Credit searches by Aviva Central Services

MsCabbage

I found the searches via CheckMyFile which takes detailed information from both Call Credit and Equifax but not Experian. I thus cannot comment on Experian but the 3 credit searches from Aviva where done with Call Credit and not Equifax in my case.

This is the information of one of the 3 Credit Searches

Credit Search Footprint, 03 February2012

Callcredit
Name *************
Address **********
*******
Date 03 February 2012
Organisation Aviva Central ServicesLimited
Search Type Credit Search

Roger1

I have 3 so-called 'credit' searches in a year by Aviva Central Services from Callcredit via Noddle. Like others, I have never sought credit from Aviva nor have I knowingly bought insurance from them. In any case, credit would not come into it because I would pay the annual premium by credit or debit card.

Aviva refer me to confused.com. Confused.com refer me back to Aviva. Ho ho ho! (I have yet to follow this up.)

Checking my £2 statutory file today at Equifax produces no similar 'credit' search, though I am a little puzzled by the Unclassified Search from 'Prosearch Asset Sols T/a Pro', whatever that is.

I tried to buy a £2 report from Experian but could find no link to do this on their website. My e-mail to them asking how to purchase remains unanswered. Their acknowledgement says they will aim to reply within two weeks but they may take longer.

Roger1

Roger1 wrote: »

I tried to buy a £2 report from Experian but could find no link to do this on their website.

I tried again by doing a search and including '£2 statutory report' in the search.

Duly applied as an existing customer and requested online viewing. OK so far. They took my money, but at the end the final page said:

We will send you an e-mail in 4 days to let you know your report is available

I know they want to push their more expensive services, but offering online viewing of the £2 report without making it clear that it would take 4 days is dismal. So I don't know yet whether there are any spurious so-called 'credit' searches from Aviva at Experian.

Former_MSE_Dan

Hi all,

We've been working to get some clearer answers on this issue for a few weeks. It always seemed odd that request for quotations would result in 'application searches' - the ones that affext future ability to get credit - rather than a 'quotation search' - which don't.

We now have confirmation from Callcredit that Aviva quotations do not result in application searches, and they say "The actual footprint alone will not negatively affect the consumers ability to obtain credit. Overall credit performance and affordability is the key to determining an individual’s credit score."

We will be putting together a story for the main site to help clarify this in due course.

Dan

Theblueone

My noddle report is also showing credit checks from aviva last year presumably for the same reason. I would disagree that these checks do not result in application searches as they very clearly show up in the credit searches section. Which as far as I am concerned is a credit search!?!?

It's all very well call credit making the statement mentioned above but as people on here quite rightly state they are not the ones who are actually deciding if they will allow you the loan, credit card or whatever credit you are applying for. So what they say doesn't really count for much does it!!

It is wrong for aviva, and all the comparison sites to be able to do this. Doing one search when you are looking for quotes is bad enough but to do this every year is disgraceful!!!!

Can anyone tell me how to completely delete my comparison site accounts as I can't find out how to do this and want to cut all ties I have with these shysters.

I am not looking for any credit but want to keep my report as clean as possible as you never know when you might need it.

Thank you.

cos_2

Response from Noddle :

Hi Cos,



I’m emailing with regard to the dispute (dispute no. 9999999) you recently raised on your Noddle account in connection with a search you don’t recognise.



I’ve had a look at the search in more detail for you and, as it was run by Aviva, it will be because you searched for a financial product (most likely insurance) on a price comparison site.



Price comparison sites have it written into their Terms and Conditions that, by using their site to search for products, you consent to them carrying out a search on your credit report. They can do this every time you use their site to search for a product.



It’s common to find searches on credit reports which have been carried out by umbrella organisations for other companies and I hope that, now that you have some more information in regards to the type of company that initially requested this search, you do now recognise it.



If you haven’t used any price comparison sites recently please let us know, and we’ll have a further look into this for you.



Of course, if you have any further questions at all please feel free to respond to this email – I’ll be happy to help you.



Thanks,



Becky

The Noddle Customer Service Team

The_Duke_2

I've found a number of searches on my noddle file after signing up. I have just renewed my insurance and I assume it's from that but like everyone else I am concerned that these 'searches' will affect my credit scoring but there seems to be some confusion. I would, ideally, like these removed but that looks unlikely. So what is the best thing to do or am I worrying unnecessarily?

chris-j

Just checked noddle for myself and wife as this month was car and house renewal.
There are a couple of searches for general insurance but total of three which specify credit and all for Aviva.
When doing comparisons we always opt for single payment so I am well p**ed off that Aviva are blatantly doing this.

Hopefully MSE will get answers on this since responses so far shown from Aviva are just fob offs.

chris-j

MSE_Dan wrote: »

Hi all,

We've been working to get some clearer answers on this issue for a few weeks. It always seemed odd that request for quotations would result in 'application searches' - the ones that affext future ability to get credit - rather than a 'quotation search' - which don't.

We now have confirmation from Callcredit that Aviva quotations do not result in application searches, and they say "The actual footprint alone will not negatively affect the consumers ability to obtain credit. Overall credit performance and affordability is the key to determining an individual’s credit score."

We will be putting together a story for the main site to help clarify this in due course.

Dan

Thanks Dan but have to say this is not reassuring. ONLY Aviva show as credit search, others just general insurance. So Avila or callcredit saying it does not count means nothing - if that's the cases why show it as credit.
Fault also lies of course with comparison sites since what is point of asking if you pay annual or monthly if they are going to just show both anyway (resulting in Aviva doing a credit check).
All I can say is glad I have this years insurance sorted and next year I will just spend a bit more time checking the companies I want directly and Aviva will not be one of them.

thegirlintheattic

Just found this on my file today with Noddle!

Really annoyed as I'm working on building up my credit score. Found this came out of a confused.com quote done in 2010 and it's been redoing it every year. I always put pay annually so I have no idea why they are doing a credit search!

I've called Aviva with no joy who said it was clearly stated on the confused.com page. I've looked - it isn't clearly stated - I suspect it's hidden down in the T&Cs.

I will no longer be a customer of Confused.com or Aviva.