Credit Checks

strangemark75

Hello all, not sure if this is the right place to post this. But i need some advice and dont really know where the best place to post would be.
But my situation is, somebody has run a credit check on me without my permission or even knowing. (I found out by accident) Is this legal?
It now appears on my credit report and I'm guessing this could affect my credit score when looking for credit in the future, am I right in this being the case?

Any help/adivse would be greatly appreciated, or know of a better thread in the forum where this may be more relevant.
Thanks be to u

stephane_2

If someone has made a fraudulent application using your name then you need to contact the credit reference agencies to report the matter who will investigate.

InsideInsurance

Probably better if you give more circumstances.

Certainly my understanding (which I accept could be wrong) was that you must have just cause for running it and not just explicit permission. When I used to deal with insurance claims we used to run credit checks against third parties that had damaged our clients car/property but had no insurance though at a later date we stopped running them ourselves and paid a private investigator company to run them on our behalf. In our case we were checking if they are likely to have the means to repay our client if we were to take them to court.

Of cause identity fraud would be the other concern and so I'd contact the company thats run the check and find out why

nottoolate

is it a credit application search or a debt collection search?

tbs624

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Certainly my understanding (which I accept could be wrong) was that you must have just cause for running it and not just explicit permission. When I used to deal with insurance claims we used to run credit checks against third parties that had damaged our clients car/property but had no insurance though at a later date we stopped running them ourselves and paid a private investigator company to run them on our behalf. In our case we were checking if they are likely to have the means to repay our client if we were to take them to court.

Not quite sure how that one would work since Experian et al do not record information on peoples savings/investments etc

Anyhow - OP - your consent *is* required before a third party may undertake a check . Are you sure that you have not overlooked some very small print somewhere?

I recall seeing on these boards that some people had found that retailers had small print in their catalogue applications ( Next ?? for example) which meant that even those who were paying outright for their goods were subjected to a check

Has it gone down as a "quotation search" or a "credit application search"? The latter stays on your records for a year AFAIAA and yes too many can affect your "rating"

Write to whoever has undertaken the search and insist on them giving you full information on why the search has been undertaken and evidence of your consent then, if necessary, take the matter up directly with Call Credit, Equifax and Experian. Keep copies of all letters.

InsideInsurance

tbs624 wrote: »

Not quite sure how that one would work since Experian et al do not record information on peoples savings/investments etc

It was step 1 in the process (and before google street view existed etc).... if they have a lot of defaults, late payments, unsatisfied CCJs etc it was written off then.

If their credit file looked ok or better then an investigator was sent to check out the area and their home, ideally speak to the person in question but if not then try the neighbours to see if they work etc - its amazing what most neighbours will gossip about (have to admit I dont know what the investigators used to say when they spoke to them).

Needless to say, good credit history, nice house, couple of prestige mark vehicles, both working professionals then probably worth litigating. Previous unsatisfied CCJs, credit cards all maxed out, run down hope, neighbours say they're an unemployed alcoholic and debt collectors are always knocking then it probably isnt worth wasting more money litigating against them.