Wager Works Ran A Credit Check On Me

guesswest

Dormant Account
Joined
Sep 1, 2005
Location
Malta
I'm not a regular poster so I don't know if this has been covered in the past, apologies if so.

I was looking at my UK credit report today and I noticed a few months ago Wager Works ran a credit check on me. I assume this possibility is buried somewhere in their T&Cs (I don't even know which site it was so I can't check this), but even if so I think most peoples' assumption would be that they would only do this if they had an unusual and compelling reason to do so, ie strongly suspected fraud. In my case I hardly play at WW and have never deposited or cashed out any large amounts, so I can only assume this is a routine/random thing.

It's a big deal IMO. Firstly, it automatically knocks a few points off your credit score anytime someone runs it. Secondly, would be creditors can see how many enquiries are lodged, and the more you have the worse it looks, because the assumption is that all of them are from people who you have requested credit from. And lastly it's a gambling company - chances are most people won't know the name, but if they do they'll tag you as a gambler, and that's never going to look good on a credit application.

I'm not going to go as far as to say there are no circumstances at all under which a casino would be within good practice to run your credit, but it's a significant intrusion of privacy and I just want to make aware anyone who isn't already that they might do this.
 
I'm not a regular poster so I don't know if this has been covered in the past, apologies if so.

I was looking at my UK credit report today and I noticed a few months ago Wager Works ran a credit check on me. I assume this possibility is buried somewhere in their T&Cs (I don't even know which site it was so I can't check this), but even if so I think most peoples' assumption would be that they would only do this if they had an unusual and compelling reason to do so, ie strongly suspected fraud. In my case I hardly play at WW and have never deposited or cashed out any large amounts, so I can only assume this is a routine/random thing.

It's a big deal IMO. Firstly, it automatically knocks a few points off your credit score anytime someone runs it. Secondly, would be creditors can see how many enquiries are lodged, and the more you have the worse it looks, because the assumption is that all of them are from people who you have requested credit from. And lastly it's a gambling company - chances are most people won't know the name, but if they do they'll tag you as a gambler, and that's never going to look good on a credit application.

I'm not going to go as far as to say there are no circumstances at all under which a casino would be within good practice to run your credit, but it's a significant intrusion of privacy and I just want to make aware anyone who isn't already that they might do this.

i agree with your stance ,but are you shure that a credit inquiry will be a negative thing , im not so shure because lets say i price haggle for a auto /house loan these peeps will check my credit and ive bot nothing /done nothing its just history [ive seen a negative remark on a credit report before and there is no mistaking that

also there are other things on a credit history like all the places you have had a account paid off [remarks] but just a merchant inquiry ??
 
i agree with your stance ,but are you shure that a credit inquiry will be a negative thing , im not so shure because lets say i price haggle for a auto /house loan these peeps will check my credit and ive bot nothing /done nothing its just history [ive seen a negative remark on a credit report before and there is no mistaking that

also there are other things on a credit history like all the places you have had a account paid off [remarks] but just a merchant inquiry ??


It's never going to be a good thing, at best it makes no difference. In the example you give the primary concern is that a would-be lender is going to think you bought/did nothing because you got refused credit. Even if they don't mistake it for a credit request, it's still a gambling provider right there on your credit report - if they know the name or choose to google it they're going to know you take -EV gambles with your money and might conclude you're a risk.

It is lodged as a 'generic/identity' query on the report as opposed to a request for credit, but IME those tags don't mean much - there is a real credit request elsewhere on the report with the same tag. It's not the end of the world or anything, it's unlikely to make a big difference, and won't make any in my case as I don't live in the UK anymore - but I was surprised to see it on there and thought I should warn people.
 
Its an intrusion of your privacy imho and can also knock off a few points sometimes.

Did you you sign anything stating they could run a credit check on you? I have seen this at B&M casinos when applying for casino credit but im not sure about online gaming.

I dont think i would like to see alot of Inetbet and 3 Dice enquiries on mine and would be highly pissed and would never play there again. What casinos out there pulls crap like this without telling a player or getting his/ her ok.:(


Laurie
 
Its an intrusion of your privacy imho and can also knock off a few points sometimes.

