No, searches can only be made with your consent. This is usually given at the time you apply to a lender. 631
We include searches on your credit report so you know who has looked at your information. Lenders look at credit searches to help them spot unusual activity. For example, a large number of credit applications may indicate financial difficulties. Searches also help lenders to prevent fraud. 494
We keep a record of all searches for 12 months. This allows lenders to take account of previous credit searches when you apply for credit. Whether or not an application was successful is not recorded and all lenders know this. Keeping searches also means that we can tell companies who have searched a report in the past six months if we make any changes to it. 911
A financial associate search shows you when somebody you share a financial connection with has applied for credit. Because you share a connection, your information has been seen by the lender they applied to and may have been taken into account. The names of anyone you share a financial connection with will appear under the Association section of your credit report. 1017
An unrecorded enquiry is a search that was not made for lending purposes. It is not seen by lenders but is included on your credit report so you are aware the search was made. 632
Shopping around for the best credit deal should not generate an abnormal number of 'credit searches' on your credit report. This is because a credit search should only be conducted in response to an actual application for credit. When shopping around, people usually obtain basic details of offers from a range of lenders, then make an application to those considered to be the best deal.
Asking for a quotation should not affect your chances of getting credit in the future because, for most types of credit, lenders do not have to search your credit report to give you a quotation. But if the cost of the credit deal does depends on your credit score, the lender may need to search your credit report. In such cases, the lender should make a 'quotation search' and not a credit search. Lenders searching your report in the future will know that quotation searches do not reflect actual credit applications.
The lender should always tell you if they are going to search your credit report and what sort of search they will make. Making several applications for credit over a short period of time can influence a lender's decision. As a result, if you have been refused credit, it is always best to find out why before you apply to other lenders.
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Contact the lender who made the search and ask for further details. If the lender agrees to remove a search they will tell us and we will change your report. It may be that the search is in the name of a finance company used by a smaller company which you may know. 497
Yes. We keep a record of every search. This allows you to see who has asked for information about you when you get a copy of your credit report.
If a company searched your report in the last 12 months there should be a record of it on your credit report.
If you have not already ordered an up to date copy of your credit report click here for information about ordering one.
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No, you can only order your own credit report.
Click here for information about ordering your personal credit report.
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