Experian Credit File - previous searches?

panther

I obtained a copy of my Experian credit file by signing up to their 30 day free trial. Everything appears pretty much as I expected but in the "Previous Searches" section there are 3 searches made by "Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance PLC". 2 searches were made in November 2004 and another one a couple of weeks later in December. I've been racking my brains but can't think of any reason why this company should do a search on me. As far as I know I have never made any application or taken out any product from them. Is there any way that I can find out what these searches relate to?

cifpower

Did you enquire about insurance of any type at all? Are they listed as an "unrecorded search"?

aliasojo

Phone them and ask.

There was an unexpected and unrecognised entry on my file and after much mulling over, I had to give up and I phoned the company in question.

Turned out it was a legit search but was under an umbrella comapny name rather than the name of the company I was actually involved with.

Your details may well be correct but I'd query why 2 searches were made in the same month and then again very shortly afterwards.

A & L did this too with OH file but we wrote to A&L and asked for extra searches to be removed and they did it without question.

panther

Thanks for the replies.
Now you mention it, that is around the time I started my car insurance quote search so I suppose it may well be legit. I can't remember getting any quote from R&SA but, like you say, it could be another company that operates under their name. They are "unrecorded enquiry" so not a worry as they should only be visible to me. It was having 3 searches close to each other that concerned me and I couldn't remember giving my permission to carry out a search.

Anyway, on a brighter note I was pleasantly surprised that they rated my National Credit Score as "Excellent" with a score of 998 out of a possible 1000. I know this isn't a "true" credit score but at least it's a good indication that I shouldn't have any major probs getting credit.