NO2ID

?

A basic credit check by a company does not require this information to carry out a credit check. Does anyone know why credit checking companies are asking for this information?

[For a tenancy application-passed the check without divulging but what is the idea?]

As far as I'm aware the only people who need your NI number areyour employer, the DSS (or whatever its called now) and possibly any employment agency you use to get a job so they can confirm your ctizenship and ability to work in the uk. Anyone else asking should be given short shrift and told where to go.

I vaguely remember that when NI numbers were introduced it was specifically made an offence to use them for any other purpose than the stated purposes. This was to prevent it becoming a general-purpose national identity number. This legislation may still be in force. You could suggest that it is, and ask them to demonstrate that the law permits them to ask for it.

If it's any help, the HMRC has a short page on NI numbers (and I dare day a few others).

HMRC: Your National Insurance Number

Unfortunately this does not seem to stop people using it as a reference number and printing it on the address label. Got one of these today and I am highly unimpressed. Worth an irritated call (at the very least) on Monday I think.

From a conversation I had this morning with the director of a lettings company it is apparent that they are being led by the new batch of gremlin credit checkers. He was totally oblivious to the facts revealed by the previous posting and when those facts were mentioned he looked genuinely discomfited.

So , the question, why would so many, mainly online firms such as homelets or rentchecks be asking for these numbers (albeit with small print disclaimers aimed at clients and not "checkees")?

Here's a little linkee to the forms

http://www.rentchecks.com/forms.asp

What think we?

Also found in the above company's website faqs



Speed up processing times? How can this information be used if it is not supposed to be disclosed to any other than...



...?

Tenant referencing companies request NI numbers so that they can apply for an attachment of earnings order via the courts should the tenant leave a pile of debt behind. The NI number is provided to the court and subsequently to the debtor's employer. Applications are speeded up as the absence of an NI number means that the referencing company has to ask the applicant's employer to supply a payroll reference number.

And there my friends is why the database state is wrong. Note the tone of Marcus's reply. Sheer arrogance engendered by New labour's assault on an individual's freedom. You should be ashamed.

a pile of debt = rip off fees from estate agents after you have vacated due to not being aware you should have signed on*/off a property condition report and read the 'fair wear and tear' small print on page 6 subsection (vii) para 12: the agent will decide what fees it will charge depending on the unscupulousness/greed of the said agent and/or the financial status of the said agent at the time of your vacation.

* note that the tenancy is still allowed to commence and run its entire contract even though the agent KNOWS that you have not even seen the property condition report, let alone signed as to its bearing on reality.

i caught an agent doing it to a friend of a friend (unknown to the 'sunburnt in winter' twat) of mine who was renting my house while i was in Oz.

pile of debt my arse, pack of arse licking thieves, ooh sir you OWN a property...you must be a good fellow, getting others to pay your mortgage for you....lovely....cup of tea sir?


There are at least three sides to every story.