Credit searches by Aviva Central Services

Msharif

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Thanks Sharif.

What argument did you use with the ombudsman / did the ombudsman use with Aviva that they should be removed?


Maybe the Aviva rep on here (Dave) could comment on this. Does this mean that everyone's should be removed?

I contacted the Ombudsman and simply asked if they were able to assist me in this matter. The nice lady said she could and she said she would write to Aviva highlighting my issue.

I then had a response from Aviva requesting me to confirm my details with them, so i phoned them up straight away and spoke to the nice lady who said she will request to the credit agency to have them removed from my report. She said she will not be able to remove them all. However, she was able to see that there were duplicate searches made on my report. Four will be removed and three will stay as yearly searches.

I have to admit that yearly insurance searches on price comparison websites is not that bad. However my argument is why do they have to automatically do this without authorization and why should credit searches be made when it is only a quote. There is something to learn in this matter. We all know what happens now using these websites. I requested for them to completely remove my details from their database and i refuse to use this service ever again in the future.

I have not gone into more research into this matter, due to the fact that i don't have the time to do so, but this is my story and i wanted to share my experience with you all.

If i hear anything else or once his has been resolved, i will update you all.

Sharif

Hazzinho

Do these searches appear as credit with the CRAs? I get these annually and they are always quotes. I'd never use checkmyfile you're much better off looking directly.I'm not remotely bothered about quote searches.

Msharif

Hazzinho wrote: »

Do these searches appear as credit with the CRAs? I get these annually and they are always quotes. I'd never use checkmyfile you're much better off looking directly.I'm not remotely bothered about quote searches.

Whether it is obtained from checkmyfile or directly from CRAs, I would assume it would be the same information. I always use checkmyfile as it is nice to see your whole report in one place with all agencies, but what i do not like is unauthorized searches being made which may affect my score.

I have five credit search footprints, one audit footprint and one enquiry footprint. Quote searches are fine, but not credit searches, particulalrly when i dont intend to take out credit.

ladymarmalade222

When the rep commented on this matter, I remember him giving an email address to contact if you had searches on your files you were concerned about and they would check their database and remove your details.

I contacted the email address given and a few weeks later received a letter stating they had checked their database and both myself and my partner was not showing on there. It is therefore the price comparison sites I believe as every year around January I get a number of searches by Aviva on my report. I think this is something that should be looked into as it must be hidden away in the small print. I wouldn't mind but I pay annually for my insurance and always state this on the comparison sites so I do not need their credit search. Also why is it only Aviva who search and no other insurance company??

I think I will take this further as contacting Aviva has got me nowhere.

xx

cos_2

I'm in the same position as others here, so I've just disputed Aviva's searches with CallCredit online.

asz

Got a reply this morning
Dear Mr ####,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the recent credit searches carried out by Aviva and thank you for your patience while we have been looking into this for you.
We have looked into the details provided and can confirm that Aviva performed searches against your credit file due to quotes being undertaken on a comparison web site where Aviva underwrites products, such as the RAC.

The quotes were completed via the comparison websites Confused.com and GoCompare.

When using this type of site their terms and conditions do state that credit searches may be carried out by the company or their underwriters at quotation stage, prior to purchase for underwriting purposes. These terms and conditions can be viewed in more depth via their websites.

Below is are links to their webistes which may be of help to you:

Confused.com

GoCompare


Due to the searching of credit files being clearly mentioned on the comparison sites I will be unable to delete these searches from your credit file as they have been authorised by yourself, when completing the above mentioned quotation.

Please be aware that unless you manually un-subscribe from these sites they can continue to use your data, normally this is around the time of your renewal date to show that they have companies who may be able to offer you a lower premium.

This, in turn, may cause another imprint on your credit file and will also be stated within the sites terms and conditions.

I hope this answers the questions raised by yourself and allows you to resolve the issue.


Yours sincerely,


###### #####
Aviva Insurance

JimmyTheWig

Similar to the reply I got, asz.
I take the point about unsubscribing to the comparison sites, but given that you'd want to compare each year I don't see the point.

