Multiple soft searches

Chocobo

Hey all
just had an alert from experian about 5 soft searches (4 quotations and 1 identification generic check), upon looking at the other credit checkers there was possibly another 2 completed.
these were not instigated by me and appear to have been done across several platforms by the API names.
i'm concerned i've been the victim of fraud, what can i do at this point?
thanks!

To add to the above, some were on sites I've never used, and I hadnt logged into any of the credit checking agencies around that time, and am not due any renewals etc - these are completely out of the blue, and I dont have accounts with those who searched either, and some of the searches appear to be repeated attempts with differing lengths of time at my residence (all incorrect) - that's the most concerning bit

[Deleted User]

Soft searches can be from insurance firms if you do a comparison search for example. Soft searches disappear after a while, just keep an eye out for anything more

Chocobo

Deleted_User said:

Soft searches can be from insurance firms if you do a comparison search for example. Soft searches disappear after a while, just keep an eye out for anything more

Thanks for reply, I haven't done any comparisons or have anything due for renewal. These are across multiple sites, and, in some cases repeated using different (incorrect) information - that's not something automatic

PRAISETHESUN

Have you ever used comparison sites? Part of the terms you agree to for most of them is that they are allowed to conduct soft searches "from time to time" to see if you're eligible for any products they can recommend. It's not something that's very easy to opt out of. Additionally you may sometimes authorise them to outsource the checks to third parties, which makes it even harder to track down who you gave permission to to actually perform the searches in the first place.

Soft searches are not visible to lenders so I personally wouldn't worry too much. It's only really an issue if unauthorised hard credit searches start appearing on your file.

If you're worried about fraud, you can sign up for protective CIFAS registration: https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

Chocobo

PRAISETHESUN said:

Have you ever used comparison sites? Part of the terms you agree to for most of them is that they are allowed to conduct soft searches "from time to time" to see if you're eligible for any products they can recommend. It's not something that's very easy to opt out of. Additionally you may sometimes authorise them to outsource the checks to third parties, which makes it even harder to track down who you gave permission to to actually perform the searches in the first place.

Soft searches are not visible to lenders so I personally wouldn't worry too much. It's only really an issue if unauthorised hard credit searches start appearing on your file.

If you're worried about fraud, you can sign up for protective CIFAS registration: https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr

Thanks so much, i have in the past, but it's weird how its all same day, and with the incorrect info so i think i'm going to err on the side of caution. how long would protective registration take to show in my credit reports?

Chocobo

Had even more searches. With varying lengths of time in residence. This is not done by me, at all. It's frustrating how people need so little info - name, DoB, address (which delivery drivers can easily get) to do a soft search. I've taken out a cifas protective but this is infuriating that it's so easy for people.

smashinglynaive

Chocobo said:

Had even more searches. With varying lengths of time in residence. This is not done by me, at all. It's frustrating how people need so little info - name, DoB, address (which delivery drivers can easily get) to do a soft search. I've taken out a cifas protective but this is infuriating that it's so easy for people.

So easy for people to what?

It's not easy for someone to credit check you.