In simple terms the Data Protection Act requires companies and individuals who process and retain information about their customers to tell the customer how the information will be used and to what purposes it will be put. The Act does not restrict itself only to information kept on a computer; it is relevant to any ordered filing system.
Marlborough Loans is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ocean Finance and Mortgages Limited ("Ocean Finance"); the group comprises the following entities:
This Privacy Statement is observed by all entities that form part of the Ocean Finance Group.
This Privacy Statement is observed by all entities that form part of the Ocean Finance Group. Ocean Finance receives, holds and processes information relating to individuals ("personal data") in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 ("DPA98"). In doing so, Ocean Finance is committed to maintaining the privacy and protection of all personal data collected in pursuance of its broker and loan services. Ocean Finance is further committed to ensuring that its websites are absolutely secure in their collection and use of your personal information. All entities that comprise Ocean Finance are registered on the public register of data controllers maintained by the Information Commissioner.
The general principles under the DPA98 that Ocean Finance will follow at all times are set out below.
Both ourselves and almost all lending companies will check the information supplied on loan or mortgage enquiries with data held by credit reference agencies. The lender may search on more than one occasion. Every time a search is made it is recorded by the agency and disclosed to other organisations on any later searches.
Lenders will use the information obtained in the credit reference searches to help them assess the application and they may use the result of any search in a credit scoring system. A credit scoring system is a system by which points are given for various factors like your age, your job or even for information obtained from a credit reference agency, such as how you have repaid previous or existing credit. Lenders use different methods of scoring depending upon their interpretation of the importance of different factors and the level of risk they are willing to accept.
The lender may check your details with the credit reference agency or with other agencies (see 'other agencies' section) to satisfy itself that all the details on the application are true, and that the application has really been made by you. If it suspects information is false or inaccurate it may report it to a fraud prevention agency. Please ensure the information is true as lending companies will check with fraud prevention agencies and if you give false or inaccurate information, and the lender suspects fraud, it will record this.
Sometimes a lender may not wish to lend. This may be for a number of reasons. The lender may think you cannot afford the loan. If it is a secured loan, your property may not be of sufficient value. A lender does not have to tell you exactly why you have been refused a loan but you can ask them for the name and address of any credit reference agency used and they will supply this information free of charge.
If you are refused credit because of a computerised credit scoring system you can ask the lender for an explanation of how their credit scoring works (this applies only if the decision has been made on the basis of a computerised system alone). The lender may charge a small fee for providing this information. You also have the right to require a personal, non automated review of the decision.
Nobody has a right to receive a loan.
Loans are always granted at the discretion of the lending company.
All lending companies keep information about their customers in their own records. This will include all the initial information given by you, and extra information about how your account has been run and any other dealings between you and the lender.
Lenders will record the conduct of any loan throughout its duration, including how punctually the payments are made and other information, with one or more of the credit reference agencies. This enables them, and others, to make decisions about credit and credit-related services for you and other members of your household including decisions on motor and household credit, life and other insurance proposals and insurance claims.
Information may also be provided to the 'other agencies' listed below. These will help lenders and other subscribers to those agencies to trace debtors, recover debt, prevent fraud and to check your identity to prevent money laundering. In particular, any difference between the information given by you or your broker and any later information discovered by the lender is likely to be noted.
Lenders may also use your information for statistical analysis about credit, insurance and fraud. This may be done by them or by third parties contracted to do the work for them. If they use a contractor, they are obliged to ensure that your data is properly secure. Many lenders will also need to give information about you and your account to their bankers, other providers, insurers and re-insurers of funding for their lending or any other product they have offered to you. If your broker or lender intends to use your information for any purposes not included above, it will explain this in its documents.
Brokers and lenders are under a legal duty to keep all the information they hold accurate and up to date.
The agencies do not keep "blacklists" nor do they give any opinion about whether or not credit should be granted. They do have a duty to keep information up to date and accurate.
