Who is allowed to search my credit file without my permission?

ric_flair

Hi, quick question about credit files and who can search them;

Does a debt collector need my permission to search my credit file? I was under the assumption no one can search my credit file without my permission (unless, for example, it was the police).

Thanks.

tyllwyd

I might be wrong, but I thought the situation was the opposite - your credit file doesn't belong to you, it is information compiled by the credit reference company so that it can be made available to lenders who want to make a decision on whether to offer you credit.

bathgatebuyer

ric_flair wrote: »

Hi, quick question about credit files and who can search them;

Does a debt collector need my permission to search my credit file? I was under the assumption no one can search my credit file without my permission (unless, for example, it was the police).

Thanks.

I think that by having the debt in the first place, by signing the contract for a loan or creditc ard or whatever, it gives the original bank the right to do this as well as other organisations appointed on their behalf.

But in general, I don't think any random company can do this unless there is a clear 'chain' of permission.

I had a search undertaken by Welcome Finance - whom I never applied to them for - and complained to them to have it removed. It was within about a week. Turns out one of my neighbours (waste of space druggies that were inflicted on us by a Landlord who didn't listen to us when we complained about his previous tenant) had applied in my name and each of our neighbours names to Welcome looking for £10K loans each. Had it worked, they would be £80K up. And yes, they went to prison