If you've spotted an account or name on your report that you don't recognise, it's likely because you've been 'matched' to another person by mistake.
Matching happens because of the way credit reference agencies add information to credit reports – they use a technique called 'fuzzy matching’.
This technique helps if a provider incorrectly reports your name or address (with a typo, for example), the account data should still find its way onto your report – rather than being lost entirely.
This also means that you can be matched if:
- You and a family member have the same last name and address history
- You’re a twin who has the same last name, birthday and address history
- You rent or share property and share the same or a similar first name with your flatmate
- You have a similar name or date of birth to someone who lives in a property you used to live in
- You share a similar name and/or date of birth with someone else
If you’ve noticed ‘fuzzy matching’ on your report, you can use our form to raise a dispute with Equifax (our credit report provider). Follow the link and select ‘My credit report information’ > ‘Other names’.