Hard search by Lowell

Hampton1968

Hi , I’m in the process of sorting out fraudulent accounts on my credit file ,Lowell held a few accounts on their .I contacted them with evidence and they agreed to delete my details from their system ,
this was a few weeks ago , now yesterday they did a hard search on my credit report , why would they do that after they said they had deleted my details ? 
Many thanks 

[Deleted User]

Presumably because another fraudulent application has been made. Deleting your details mean that they have no record you not wanting credit, so treated it as a new genuine application.

Set up a protective CIFAS marker.

Hampton1968

Deleted_User said:

Presumably because another fraudulent application has been made. Deleting your details mean that they have no record you not wanting credit, so treated it as a new genuine application.

Set up a protective CIFAS marker.

Lowell is a debt collection agency though not a credit company

[Deleted User]

It may be a new account that they have been assigned from a lender.

Unless the source of the fraud has been found and fixed, the only way to stop them, or at least slow them down, will be via CIFAS.

PixelPound

Are you sure it was a hard search and not a soft search?

Hampton1968

nic_c said:

Are you sure it was a hard search and not a soft search?

On transunion it definitely says hard search , what would that imply rather than soft ?

Jamesyb123

Hampton1968 said:

nic_c said:

Are you sure it was a hard search and not a soft search?

On transunion it definitely says hard search , what would that imply rather than soft ?

It’s unusual to be a hard search I had a debt company trying to trace me when I moved address before and they just did a soft search I would query that 

sourcrates

Hampton1968 said:

nic_c said:

Are you sure it was a hard search and not a soft search?

On trans union it definitely says hard search , what would that imply rather than soft ?

I would not trust the terminology used by Trans union, Its rare for a debt purchasing company to do a hard search, as that would only be for lending purposes, and Lowell doesn't lend money, they would normally only do a trace on your address in order to contact you.

adamp87

I’d challenge Lowell with a complaint to remove the search. They shouldn’t be recorded as hard searches  

Jrchmn

I had several credit cards etc taken out in my name leading to lots of problems about 10 years ago. Most of the card companies were awful and didn’t report things to CIFAS. I contacted them directly and they were incredibly helpful. If you’ve had a case of identity fraud please contact them; don’t expect the financial institutions to be helpful. Also please complain to any card companies etc if they haven't helped. I forget how much money I received in compensation from Barclay card but it was more than the thief had stolen from them.

 https://www.cifas.org.uk/

Hampton1968

Jrchmn said:

I had several credit cards etc taken out in my name leading to lots of problems about 10 years ago. Most of the card companies were awful and didn’t report things to CIFAS. I contacted them directly and they were incredibly helpful. If you’ve had a case of identity fraud please contact them; don’t expect the financial institutions to be helpful. Also please complain to any card companies etc if they haven't helped. I forget how much money I received in compensation from Barclay card but it was more than the thief had stolen from them.

 https://www.cifas.org.uk/

Thank you very much for your message , it’s a comfort to know I’m not alone 
it’s very early days , but I’m finding the whole process painfully slow 
I’m finding a a full range of helpfulness from the companies involved 
A couple have been incredibly helpful and have removed the details from my credit report 
a few others are having me jump through hoops to prove my innocence 
and the rest just haven’t answered my emails at all 
I’m finding it very stressful indeed , losing sleep over it 
any input from your experience would be very helpful indeed 
I have looked into cifas but read that it can be detrimental to your credit score 
I really don’t know where to turn or do for the best