Dummy quotes online on price comparison sites

synapse321

Hi

When I did some genuine quotes for car insurance on price comparison sites I noticed that each quote from companies recorded a search on my credit reference file.

Although this does not affect ones credit score it does leave a foot print on your file.

So when people say do dummy quotes with some information altered I don't know what implications this has on your credit file?

At best I would advice erring on caution.

Regards

Quentin

If you do "dummy" quotes there will be no implications for your credit file!


("dummy" meaning anonymous!)

oscarward

its amazing how often joe soap needs to check for insurance, his phone must be ringing off it's hook with all the insurers calling :-)

Nasqueron

synapse321 wrote: »

Hi

When I did some genuine quotes for car insurance on price comparison sites I noticed that each quote from companies recorded a search on my credit reference file.

Although this does not affect ones credit score it does leave a foot print on your file.

So when people say do dummy quotes with some information altered I don't know what implications this has on your credit file?

At best I would advice erring on caution.

Regards

I believe these searches are "soft" searches and are not visible to lenders etc.

Your credit "score" is as much use as a chocolate fireguard, the score is generated by people who want to encourage you to give them money to raise the score they give you - the only relevant info is the actual data on the file

eddddy

oscarward wrote: »

its amazing how often joe soap needs to check for insurance, his phone must be ringing off it's hook with all the insurers calling :-)

I do sometimes wonder if an insurance call centre agent somewhere has actually called the local Disney Store's number to discuss a quote with Mrs Poke 0'Huntiss.

Or maybe called the plumbers merchant's number asking for Iney Dapoo.

synapse321

When you enter your dummy details online the company will search the details you have given against public records such as the electoral role and various fraud databases such as CIFAS, if they do not find a match this most probably will affect the amount you are quoted as you are considered riskier.


How companies use credit reference agency information is shrouded in mystery and confidentiality.


I am no expert in credit reference agencies.

[Deleted User]

oscarward wrote: »

its amazing how often joe soap needs to check for insurance, his phone must be ringing off it's hook with all the insurers calling :-)

I wonder what number he gives ...

OnanTheBarbarian

Do you think maybe IP addresses are noted by insurers, regardless of what name you put down?

Is there a risk of those doing "dummy quotes" putting themselves at risk of higher quotes or being on a fraud/watch list due to suspicious activity when performing numerous quotes with varying details?

Nasqueron

OnanTheBarbarian wrote: »

Do you think maybe IP addresses are noted by insurers, regardless of what name you put down?

Is there a risk of those doing "dummy quotes" putting themselves at risk of higher quotes or being on a fraud/watch list due to suspicious activity when performing numerous quotes with varying details?

They can record the IP and stop doing quotes or do silly prices if you do multiple searches in quick succession but there are ways around this (whether using a free proxy server / vpn / turning off the router for a while which might mean a new IP when you turn it back on again depending how the ISP operates)

synapse321

Their systems look for and analyse data automatically, looking for trends and unusual behaviour.


The how and why of it is not made public for obvious reasons.


I remember a few years ago Egg the bank liaised with the police fraud unit as they picked up fraudulent credit card applications on their site.


I am not saying that posters here are intent on doing this but should be aware of the wider picture.

HornetSaver

Sleazy wrote: »

I wonder what number he gives ...

My guess would be a number from Bedford.