.

Perhaps that's why it's a good idea to do it before you leave the UK or very soon after.

Well it's probably worth a try.

Rob.

well experian have no problems with you now living at a non UK address. ill give experian a try using my last UK address.