§ Mr. Corbettasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what protection is given to a consumer who is refused credit on the basis of a debt incurred by a lodger at the same address as the consumer, where the lodger is not a relative of the applicant for credit;
(2) when he expects the sections of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which give a consumer the right to see and, if necessary, amend a credit reference file concerning him or herself, to be brought into effect.
§ Mr. John FraserThe decision whether to grant credit at all, in particular circumstances, or to any particular person, must be for the creditor who is putting his money at risk. It would not be appropriate for the Government to intervene in such a decision. However, the Government believe that creditors should base such decisions on accurate information. It is for this reason that certain provisions of the Consumer Credit Act, which I hope to make effective early next year, will enable consumers to obtain a copy of information held about them by credit reference agencies and, if it is incorrect, to have appropriate corrections or deletions made.