Unrecognised Credit Card Account on Credit Report

joe-lo

Hi

I was checking my credit report recently as I was declined for a 0% balance transfer card (Tesco) and noticed a Bank of Scotland Preference Account credit card on my report, open since 2006 with a £500 limit, but nothing ever used.

I had absolutely no knowledge of this account and I contacted the bank to query this. They said the same as the above, opened 2006, £500 limit, never used etc. I got them to close the account and to send me a letter confirming that it was closed and also a copy of the original document relating to the opening of the account.

This was about a month ago, yesterday I received a letter saying they "could not provide me with a copy of the original signed agreement at the moment".

My question is, where do I stand with this? Although the card wsa never used, this has shown on my account as credit available to me and now I fear have a black mark against me for being declined for the Tesco card.

I will draft a letter to the bank but Im unsure what to put on it.

Best regards

Joe-lo

Eydon

I can't see how having an unused £500 limit available on your credit account would have that much of an impact.

Is this the first credit you've applied for in the last 6 years? If you have successfully applied for other credit since this Bank of Scotland account was opened then it hasn't had much (if any) impact.

Tesco may very well have declined you for another reason. Anything else look wrong on your credit reports (best to check all three).

joe-lo

Thanks for your reply.

Im not overly concerned about whether it has contributed to me being declined (got accepted from another provider though) but I am concerned as to how it was opened in the first place and as to why the bank cant provide the original signed document. Well, I know why, because I never signed up for it but how can they allow someone to open up an account in my name?

Dr_Cuckoo3

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3913485

incorbin wrote: »

I got a loan from Capital Bank (BOS Group) a few years ago. At the same time they sent me a Capital Bank preference account debit card with a credit limit of £4500. This was not asked for and I had no intention of using it but thought I'd hang on to it just in case. I never used the original card and in time was issued with another. I paid off the original loan in the allotted time and had started using the preference card bit by bit.

Eydon

Did you apply for a loan around that time. I found this thread on MSE which suggests they might have given you a credit card account at the same time.

EDIT: Crossed post with Dr Cuckoo - so that's at least two thread on MSE

joe-lo

Eydon wrote: »

Did you apply for a loan around that time. I found this thread on MSE which suggests they might have given you a credit card account at the same time.

EDIT: Crossed post with Dr Cuckoo - so that's at least two thread on MSE

I did apply for a loan a few months previously and was offered a BOS One cc at the time which I accepted, have used and cleared. Until I checked my credit report (3 agencies), I had no idea about this preference card.

Legally, I wonder where I stand with the bank. Surely this must be classed a some sort of fraudulent activity?

Eydon

I don't think it's fraud to be honest. More likely that you've inadvertently agreed to the account being opened (by not unchecking a check box somewhere). It's possible that some sales person in the bank thought they'd put the application through to get their commission when you applied for the loan but you'd have a hard time proving that after this amount of time.

I doubt very much that there is anything that can be done about it now. The account has never been used, has now been closed at your request and I doubt you have lost out as a result of it being on your credit file.

jamesd

A £500 credit limit card from 2006 that's never been used has probably been more helpful than harmful to your record. Shows six years of credit facility with no missed payments and that's somewhat positive, while the credit limit is probably too low to be significant for many people. Just forget about it unless there's some future hassle about that specific account.

FlacosFloozie

I got given the same card when I took out a loan with BOS. Never used it as it had a horrible interest rate but I was told it came automatically with the loan.

Gromitt

joe-lo wrote: »

My question is, where do I stand with this? Although the card wsa never used, this has shown on my account as credit available to me

Unless you are on less than minimum wage, it's unlikely to be a factor for you not getting the Tesco card. Tesco are incredibly picky about who they give cards to.

joe-lo wrote: »

and now I fear have a black mark against me for being declined for the Tesco card.

No lender can tell if you have been rejected for credit. They can only tell that you applied for credit. They might be able to 'guess' by comparing number of application to number of open accounts, but thats unreliable.

sharpy2010

joe-lo wrote: »

Legally, I wonder where I stand with the bank. Surely this must be classed a some sort of fraudulent activity?

Oh good god why don't you just come out and say "I want the bank to give me some free money for this 'inconvenience' "?