Did you you sign anything stating they could run a credit check on you? I have seen this at B&M casinos when applying for casino credit but im not sure about online gaming.

I dont think i would like to see alot of Inetbet and 3 Dice enquiries on mine and would be highly pissed and would never play there again. What casinos out there pulls crap like this with out telling a player or getting his/ her ok.:(


Laurie

I didn't knowingly sign anything stating they could run a credit check on me, though if it was in the t&cs I guess I would have done so implicitly by opening an account.

I certainly didn't receive any credit from them. I don't even know what casino it was so I can't check their t&cs - it also seems kinda weird to me that is the network operator and not the casino doing the check, I don't know how that works.
 
When you say Wagerworks, do you mean the software company or a casino that uses their software?

Seems extremely highly irregular to me and I would be very annoyed if a casino did that to me.

The query is from 'WAGERWORKS UK LIMITED.' I assume it is a particular casino that requested it but I don't know which - am not sure why it originates from the network name and not theirs.
 
I, personally would be livid! That's why I never register or play anywhere until I have read the T&Cs with a fine tooth comb. The last thing I would want is for anything gambling related to be on my credit report. In the USA, nobody can run your credit unless authorized and they need your social security number to run it anyway, which I would never give to an online casino. I'd pass on play there, if ever asked for it.
 
In the USA, nobody can run your credit unless authorized

Same in the UK as well. You have to be made very aware that a credit check needs to be performed and provide your approval. It can't be hidden away within T & C's.

I've not heard of a casino do this before. No excuse to be part of a security check either. Especially as the casino is not providing credit. Sportsbooks provide credit facilities to their high rollers, but online casinos don't.

Besides in many jurisdictions a gambling debt is legally unenforceable. ( Gibraltar is one of a few notable exceptions )

I have flagged this thread for Bryan/Max/Simmo to look at.
 
guesswest: It's a big deal IMO. Firstly, it automatically knocks a few points off your credit score anytime someone runs it. Secondly, would be creditors can see how many enquiries are lodged, and the more you have the worse it looks, because the assumption is that all of them are from people who you have requested credit from. And lastly it's a gambling company - chances are most people won't know the name, but if they do they'll tag you as a gambler, and that's never going to look good on a credit application.
Ok, relax. I pull credit reports for a living. You will not lose any points. If you go online, and check you report you will see NUMEROUS inquiries into ones credit without permission simply because once you get a credit card, an auto loan or whatever...you are open to these inquiries..they do not affect your credit report.

Many credit card companies are extremely guilty of looking into a person credit history to offer them cards and specials. Just as others do. Check your credit online for free and you will see the list of inquiries ...you might be quite surprised on who is interested in you!

By law, anyone looking into credit of anothers cannot affect it unless it was ordered by the owner of that credit which is you. Then you will have points addressed against your credit if you APPLIED for credit.

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Ok, relax. I pull credit reports for a living. You will not lose any points. If you go online, and check you report you will see NUMEROUS inquiries into ones credit without permission simply because once you get a credit card, an auto loan or whatever...you are open to these inquiries..they do not affect your credit report.

There are only 4 enquiries on there in the last 6 years and one of them is from me.

By law, anyone looking into credit of anothers cannot affect it unless it was ordered by the owner of that credit which is you. Then you will have points addressed against your credit if you APPLIED for credit..

That's reassuring if true (are you talking about the UK system?), but even if it doesn't impact my score I still have a gambling provider listed on my credit report. In my particular case I really don't care because I don't live in the UK anymore, but potential creditors tend not to think too highly of gamblers, not to mention employers (some government gigs etc require a credit check).
 
If you didnt sign a release to check....sue their asses off....Ive had it happen to me not with an online casino but with other things i got a nice 6k out of it a few years ago and the judge sanctioned the company.
 
Ok, relax. I pull credit reports for a living. You will not lose any points. If you go online, and check you report you will see NUMEROUS inquiries into ones credit without permission simply because once you get a credit card, an auto loan or whatever...you are open to these inquiries..they do not affect your credit report.

