What is a Suppression?

When a suppression is put in place it freezes access to your credit file. This means that the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) cannot disclose any personal information from your consumer credit file to any credit providers unless you provide written consent for them to do so, or if they are required by law. A suppression does not impact your current credit cards or loans unless credit is due for renewal (for example, your credit card about to expire). 

How to apply for suppression

You can apply for a suppression from each organisation individually. Or you can lodge a suppression with just one credit reporting agency and ask that they pass the request onto the other credit reporting agencies.

Centrix: Apply online to suppress your credit file. Once submitted, Centrix will email you to let you know the suppression is in place.
Equifax: Go to Placing a suppression with Equifax and fill in and submit the form. Once submitted, Equifax will email you to let you know the suppression is in place.
Experian: Apply online to suppress your credit file. Once submitted, Experian will email you to let you know the suppression is in place.

Applying for an extension

An Experian suppression remains in place for 21 days, a Centrix suppression lasts for 20 days while the Equifax suppression lasts for 10 days. An extension can be requested if you believe that you are a victim of credit fraud or are at risk of becoming a victim .

Suppressions can be extended indefinitely upon request (if approved by the credit agency).
An extension needs to be applied for prior to the expiry date. You will be required to provide a reason for the extension, for example you have been subject to a compromise or theft of your personal identity information.
In most cases, you will also be required to provide a police report number, statutory declaration, or confirmation from your credit provider that you are at risk of fraud to validate your request.

How to extend your suppression

Centrix: Email [email protected] with your request or call 0800 236 874. You will need to answer security questions as part of the verification process.
Equifax: You can request an extension for a suppression through submitting the same form used for applying for the suppression here
Experian: You can apply for an extension through this page here