The main credit reference agencies are:
Callcredit plc
Consumer Services Team
Callcredit plc
PO Box 491
Leeds
LS1 5XX
Tel: 0870 060 1414
www.callcredit.co.uk
Experian Limited
Consumer Help Service
Experian
PO Box 8000
Nottingham
NG1 5GX
Tel: 0870 241 6212
www.experian.co.uk
Equifax plc
Credit File Advice Centre
PO Box 1140
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 5US
www.myequifax.co.uk
All lending companies use one or more of these agencies. Credit reference agencies keep a wide range of information. This includes information from the electoral roll (sometimes known as the voters roll) and records of most county court judgments and bankruptcies. They also retain information relating to previous and existing credit and a record of searches made against the file. The lenders share information through the agencies providing a history of how punctually payments are being made or have been made. Loan information is usually held on file for 6 years. Details of the voters roll may be held for much longer. Information about credit searches is kept for up to two years.
Other Agencies
CIFAS
Reports from CIFAS relating to fraud and fraud avoidance are also available to its members (most lenders) - these contain information indicating that fraud, or attempted fraud, has been notified by a lender. The information might not directly relate to you, it might relate to someone who has tried to impersonate you. Data available to members of CIFAS, may also be used to help make decisions on motor, household, credit, life and other insurance proposals for you and members of your household.
CML Repossession Register
The Council of Mortgage Lenders, Repossession Register is available to its members through the main credit reference agencies. If you have had a property repossessed or have given it up voluntarily this will show on the register.
GAIN
A file may also show a "gone away" marker indicating that a member of the "Gone Away Information Network" has reported that they cannot trace a customer who is in arrears with payments. Alternatively, the marker may indicate a new address which the "gone away" has been traced to.
HUNTER
Files in this register contain detailed information on enquiries made and loans given. It is aimed at tracing fraudsters who use different combinations of information to obtain credit dishonestly. It checks and counter checks information given on application forms.
If your broker or lender uses any of the above agencies they will be able to confirm their contact addresses. CIFAS information is intended to warn lenders and act as a protection for innocent customers.
The Information Commissioner provides a useful leaflet which explains how to request changes to your credit reference file. The easy to read leaflet includes examples of letters and details of various actions you may take to amend a file. You can obtain a copy of the free leaflet by writing to:
No Credit Leaflet
P.O. Box 99
Nelson
BB9 8GS
Information is also available at www.dataprotection.gov.uk
Should you wish to obtain a copy of the personal data we hold on you please write to the Compliance Department, Marlborough Loans Limited, Pacific House, Relay Point, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 5PA enclosing your payment of £10 for our administration costs. As soon as we are satisfied as to your identity we will send you, within 40 days, a copy of all the data we hold concerning you. Please contact us at the same address if you have any reason to believe the data we hold on you is inaccurate.
Like many websites, when you visit our website we issue a 'cookie' or unique code that allows us to identify your computer. We use the cookie to record where applicable, the website that referred you to our site and to note the different areas of our website recently accessed through your computer - it is only used in relation to our website and not in relation to any other websites you may visit. We may use the information collected in this way to tell you about services or products which might be of interest to you when you make further visits to this website.
Calls to our offices may be recorded, this is for our protection and yours. Calls are used for training and monitoring purposes and may be used in the unlikely event of a complaint.
Contacting Us
If you have any questions about our Data Protection Policy, the Terms of Use or any other aspect of this website please contact us at:
Marlborough Loans Limited
Pacific House
Relay Point
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B77 5BR
Tel. 0870 191 0800
Fax. 0870 240 3094
E-mail. application form
Office Opening Times :
Monday to Friday
9.00am to 5.30pm
Saturday and Sunday
Closed
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OUR TYPICAL, VARIABLE RATE IS 15.9% APR. RATES RANGE FROM 9.4% to 29.9% APR
THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
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