Natwest - Hard searched credit File without authorisation

Nickuk84

Hi

I have been in contact with Natwest for the past hour and a half and best they can say it 56 days complaints.

Basically on 30/09/2015 i logged into internet banking, saw it said "good news your v.likely to be accepted for £1,800 overdraft" so clicked on it and it said we need to do a credit search, and some other info, so I closed the window and thought nothing of it.

Today I found that it wsa registered as a full search with Equifax, I told them and they said we have a "pending" application for "zero" credit .. so I said clearly you can see its wrong . they said they need to investigate what happened and it will take 56 days, but cant change it until then.

I want to get a mortgage next month, i'm already subprime, and looking like i applied for credit last month looks terrible especially since I got a mobile phone contract in september! so had a genuine search then.

I am really worried and angry. Equifax said they;'ll contact natwest but said 30 days, I cant believe they cant see its wrong and just fix it. I have phoned three times, and emailed, and now wrote a letter and not sure what else I can do.

GingerBob_3

Companies and other organisations don't need your permission to hit you with a credit search. All they need is a "legitimate reason", and as you might expect, the definition of "legitimate reason" is vague to say the least (see ICO website). However, I doubt what you did would give them a legitimate reason. The issue here seems to be bad website design. This case demonstrates the dangerous nature of the (unregulated) credit reporting industry.

Nickuk84

Its exactly it GingerBob,

I work in Computer Development (Albeit basic SQL/VB/SSIS/SSRS) but it seems to me that perhaps there was a close button i didn't press which has kept the credit search in a pending state. it should be once window has been closed and/or application hasnt progressed then it should be removed.

I am chasing, but not holding out much hope for next 30 days.

tomba_2

Unfortunately these companies take forever to sort things out whereas it's easy for a crook to access your personal details held by them within seconds using your credit card! Experian did this to me....a 3rd party accessed Experian using my "takeaway" credit card and within 10 minutes of Experian letting them have free access my bank accounts were emptied using personal information stored.
This certainly affected my credit score and my stress levels.
Even I could not get them to see their errors and sort it out.
Good luck with your task!