Confused re: current account credit check

[Deleted User]

Further to my other thread (here) - on my credit report, my bank (Barclays) have conducted a full credit search on 3rd March when I opened a new current account with them.

As indicated in the other thread, I've got quite a few searches of my credit report in the past three months and it's knocked my credit rating down - but none of them were searches for 'extra' credit. For example: although I applied for a new current account (I have been a Barclays customer for 26 years) I didn't request an overdraft (and they didn't give me one), so there was no credit facility there.

I've just phoned Barclays to ask them:

- Do they normally conduct a credit check on existing customers when they open a new account?
- If so, given that I wasn't applying for credit, why do this?

Also, it is a 'full' credit check as opposed to an 'unrecorded enquiry/generic check' which is the sort of check they have always done previously. I asked if they could remove the search and replace it with the unrecorded enquiry but they have said they can't.

Is it possible for me to do something in this instance to remove or alter this search of my credit records? As indicated in my other thread, my credit rating has gone from Good to Poor in the space of a few months even though I haven't applied for any credit - and I believe that lots of searches is to blame. I don't understand why Barclays needs to have made this search, so if I can remove it or downgrade it, that would be a big help.

Any thoughts?

never-in-doubt

A bank account that has provision for credit facilities (i.e. overdraft/chequebook/card) will be credit checked as they are additional facilities that can be added.

The reverse, a basic account is not credit checked due it not being able to go overdrawn with no facility for any lending.

All current accounts work this way and the banks are withing their rights to check you.

Did you miss this bit: https://www.barclaysbankaccountapply.co.uk/index.html

Quote:
As part of your application we may make identity enquiries, which may involve credit reference agencies checking the details supplied against any particulars on any database (public or otherwise) to which they have access. They may also use your details in the future to assist other companies for verification purposes.

Tick this box to proceed with your application if you accept the terms and conditions:

[Deleted User]

I didn't sign anything...I just went into the branch, sat down with the personal banker and asked to open a basic current account with no overdraft. She spent time on the computer, then gave me a print out of sort-code and account number; that's all.

Also, sorry to be picky, but my question was: given that in the past Barclays have run an 'unrecorded enquiry/generic check' credit search (which doesn't affect my credit rating), why have they now done a full credit search (which does)? Is there anyway I can retrospectively ask them to downgrade the level of search they've done?

[Deleted User]

never-in-doubt wrote: »

A bank account that has provision for credit facilities (i.e. overdraft/chequebook/card) will be credit checked as they are additional facilities that can be added.

The account I applied for didn't have an overdraft or chequebook, but it did have a debit card (like most accounts in the UK do, I assume!) - is this really classified as a credit facility...?