More Facebook privacy concerns

Posted in 'Credit Reports' by Richard Catlin

31 January 2012

Facebook is set to roll out its controversial ‘Timeline’ feature to all users in the next few weeks, making it much easier to access historical information including photos and wall posts from their profile. The change, which will be active as default, has been criticised by privacy campaigners and existing Facebook users themselves – nothing new for the World’s biggest social network.

The surge in popularity of social media in recent years has seen increasing numbers of people sharing their lives and personal information with ‘friends’ - with an astonishing 30 million Facebook accounts held in the UK alone. Fail to apply privacy setting correctly however and that information could easily fall into the wrong hands.

A survey in 2010 revealed that half of all employers were using social networks to vet potential employees – a figure that is only likely to have increased even further in the last year.

It’s not just embarrassing photographs or controversial opinions that could cause you a problem. Armed with the personal information that some people freely post on social networks, identity thieves could have a field day. Similarly, happily informing anyone who is prepared to listen that you are going on holiday is as good as telling ‘traditional’ burglars that your house will be empty for a couple of weeks, should they feel inclined to break in.

Of course, it’s not just information that you divulge yourself that you need to be aware of. The data contained on your credit report could be just as damaging.

In addition to determining whether you will be accepted (and how much you’ll be asked to pay) for a credit card, loan, mortgage or even mobile phone contract, it could also scupper your chances of getting a dream job.

Some employers, including the police, run credit checks as part of their recruitment process, and any record of current CCJ’s or insolvency could well see a job offer withdrawn.

It’s therefore vital that you check to make sure all the information held about you is accurate. Our Multi Agency Credit Report allows you to see more information than you can get from anywhere else and is free to try for 30 days, after which it costs just £9.99 a month.

Should you need any assistance once you’ve seen your report, expert customer service is just a free phone call, email or secure message away.

Check your credit report now