Halifax did a credit check for an Easycash Account

PhenoM

Hi

I applied for an Easycash account yesterday, and after reading numerous posts here, was sure they don't do a hard credit check for the basic Easycash account.

But I just accessed my Experian report and the Halifax credit search is showing up, as a full search, not just identification.

Searched on: 30/12/2011
Searched By: HALIFAX CURRENT ACCOUNT
Application Type: Current Account

Is there anyway I can get this search removed, since this is a basic account which does not provide any sort of credit whatsoever. Also, I'm guessing they do not report the credit agencies on a monthly basis, only leading other creditors to believe I might have been turned down.

Thanks.

MoneySaverLog

Other lenders will not see on your credit report who your credit agreements are with unless it's them. They will just see the payment and details of lending.

I believe this is so with searches but not certain on that. You'll probably find that they will report monthly on the account with the CRA.

jen245

I think this may be due to the integration with Lloyds TSB systems. Before integration, they didn't do a full credit check, only an ID check, but I'm guessing that as Lloyds do a full check for their basic account, Halifax are now doing the same, in which case, I don't think there are any banks now, that don't do full credit checks for basic accounts. I doubt you would be able to get it removed to be honest.

PhenoM

Grrrr.... just checked my Callcredit, and they did a search there too. Nothing on Equifax though.

Search Organisation:Bank of Scotland plc (SR, SA, TAC)
Search Unit Type:HBOS
Search Date:30/12/2011
Search Purpose:Administration Review

Though this might be soft search (Administration Review), but I'm not too sure.

PhenoM

jen245 wrote: »

I think this may be due to the integration with Lloyds TSB systems. Before integration, they didn't do a full credit check, only an ID check, but I'm guessing that as Lloyds do a full check for their basic account, Halifax are now doing the same, in which case, I don't think there are any banks now, that don't do full credit checks for basic accounts. I doubt you would be able to get it removed to be honest.

Now I have two hard searches this year. Was hoping to keep it down to one

I might try calling them tomorrow... though I don't know if I'll get anything out of it.

opinions4u

When I clicked "apply now" on the web site, for Easycash, I got the following message on the next screen:

Please be aware that, like most banks, we will refer your details to a credit reference agency as part of the application process

Pretty up front about it.

MoneySaverLog

Although it does not say whether it is just a "ID search" they do with the CRA for Money Laundering etc or a Full Credit Search as part of the application process.

jen245

The callcredit search is just a soft search for money laundering so won't be visible to other lenders. They only use Experian for full searches.

stclair

opinions4u wrote: »

When I clicked "apply now" on the web site, for Easycash, I got the following message on the next screen:

Pretty up front about it.

When banks say that though it could mean a multitude of things. It even says that when you are apply for a savings account.

https://secure.savingsaccounts.halifax.co.uk/sa/apply.aspx?w=HFX&account=HFXOnlineSaver&type=savings&secured=false

jen245

PhenoM wrote: »

Now I have two hard searches this year. Was hoping to keep it down to one

I might try calling them tomorrow... though I don't know if I'll get anything out of it.

Having 2 searches in a year isn't going to affect your credit rating. I've had 4 in the last year, and I'm just waiting for my new accounts to be more than 6 months old, and ill add a few more

PhenoM

I agree Jen, but if I knew they would credit check, I'd have gone ahead and applied for the Halifax Reward current account, with no monthly fees, rather than the most basic one.

The only reason to open it was to not have any additional searches. I don't want to be stuck with their most basic account if they did have to do a full search on me anyway.