HSBC credit applications I didn't ask for - how long to get them removed?

nikongirl

I've been keeping a fairly close eye on my credit reports in the run-up to hopefully getting a mortgage but I've recently discovered a series of HSBC hard searches I didn't ask for. Clearly I didn't keep a close enough eye on the searches section until ClearScore flagged up too many credit applications over a short period of time when I hadn't made any credit applications at all.

I applied for a basic current account with HSBC in August but then decided against it and asked them to cancel the application. Having chatted with their staff in branch this morning they confirmed that it looked like their system had somehow automatically run hard credit searches over the last few months (or prompted staff to do it). Five in total but the last one hasn't made it onto the ClearScore report yet. :eek: None of them are showing on Noddle. Not sure about Experian as I don't have full access but it doesn't seem to have impacted the score there. I should probably do a statutory report, shouldn't I?

Does anyone know how long it might take to clear the hard searches from ClearScore? I have an appointment with HSBC tomorrow to start the ball rolling.

Candyapple

The free versions to check your credit files are below:
Experian: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub
Call Credit: https://www.noddle.co.uk
Equifax: https://www.clearscore.com


If you made an application last August, why have they made hard searches 9 months later?

You need to put it in writing to HSBC's credit department and then ask them to remove the searches from all agencies that they report to. They should be able to remove the searches as soon as they apply to do so, but it may take another month/next update for it show on your files. Not sure you'll get very far with the branch staff as they are as useful as a chocolate teapot.

nikongirl

Candyapple wrote: »

The free versions to check your credit files are below:
Experian: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/creditclub
Call Credit: https://www.noddle.co.uk
Equifax: https://www.clearscore.com

Thank you - I wasn't aware of the Credit Club so that's really useful.

Candyapple wrote: »

If you made an application last August, why have they made hard searches 9 months later?

I'm not sure even HSBC know that! You can see the original soft check in August but after that it seems to have done a hard check every few months since (and yes, I should have checked the searches more thoroughly - lesson learned!). From the brief discussion I had with one of the staff this morning (who freely admitted he didn't know precisely how to deal with it but he's made me an appointment with someone who does) it sounds like some part of their system has seen my application as being active that whole time and has tried to re-approve the application each time. I'm keen to get more details tomorrow because I don't understand why it hard checked, when the original application only required a soft check. The only thing I can think of is that they were trying to pre-approve for other products but surely that would need my express permission.

Candyapple wrote: »

You need to put it in writing to HSBC's credit department and then ask them to remove the searches from all agencies that they report to. They should be able to remove the searches as soon as they apply to do so, but it may take another month/next update for it show on your files. Not sure you'll get very far with the branch staff as they are as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Thanks — I'll follow up the meeting tomorrow with a written request. Looking at Experian, you can see all five searches on there but they're listed as 'unrecorded enquiry'. All very fascinating but really not what I need right now! On the up side, at least it's not someone fraudulently making credit applications with my details.

nikongirl

Update in case anyone's interested...

It seems the dates match up with the dates when the account manager in branch was prompted to contact me to ask if I still wanted the account (although I said I didn't want it when I visited the branch in October). They couldn't contact me by phone because I don't answer calls from Unknown numbers and apparently they couldn't leave a voicemail either. He's really confused by this seemingly automatic credit checking because, in theory, it shouldn't be able to happen. I think it was trying to credit check me for an account including an overdraft, which my original application wouldn't have included, hence the change in search type. Anyway, he's emailed the group which deals with this and he's hoping to hear back by Monday. If I don't hear anything from him by the end of Monday I'll send a letter out as well.