Less Hard Searches on my Credit File than I should Have

Kosh3000

So I dabble a bit with switching and stoozing and as such recently checked my Clearscore rating and noted I have only had 2 hard searches listed.
1 for a current HSBC (that I recently never got) and another for an M&S current account at the start of the year. As I understand it, hard searches last a year on your report.

Now the thing is, I have opened 3 bank accounts and one credit card in the last year. A second current account at TSB and Halifax (brand new accounts), a new Clydesdale current account (switched from another bank) followed a few months later by a Clydesdale credit card (brand new not balance transfer). So I would expect to find a total of 5 hard searches on my report.

I asked for an overdraft with M&S but not HSBC. I never asked for or received an overdraft with the TSB, Halifax or Clydesdale.
So I am thinking if you don’t asked for an overdraft, the banks don’t do a hard search on you and once you have your foot in the door, they necessarily won’t run a credit search on you for a second product with them.

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience on this?

Seems highly relevant for those of us on here who are regularly switching/balance transferring and avoid applying for things out of fear of incurring more marks against out file.

Kosh3000

Quick addition. Just done a quick check on Noodle and I found 2 soft searches in relation to the Clydesdale stuff but nothing in relation ot the extra TSB or Halifax. Very surprised at a soft search for a credit card though.

Either way, the lesson I am taking is don't ask for a bank overdraft when setting up a new account.

[Deleted User]

Are you sure the others don't report to Experian?

Kosh3000

Already used up my free trial with experian so no way of checking that out.

Ed-1

Kosh3000 wrote: »

Already used up my free trial with experian so no way of checking that out.

You could request your £2 statutory report from Experian.