A credit check without my knowledge or permission?

Victors_Bruvver

I am fairly savvy about how the credit check/referencing works but I have this week been surprised, and a little angry, that whilst I have been looking around for a new car a search has appeared on at least one credit agency report, CallCredit, from a finance company.

I have been visiting & asking dealers for options and how to pay for the car and this has in all bar one been without credit checks, or at least to my knowledge. This particular one, however was done without me being present and I am now told was because I had rang them back to say that I would like to test drive it. When I rang them back yesterday they said it was because they had to make arrangements for it to be transferred from another dealership they would have to ask for a £500 deposit and some details.

Can they do this; undertake a finance proposal without my knowledge and without me saying that I was going to buy it? What redress do I have with this dealer and the finance company in deleting the search from my history or do I just have to admit I dropped my guard this time around?

By the way, I still haven’t committed and waiting to see what deals there are going to be in the run up to the new 64 plate.

GingerBob_3

Victors_Bruvver wrote: »

I am fairly savvy about how the credit check/referencing works but I have this week been surprised, and a little angry, that whilst I have been looking around for a new car a search has appeared on at least one credit agency report, CallCredit, from a finance company.

I have been visiting & asking dealers for options and how to pay for the car and this has in all bar one been without credit checks, or at least to my knowledge. This particular one, however was done without me being present and I am now told was because I had rang them back to say that I would like to test drive it. When I rang them back yesterday they said it was because they had to make arrangements for it to be transferred from another dealership they would have to ask for a £500 deposit and some details.

Can they do this; undertake a finance proposal without my knowledge and without me saying that I was going to buy it? What redress do I have with this dealer and the finance company in deleting the search from my history or do I just have to admit I dropped my guard this time around?

By the way, I still haven’t committed and waiting to see what deals there are going to be in the run up to the new 64 plate.

How did they get sufficient details about you (e.g. DoB) to carry out a check? Did you explicitly provide this information for some reason, or did you let them copy your driving licence and they took it from there without your permission?

CRAs claim that credit checks are only ever carried out with your permission; a blatant lie of course. Yorkshire Water coming to mind here.

james.maperson

What does the search read as on your report?

Buzby

Sounds like Motorpoint? They do an ID check only (supposedly) not a full credit check. Difficult to prove they didn't warn if your contact was face to face.

Victors_Bruvver

james.maperson wrote: »

What does the search read as on your report?

Just had a look and this what it says;
Company; Volkswagen Financial Services (Sr Tac) Purpose; Checking Credit Application

Victors_Bruvver

I just realised that they have my DOB wrong. Correct month & year but day completely wrong even allowing for a typo!

Whiner

They may just be performing an ID check (i.e. A check that cannot be seen by other lenders, just by you on your own credit report), but I don't know how you would check that for sure.

If its a full search, I'd ask them to remove it from your report because you didn't authorise it.

There won't be any compensation available as no damages have been sustained.

Victors_Bruvver

Thanks Whiner.

I wouldn't be looking for compensation as just want my credit report to be correct. I'll call the credit referencing agency and see what they can do.