Experian, Equifax and TransUnion: how to opt out of marketing use of your data
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are best known for credit files, but they also run, or have run, marketing data businesses. Your credit file has to stay. Marketing use of your data doesn't.
- Experian: use the Experian Marketing Services opt-out in its consumer privacy notice or portal.
- TransUnion: email its data protection team, objecting to marketing use of your data.
- Equifax: object via its privacy team, and opt out of the open register.
Credit reporting vs marketing
| Credit reporting | Marketing data | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Your credit file, used by lenders | Profiles, segments and lists used to target advertising and mail |
| Can you stop it? | No, it's lawful without consent | Yes: objection to direct marketing is absolute (UK GDPR Article 21(3)) |
| Affects your score? | Yes | No |
Why this matters
In 2020 the ICO concluded an investigation into the marketing businesses of the three agencies. It found that personal data was being traded and enriched for marketing without people's knowledge, and ordered Experian to change its processing; Equifax and TransUnion withdrew some products. The investigation covered offline marketing such as post and phone. Whatever the current legal position, your right to object to direct marketing is unconditional.
What to send
A short email to each agency's data protection contact is enough:
- your full name, current address and any previous addresses in the last six years;
- "I object to the processing of my personal data for direct marketing, including profiling, under Article 21(2) UK GDPR";
- "Please erase any personal data you hold for marketing purposes and confirm when done";
- a reminder that they must reply within one month.
The free generator writes these for you. Then do the same for the hundreds of list brokers and data compilers that bought from them, or let Ceaselist handle it.
Questions people ask
Can you opt out of Experian?
You can't opt out of credit reporting, but you can object to Experian using your data for marketing. Experian Marketing Services offers an opt-out through its consumer portal and privacy notice.
Is Experian selling my data?
Experian's marketing business builds and supplies profiles and audiences used for direct marketing, separate from your credit file. In 2020 the ICO ordered it to change how it processed people's data for direct marketing; the case went to appeal. You can object to this processing at any time.
Will opting out of credit reference agency marketing affect my credit score?
No. Objecting to marketing use does not touch your credit file or score. Credit reporting is a separate purpose.
How do I opt out of TransUnion and Equifax marketing?
Contact each agency using the details in its privacy notice and object to the processing of your data for marketing. TransUnion handles this by email; Equifax points people to the open register opt-out and its privacy team.
Want this done for you? Ceaselist sends erasure requests to 668 data brokers as your authorised agent, chases the legal deadlines and prepares an ICO complaint when a broker ignores the law. £29 a year or £3.99 a month, full refund within 30 days.
Start with Ceaselist Free do-it-yourself packThis guide is general information, not legal advice. Prices and processes for other services were taken from their public websites and reviews in October 2026 and can change; check before you buy. Ceaselist is our own service, so we have an interest: we have tried to be fair, including about where we fall short.