James
I stupidly filled out an application form online about a loan to see what interest I'd be expected to pay back if I accepted it. The site was one that sent it to multiple companies and this is showing on my report. I did NOT take any loan it was just an enquiry. However, this has affected my credit rating. How can I change this and make it known that I have not taken out a loan. It was a silly mistake made on my behalf. Many Thanks.
Alyson, Glasgow
Alyson
Although you say you only intended to make enquiries, you admit that you actually submitted a loan application to an online broker. They then fed it through to several different lenders. The footprints registered on your credit report when those lenders ran their separate credit checks now make you look rather desperate for credit. I'm afraid that the search footprints can only be removed from your credit report with the permission of the lenders that registered them. Considering that you did apply for credit, my guess is that the lenders are unlikely to agree to this because the records are factual. Now while you can't change history, you can certainly learn from it. In the future, my advice would be to avoid websites like this and, instead, do your own homework before you decide on the best deal and submit a formal credit application. Lenders that use your credit score to determine the interest rate you pay should be able to give you a quotation - if you ask for one. Importantly, when they search your credit report for a quotation, they register footprints that do not affect credit scoring. In the meantime, consider adding a note to your credit report to explain your mistake, and the fact that you didn't actually take out a loan. Future lenders will see this and may be lenient. Of course, we only keep searches on your report for 12 months, so they will eventually drop off.
James