Credit search conducted without my consent

eldaniel

I have recently contacted BT as my DOB on the credit agreements in my credit report was not correct. Guy from BT was extremely helpful, however I have just realised that he did full credit search on my file! The one which leave a trace for all lenders to see. Next to it it is written "search type" - "opt in" which means that apparently I authorised him to do so. I actually have the conversation recorded with BT and at no point he warned me that he will conduct full credit search.
Is there anything I can do? Is there anything to worry about?
Worth mentioning might be the fact that I am not going to apply for any mortgage/loan in the next 2 years at least. Is that search going to be disregarded by all lenders after year or so?
Thanks

stclair

Is the search is table two of your Equifax report.

If it is then it will have no affect on your credit rating what so ever.

YorkshireBoy

eldaniel wrote: »

Next to it it is written "search type" - "opt in" which means that apparently I authorised him to do so.

I thought "opt in" meant you accepted that the files of those financially associated with you were searched as well?

At least that's what it used to mean a few years ago, when you had the option to "opt out" of such a search. Very few, if any, lenders now offer such an opt out.

zerog

OTOH, there is no reason for BT to know your DOB

Gold_bullion

Seems pretty much any organisation can search your file. This year when I renewed the family's car insurances a whole bunch appeared around the renewal time, some of which I had contacted in previous years, but not this one, with no credit applied for.

I was under the impression that the only "bad" searches were those for credit - there are also regular "identity check" ones to simply check out who you say you are.

CKhalvashi

zerog wrote: »

OTOH, there is no reason for BT to know your DOB

However Orange, on the forms, asked for my DoB, presumably to know I'm over 18.

If it's PAYG, there should be less need for this.

CK

Gold_bullion

Pretty much every mobile provider asks your DOB and uses it to confirm who you are. If you don't provide it you don't get the phone.

eldaniel

stclair wrote: »

Is the search is table two of your Equifax report.

If it is then it will have no affect on your credit rating what so ever.

unfortunately it is in table 1, which contains all the credit searches which leave a trace for

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I thought "opt in" meant you accepted that the files of those financially associated with you were searched as well?

At least that's what it used to mean a few years ago, when you had the option to "opt out" of such a search. Very few, if any, lenders now offer such an opt out.

on equifax website it is explained that opt in means that myself or someone financially associated with me gave them a consent for that, which obviously is not true

zerog wrote: »

OTOH, there is no reason for BT to know your DOB

what do u mean? they have to know it to be able to submit the correct information. in fact when I called them they could tell me precisely what kind of mistake was done on my credit report. I just don't understand why they did full credit search without my consent.

eldaniel

Gold_bullion wrote: »

Seems pretty much any organisation can search your file. This year when I renewed the family's car insurances a whole bunch appeared around the renewal time, some of which I had contacted in previous years, but not this one, with no credit applied for.

I was under the impression that the only "bad" searches were those for credit - there are also regular "identity check" ones to simply check out who you say you are.

yeah, unfortunately this is one of this bad searches. I also have plenty of identity check searches from insurance companies etc. but the latter are soft searches, so they are harmless. That is why I can't understand why they had to do full credit search if they can see what info they actually submitted to Equifax.

_Andy_

One search isn't going to impact things.

izools

_Andy_ wrote: »

One search isn't going to impact things.

Unless you've already had a couple of searches in the last six months in which case it could "tip you over the edge" so to speak.

OP, raise a dispute with Equifax, I've raised numerous disputes with Equifax against erroneous BT data and the data has always been removed