Have had notification that a company has been looking at my credit file:

slimone

Don't know this company. Acting on behalf of 1st Credit. Apparently my Credit File suggests I can increase payments, make payments or settle the bill complete.

Erm. My Credit File would show I get refused for loans every other month and have a phone contract that replaced my old one (and is cheaper) but that's it????

Is this just a scare tactic or can any company do a credit check on you without prior written consent??

GeorgeUK

There are 2 types of credit check. One leaves a hard footprint and shows more detail, which they would require written permission to perform; and the other leaves a soft footprint, that other creditors can't see and gives limited information - possibly if they were trying to identify you.

Not sure what you mean by

Apparently my Credit File suggests I can increase payments, make payments or settle the bill complete.

Has a debt which is not yours been added to your credit file?
If so then this is a breach of the Data Protection Act and you should get the credit reference agency to remove it.

DarkConvict

A credit file only shows credit outstanding it isnt going to show them your income and expenditures so a credit check is not a good indicator of how much you can pay towards a debt.
If you had 10 defaults it would make you think he lost his job or something, when in reality he could have just decided to stop paying, or maybe could never afford it in the first place.