Many credit card companies are extremely guilty of looking into a person credit history to offer them cards and specials. Just as others do. Check your credit online for free and you will see the list of inquiries ...you might be quite surprised on who is interested in you!

By law, anyone looking into credit of anothers cannot affect it unless it was ordered by the owner of that credit which is you. Then you will have points addressed against your credit if you APPLIED for credit.

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But its still wrong, what would they(Wager Works) be wanting to know from credit inquiries? It still gives me an uneasy feeling, just knowing they can do this.

Laurie
 
Silc, I've worked in retail finance for years. I too run credit reports, but I also make loan decisions. There is a difference between "risk model profiling" and an actual credit report. Credit card companies purchase information from the major credit bureaus of potential clients who may meet the XYZ criteria. They do not pull a credit report. They only ask the reporting agency for, as example, customers who are in the 680 - 720 Fair Isaac score, have no bankruptcies more recent than 3 years ago, are current on their present accounts & have no recent repossessions or mortgage forclosures. No credit report is required. Now, if I accept a credit card that I have applied for or have been solicited to receive, then acceptance of said card implies consent for future credit investigations.
 
takethemoney Silc, I've worked in retail finance for years. I too run credit reports, but I also make loan decisions. There is a difference between "risk model profiling" and an actual credit report. Credit card companies purchase information from the major credit bureaus of potential clients who may meet the XYZ criteria. They do not pull a credit report. They only ask the reporting agency for, as example, customers who are in the 680 - 720 Fair Isaac score, have no bankruptcies more recent than 3 years ago, are current on their present accounts & have no recent repossessions or mortgage forclosures. No credit report is required. Now, if I accept a credit card that I have applied for or have been solicited to receive, then acceptance of said card implies consent for future credit investigations.
Yes, that is right. But did they actually "pull" a credit report or was it under INQUIRIES ? If under inquiries...then it has not been pulled, just looked into. There is a difference. Many companies can look "into" ones credit if they have the persons number...Just as you said....

guesswest: creditors tend not to think too highly of gamblers, not to mention employers (some government gigs etc require a credit check).

We had a credit line at a few of our casinos and they too, pulled our credit report up..but it didn't affect the outcome of our numbers. My husband also works for the government and we have gotten our report pulled a few times already by them and it has been of no consequence when they saw Tropicana, Sands etc on the report. I guess gambling legally doesn't impress them .

This is for USA:

5. Uses of Credit Reporting for Marketing: What Is and Is Not Allowed?

Can the information in my credit file be used for any other purposes?

Yes. The practice of generating and selling lists for use in "pre-approved" credit and insurance offers is allowed by law. TransUnion, Experian and Equifax all engage in selling lists of consumers who meet certain criteria in order to receive a "firm" offer of credit or insurance. This is the source of the many pre-approved credit offers most consumers receive in the mail.

"Pre-approved" and so-called "firm" offers of credit,

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Yes, that is right. But did they actually "pull" a credit report or was it under INQUIRIES ? If under inquiries...then it has not been pulled, just looked into. There is a difference. Many companies can look "into" ones credit if they have the persons number...Just as you said....



We had a credit line at a few of our casinos and they too, pulled our credit report up..but it didn't affect the outcome of our numbers. My husband also works for the government and we have gotten our report pulled a few times already by them and it has been of no consequence when they saw Tropicana, Sands etc on the report. I guess gambling legally doesn't impress them . I make millions of dollars in loans. Trust me, in my capacity, I am required to know a thing or two about how credit reports work. ;)

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What the heck are you talking about? You can only get inquiries IF a credit report has been run. A prescreen, as I was talking about will not result in an inquiry at the bottom of the credit report. You are from the USA, right?
Maybe if you live somewhere else, they do it differently. Actually inquiries do effect your credit score, and several of them will lower your score. 1 or 2 probably not much.
 
takethemoney: What the heck are you talking about? You can only get inquiries IF a credit report has been run.A prescreen, as I was talking about will not result in an inquiry at the bottom of the credit report. Yes this is what I thought I said. You are from the USA, right? Yes.
Maybe if you live somewhere else, they do it differently. Actually inquiries do effect your credit score, and several of them will lower your score. 1 or 2 probably not much. Here I will differ just as before. See below....

