Why has my new Utility supplier done a credit search?

niccec

Hi, I'm in the process of changing my utility supplier having found a much better deal via U-Switch but according my credit file my new supplier has done a credit search and apparently this has a negative impact on my credit score. That doesn't seem right. Are they allowed to do that?

[Deleted User]

Yes. But your credit score is fictional, so ignore.

Thrugelmir

niccec wrote: »

apparently this has a negative impact on my credit score.

That's just the system working normally.

GingerBob_3

niccec wrote: »

Hi, I'm in the process of changing my utility supplier having found a much better deal via U-Switch but according my credit file my new supplier has done a credit search and apparently this has a negative impact on my credit score. That doesn't seem right. Are they allowed to do that?

You are better choosing a utility supplier that neither whacks you with a search nor reports your account to the CRAs. With utility companies there's just too great a chance that they'll screw you over with erroneous reporting.

DUTR

niccec wrote: »

Hi, I'm in the process of changing my utility supplier having found a much better deal via U-Switch but according my credit file my new supplier has done a credit search and apparently this has a negative impact on my credit score. That doesn't seem right. Are they allowed to do that?

Yes they are, in effect you are applying for credit (unless a pre payment meter) , when I switched to SP, they did inform me of such.

DCFC79

niccec wrote: »

Hi, I'm in the process of changing my utility supplier having found a much better deal via U-Switch but according my credit file my new supplier has done a credit search and apparently this has a negative impact on my credit score. That doesn't seem right. Are they allowed to do that?

It may have a negative impact on your score but only you see it.

datlex

British Gas credit check customers when they change from Prepay to Credit meters. Basically you pay for what you have already used with a credit meter and obviously they want to check you can pay.

Mummyto4kids

Are you sure its a credit search and not an id check or something? We changed suppliers a while back and got a generic id check logged against us but not an actual credit search.