Clearscore Hard searches

rtho782

I'm about to move house, and have organised Virgin Media for my new address (Broadband only, I have no interest in TV or phone line).

They have as expected credit searched me (despite this not really being credit, I have no way to run up a bill and they bill me in advance).

Except, Clearscore counts it as two credit searches as they have also searched my previous address. Is this normal/fair?

I feel like I'm being penalised for moving here!

Also, if they aren't giving me credit, should they be searching me?

[Deleted User]

rtho782 wrote: »

They have as expected credit searched me (despite this not really being credit, I have no way to run up a bill and they bill me in advance).

Do Virgin not offer anything like pay movies, similar to Sky?

rtho782

Deleted_User wrote: »

Do Virgin not offer anything like pay movies, similar to Sky?

Yes, on their TV service. I have broadband only, no TV, no phone line.

engineer_amy

I too have Virgin. Clearscore/Equifax is the only CRA that has virgin on the report, and every single month there is a virgin entry with an outstanding balance matching my monthly subscription. Even though, as you say you are billed in advance.


Its not causing me any issues at the moment as I pay on time, and clearscore list it as a positive, open 7 years, so a older account with an excellent payment record.


im sure they have it listed in their T&Cs that they will share info with CRAs, I suppose one of the failings of the system.

rtho782

I don't actually object to them reporting to CRAs, as you say that can only be a positive. I would have been mildly annoyed by a hard search as I don't have TV/Phone so can't run up a bill, but two hard searches is more annoying.

Maybe they could have, for example, hard searched my current address and soft searched my previous.

GingerBob_3

Why is an organisation assaulting people with credit searches and reporting accounts when there is no credit involved? The punters here are paying in advance. The blaggers at Virgin are the ones obtaining credit! And it's all very well not objecting to them reporting you to the CRAs, but they have no business to do so, and companies such as Virgin are noted for causing credit reporting problems. I would be inclined to contact Virgin asking them on what basis they are doing this. Also contact the ICO to ask them how this can be justified.

GingerBob_3

rtho782 wrote: »

I don't actually object to them reporting to CRAs, as you say that can only be a positive. I would have been mildly annoyed by a hard search as I don't have TV/Phone so can't run up a bill, but two hard searches is more annoying.

Maybe they could have, for example, hard searched my current address and soft searched my previous.

Provided they don't make a mistake - and they have a habit of doing just that. The first time most people find out is when they're declined for a mortgage.

john1002

Don't forget as well that clearscore are only reporting what the main credit reference agency Equifax feed into them, similar to Noddle and Call credit.

Any issues you have will ultimately need to be resolved by Equifax not Clearscore.

Clearscore are not searching anything, it is Equifax that are and in the terms and conditions that you agreed to for accepting the service provided.

john

GingerBob_3

john1002 wrote: »

Don't forget as well that clearscore are only reporting what the main credit reference agency Equifax feed into them, similar to Noddle and Call credit.

Any issues you have will ultimately need to be resolved by Equifax not Clearscore.

Clearscore are not searching anything, it is Equifax that are and in the terms and conditions that you agreed to for accepting the service provided.

john

What sort of T&C is that? "We're not giving you credit but we're going to smack you up with credit search and report your account to a CREDIT reference agency". Looks to me as both Virgin, for perpetrating this misbehaviour, and Equifax, for allowing/encouraging them to do so, should be taken to task.

rtho782

GingerBob wrote: »

What sort of T&C is that? "We're not giving you credit but we're going to smack you up with credit search and report your account to a CREDIT reference agency". Looks to me as both Virgin, for perpetrating this misbehaviour, and Equifax, for allowing/encouraging them to do so, should be taken to task.

Not one, but TWO credit searches!