Is This a Scam? Unsolicited email From Equifax!

GOCAT9 on 28/03/2017 - 11:25
Last edited 28/03/2017 - 14:29 by 1 other user

Has anybody received an unsolicited email like this? It smells of a scam to me, but I called the Australian Information Commissioner and they said it wasn't. The recipient of this email had in fact spend that $69.95 on a credit file about that time.

What do you think?

Hi XXXXXXXX (real name provided)

In December 2016 the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner notified Veda (now known as Equifax) that some customers who purchased a My Credit File Express product are entitled to a refund where certain conditions are met.

Our records show you are eligible for a $69.95 refund, having purchased the My Credit File Express product on 25/02/2015, and not having ordered a credit report from Veda in the 12 months prior.

Because of the time that has elapsed since the purchase date, we cannot automatically process a refund back to the card originally used.

To process your refund we require your BSB, account number and confirmation of your identity. You can provide this information by calling our Customer Contact Centre on +61 2 9119 5063, Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and quote reference XXXXXX (number given).

Once we receive these details from you, we will process a refund within 14 days.

Regards,
The Equifax team

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  [Deactivated] on 28/03/2017 - 11:34

  +5

  request a call back and ask

  https://www.equifax.com.au/contact

  • 

    tomsco on 28/03/2017 - 13:15

    I think this is the best option.

    Seeing as yourself and Ria3D below received it, I'm inclined to believe it's genuine. In saying that, I'd still prefer not to call a number received via email.

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  kipps on 28/03/2017 - 11:34

  Looks legit to me. They probably got caught for misleading consumers into thinking they had to pay for the credit file when, in fact, under the Privacy Act, Veda had to make it available free of charge.

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    GOCAT9 on 28/03/2017 - 12:03

    Actually, from what I recall, if you were prepared to wait 14 days it was free, but if you wanted it immediately, you had to pay the $69.95. At least that is what they said at the time.

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      weezlebub on 28/03/2017 - 12:24

      +1

      Even if it is legit, call them and request a cheque be posted to your residential address, then you can cash it at your leisure …

      Or ask for the payment via your paypal account …

      Either way, it's credit listing companies, make their life as difficult as possible!!

    • 

      kipps on 28/03/2017 - 15:34

      It has always been free if you're prepared to wait, but their website has historically not made this clear.

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  tonsta on 28/03/2017 - 11:56

  official docs always come via email now (queue up the the sarcasm).

  fake.

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  Rerh on 28/03/2017 - 12:45

  +1

  I received the same email, with my full name and correct details of the date I ordered my credit report (I paid for express as I needed it for a lease application).

  There was definitely an adverse finding made about charging consumers for their credit file:
  http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/credit-repor…

  However, I googled the telephone number and it's not listed, which makes calling it to provide my bank details feel a bit dodgy.

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    hell0 on 28/03/2017 - 13:40

    Glad I grabbed this bargain as I can get my $29.95 back from 2009. Contacted them via online form. I'll let you know my response.

    The article from SMH sealed it as a real offer.

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  starburstyellow on 29/03/2017 - 01:06

  Yeah I got same email, as I asked for my file in 2014. Gave them my bsb/acc few days ago. Hope I didnt make a mistake. :(

  • 

    starburstyellow on 03/04/2017 - 17:40

    Hi fyi, I just got the $$ creditted to my account. Happy days.

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  GOCAT9 on 29/03/2017 - 09:26

  Thanks all. I think there is enough evidence here to suggest that this is real so we will go ahead and try and claim our refund. I did ask them yesterday if they would refund via cheque or PayPal-apparently they can't do that.

  I'll report back here if and when I get the money.

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  JimmyJC on 03/04/2017 - 10:09

  I called the number on the Equifax website 138 332 and asked them if they could help me. The told me I had to call the number in the email. So I asked them if they could confirm the number in the email. The told me it was 02 9119 5063.

  So it seems legit.

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  GOCAT9 on 04/04/2017 - 09:06

  Thanks, yes I am convinced it it legit now!

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  emschem on 10/04/2017 - 13:10

  Hi GOCAT9,

  I just received the EXACT same email, word for word, and states I'm owed $69.95 as well. Did you end up contacting the number listed?

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    GOCAT9 on 11/04/2017 - 09:29

    My friend is contacting them today- I think it is legit- will let you know how she goes.

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  coolsteps on 13/04/2017 - 23:38

  dont give anyone a transaction account number as they can setup direct debits from it best you give a linked savings account number that doesn't permit direct debits.