I asked the Aviva rep on here the following...

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

_Why_ do they do a credit search when simply asking for a quote for insurance?
Why is it only Aviva who do this and not all the other scores of companies who quote via these sites?

... but he seems to have gone quiet since.

ladymarmalade222

When I use the comparison sites, I always state I want to pay annually so why do they need to search my credit file?

Surely this is not right? I am on principle going to unsubscribe from all comparison sites from now on and use false details when I search their system, only when I decide who is cheapest will I enter my correct details on their site (or go through Topcashback if this applies).

Also why is is only Aviva that feel they have to search? I will never give Aviva anymore of my business.

xx

Msharif

asz wrote: »

Got a reply this morning
Dear Mr ####,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the recent credit searches carried out by Aviva and thank you for your patience while we have been looking into this for you.
We have looked into the details provided and can confirm that Aviva performed searches against your credit file due to quotes being undertaken on a comparison web site where Aviva underwrites products, such as the RAC.

The quotes were completed via the comparison websites Confused.com and GoCompare.

When using this type of site their terms and conditions do state that credit searches may be carried out by the company or their underwriters at quotation stage, prior to purchase for underwriting purposes. These terms and conditions can be viewed in more depth via their websites.

Below is are links to their webistes which may be of help to you:

Confused.com

GoCompare


Due to the searching of credit files being clearly mentioned on the comparison sites I will be unable to delete these searches from your credit file as they have been authorised by yourself, when completing the above mentioned quotation.

Please be aware that unless you manually un-subscribe from these sites they can continue to use your data, normally this is around the time of your renewal date to show that they have companies who may be able to offer you a lower premium.

This, in turn, may cause another imprint on your credit file and will also be stated within the sites terms and conditions.

I hope this answers the questions raised by yourself and allows you to resolve the issue.


Yours sincerely,


###### #####
Aviva Insurance

Yep, that's what i was told. However, searches were carried out by their company whether it was used through a price comparison website or directly from them selves and yes it does state that in the price comparison websites T&C, but it does not state that they will automatically do a credit search for new renewal quotes every year.

I got the Ombudsmen involved. maybe you should too :cool:

[Deleted User]

Hi Everyone

Thank you for all your posts on this thread and my apologies I haven’t come back to you all sooner. The reason it has taken me so long to reply is I wanted to come back to you with an explanation of why you may have Aviva credit searches on your credit record.

As previously mentioned in my earlier post

Aviva_company_representative wrote: »

Aviva are not on comparison websites such as Confused.com, however there are companies underwritten by Aviva who are on such sites. This will be why you may see a search taking place under Aviva’s name even if you have not had any quotes directly from ourselves.

As you go through a direct quote with Aviva, we may undertake a credit search to ascertain credit worthiness and affordability of repayments. This search will leave a footprint visible to you and other lenders (who use the same credit reference agency)

We understand that this may not answer all of your questions, however hope that you can appreciate it is very difficult to answer all queries you may have on a public forum, especially with the strict FSA guidelines we must adhere to regarding the disclosure of personal information.

I strongly encourage you to email our credit search team at [EMAIL="UKDISUPPORT@aviva.co.uk"]UKDISUPPORT@aviva.co.uk[/EMAIL] with any and all your queries and they will investigate on your behalf and contact you regarding any searches carried out by ourselves. To help them resolve your queries quicker can you please include the following

Full Name
Date Of Birth
Address you resided at when the searches were made
Date of the searches you wish investigated

As always I’m still happy to receive any queries on other Aviva topics to my personal email [EMAIL="David.Hyam@aviva.co.uk"]David.Hyam@aviva.co.uk[/EMAIL] but would request you copy in my teams email mailbox [EMAIL="social@aviva.co.uk"]social@aviva.co.uk[/EMAIL] so should I be out of the office, we can pick up any queries you may have and get them answered as soon as possible.

I hope this helps but if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to let me know

Dave