Unauthorised Hard Credit Search

Annoyed1968

Hoping someone can give some advice.

2 years with a mobile company 'A'. Few weeks off end of contract, time to upgrade. Company 'A' says no problem: just "moving you over to Company B"...did not think about it tbh as I know companies often buy out other mobile companies.

It then became clear adviser was doing some sort of credit check on me. So I asked if she was doing a credit check. YES was the answer. I then say to her..."IT IS A SOFT CREDIT CHECK YOU ARE DOING ISN'T IT?" "YES" she says...but if I need more information I'll do a HARD CREDIT SEARCH on you.

I say DO NOT DO A HARD CREDIT SEARCH ON ME (my credit is okay, not brilliaint: am workign hard to improve). In fact, I say SEVERAL TIMES do NOT do a HARD CREDIT SEARCH. She ASSURED me she hadn't.

SHE DID.

It is on my Experian credit report. Credit rating dropped by 46 points (not a lot to those with good credit ratings; a lot for those trying to improve).

I have now had to pay to JOIN experian to get this removed. Company have acknowledged that I requested SEVERAL times do not do a hard search on me (I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HARD AND SOFT) so are willing to try to rectify it - but it has been a horrendous journey getting to this point.

I'm now fighting to get my report changed, but have spent hours and hours / days out of my time sorting it. It is not yet sorted...

Can I seek compensation from Company A/B? It was Company's B name on my credit report, although Company A "DID" the search.

[Deleted User]

you can continue to ask them to remove it, but it's almost certainly not worth the effort.

The 46 magical points are irrelevant, as the score isn't seen or used by anyone and is meaningless. A single search will have no impact on how lenders view you.

There's also no compensation to be had.

bazzyb

1) Your credit score is a made up number that only you see, it doesn't matter if it changes up or down.

2) You don't need to pay to get your credit file changed, Experian would not ask for a payment for this.

3) You have suffered no losses which you would be compensated for. Your imaginary number has changed, it will change again at some point in time, nobody will ever see it - there is absolutely nothing to be compensated for in that respect.


If you are planning on applying for credit elsewhere in the next six months, make sure you get the hard search removed (you don't need to pay anybody to do this). If you're not planning on making any such applications then it's not really worth the effort.

BoGoF

Dear oh dear........what a drama queen.

cjmillsnun

My credit history isn't fantastic. I have 4 defaults on file at present. Experian rate me as "poor" at the moment. You'll see why I don't give a carp about this or any other CRA's rating/score below.

I applied for a mortgage. My Experian "score" dropped 46 points because of the hard search.. I moved (and the local councils have not yet updated my electoral roll details with the CRAs) It dropped again.

Barclaycard upped my credit limit by three grand. I upgraded my mobile phone without a hitch.

Please ignore the score. Lenders don't see it. Only you do. 1 hard search is not excessive. A cluster of hard searches at the same time is different.

Also why pay to join Experian? There is a free service via MSE which gives you a new report every 30 days. Lenders report to the CRAs once a month normally so this is adequate to find out if it has been removed or not.

Annoyed1968

Exoerian told me that the mse one is useless...they will not discuss my repirt without beciming a member so i had to pay to join...i even got the statutory report but said they could not discuss it without being a paid nember

cjmillsnun

Of course experian will tell you the MSE one is useless. They're trying to sell you their package. As to whether they'll talk to you or not. Rubbish. Again, they were upselling.

Either way, cancel the experian one and ignore the score.

System

Annoyed1968 wrote: »

Exoerian told me that the mse one is useless...they will not discuss my repirt without beciming a member so i had to pay to join...i even got the statutory report but said they could not discuss it without being a paid nember

They've had you for a mug.

MEM62

Annoyed1968 wrote: »

Exoerian told me that the mse one is useless...they will not discuss my repirt without beciming a member so i had to pay to join...i even got the statutory report but said they could not discuss it without being a paid nember

No you didn't. There is no need to be a member of any CRA to see the available data. Once you can see that data what is there to discuss? If the data is incorrect that might be another matter but it doesn't require any membership to put right.

I accept that a hard search when you requested that it wasn't carried out is annoying. But other than being frustrating, it has had no impact on you or your credit standing whatsoever. I am struggling to understand the amount of time and energy you are investing in trying to correct something that has no effect on you.

[Deleted User]

When you take mobile phone contract with ANY provider, even when porting over, they will do a Hard Search on you to confirm credit-worthiness.

Your score is irrelevant, ignore it.

There's no compo to be had since no damage has been done.