Credit rating and Experian search

Joannaclaire

Probably a silly question but if I do a (free) search of my rating on Experian, will this them come up as a search on my records, even if checking out my own data? I'd like to do this as I am curious about how it all works and also as I'm a little worried re a store card I have - I recently (A couple of months back) forgot to pay the balance off as I normally do, as the statement got lost on my big desk, and so they sent out a nasty letter... I paid up the minute I got the letter, but am worried that this late payment might affect things...

If we apply for a mortgage in the near future (say hypothetically nest week), would this one credit search affect our mortgage application? As I've heard they don't like too many searches on your records when the mortage company is checking your situation our when considering you as a client.

Flying_Demon

Hi Joanna, don't worry you will find that searches of your own credit records are not shown to potential lenders so they will not see these all though they will of course see searches carried out by any other lenders.

Joannaclaire

Fantastic - thanks for that!

emmaHarris_2

On a side note:
Any lender who does a search on you it MUST leave what they call a 'footprint' to show you that they have carried out a search. If someone advises they have carried out a search on you and declines your applications and you see there is no record of this search then you should complain to the credit reference agency and Data Protection.

There have been some complaints already made where lenders can access your credit file and do not leave a footprint.

Your searches are not shown to lenders as the previous posters advised:)