Not necessarily. I am talking about the prescreen also that does show up as an inquiry but does not affect your score. It lists everyone that has requested information on you. We might be talking about the same thing but in a different way I believe.


Read more: Does FICO inquiry affect my credit score?
Source:
Fair Isaacs


The credit scoring guidelines of 2009 calculate an individual's credit score based on payment history, amount owed on open accounts, length of credit history, types of credit and new credit.

Inquiries are not a factor in scoring.




I will say this, I am NOT a credit reporting agency. But I do know the rules and laws on credit report accessing. I had to sign legal papers to be able to do this for my company. This is in the USA only though.

Instead of all this guessing and wondering...just email or call them and find out why they inquired about you. There must be more to this than what we are hearing for no one initiates something such as this unless requested by another or applying for credit or a credit line. So let us know if you receive the answer. Here are the numbers and email to them.

Call Us +44 (0)20 7494 8787



@ Email - info@wagerworks.com


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We had a credit line at a few of our casinos and they too, pulled our credit report up..but it didn't affect the outcome of our numbers. My husband also works for the government and we have gotten our report pulled a few times already by them and it has been of no consequence when they saw Tropicana, Sands etc on the report. I guess gambling legally doesn't impress them .

The thing is I highly doubt this online casino (or casino group) is looking to give the OP a line of credit!
You make a deposit and that's it, should be no need to get that kind of info about a person for an online.

This freaks me the *F* out to be honest:eek2:. I would go after these people with guns blazing guesswest, at the very least I would be contacting them and being extremely persistant about what the hell they were doing looking into my credit.
 
RedAndi: I would go after these people with guns blazing guesswest, at the very least I would be contacting them and being extremely persistant about what the hell they were doing looking into my credit.
Absolutely..this is why I posted their contact info to find out the answer to the inquiry...



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I thought you had to provide an SS number (at least for USA) to run a credit check.

Would be interesting to hear their reason for something that seems outrageous and is a violation of privacy.
 
The query is from 'WAGERWORKS UK LIMITED.' I assume it is a particular casino that requested it but I don't know which - am not sure why it originates from the network name and not theirs.

Could it be Kerching? They like Wagerworks are IGT owned.


...even if it doesn't impact my score I still have a gambling provider listed on my credit report.

I recently applied for a mortgage in the UK. The mortgage broker advised me that one or two credit checks shouldn't hurt my score BUT if there were multiple credit checks in a short space of time it COULD hurt my score.

Either way, a casino shouldn't be running a credit check without your express permission and stickining it in the T&C's simply isn't good enough. My credit rating would be decimated if they all did this. This definitely needs looking into.

@GuessWest - Can I suggest you submit a PAB on this. It should be verified, discussed & investigated more thoroughly for sure.

Please don't think I am suggesting you're not telling the truth, but the fact that Wagerworks of all people did this makes me think, or hope, there might be something else in play here. It seems a mighty odd thing to do for a company that on the whole run a very tight ship.
 
I agree - this has serious implications and needs to be further investigated as soon as possible.

I heard Equifax is screening BC's new website so Wood and WW might be doing the same since there's a connection with him and Equifax. I have no clue if he's still there.

Here's a quote from an old 2006 post on another forum.

*Wood previously held a number of senior roles with Equifax Inc, EDS and Perot Systems, having personally contracted over $1billion of long-term annuity-based income for those companies. He is a published author and commentator on the use of technology and e-enablement in the online sector and has an extensive global network of board level relationships throughout the international marketplace.*

And.

*London, England. (October 2006) - WagerWorks/IGT, the premier iGaming software supplier, today announced the appointment of Marc Wood as Managing Director of WagerWorks UK Ltd. Wood has over 20 years experience in developing international large scale technology services businesses, including Europe's largest independent online payment service processor, DataCash.*

I agree with the OP that a credit check should never be done unless credit is involved and the player approves. I've never heard of an OC being allowed to give credit so don't understand why this happened.
 
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