Metro Bank ran four searches against my credit file

saver84_2

I opened a Metro Bank current account a few weeks ago. The rep I dealt with at the counter had problems due to my address (which systems often find difficult to recognise), and had to refer it "upstairs" for approval. I did not ask for (and was not given) an overdraft, or any type of credit. However, I have just checked my credit report and I see that Metro Bank ran four searches against my file that day. Am I right in thinking that this will affect my ability to get credit over the next six months at least? Are these searches justified when I was not requesting any credit?

Any advice appreciated.

[Deleted User]

They will affect your ability to get credit, yes. Too many searches in a short space of time makes you look desperate.

And yes, their terms state they will run a credit check when you open any current account with them, not only for actually providing credit, but also for ID verification and money laundering prevention.

callum9999

Contact the credit reference agency to see how many of them are actual searches though. Some of them may be "follow up searches" which aren't visible to other creditors - though as you'd had problems with the address I'd imagine the same check could have gone through several times with slightly changed details but been consolidated by the credit reference agency?

If more than 1 of them was a full search then you shouldn't have too much difficulty getting the rest of them removed.

Scarpacci

Are you sure all the searches are credit checks and not identity checks, anti-money laundering checks or "administration review" checks? I believe only actual credit checks coming from applications count, so it's important to make sure they're all proper credit checks. You will often get more than one search listed on your credit report when signing up for products, but only the application one matters.

When I applied for a credit from the Nationwide, I got these three search entries: Application Type: Credit Card, Application Type: Credit Card Quotation, Application Type: Identification: Generic Check. Only the first of those would affect my ability to obtain credit, as the others were "soft" quotes and identity checks.

So once you establish whether they're all credit checks, you will be in a better position to contact MetroBank. They do certainly have the right to do a credit check, whether you're requesting credit or not. People have however successfully got companies to remove additional credit searches which might unnecessarily impact their ability to get credit, especially when it appears to be due to technical fault or a problem with the bank's systems.