Potentially strange soft searches I cannot explain - please help

malarkybhoy

Hi all,

Much appreciated in advance of any insight or advice. My concern is relating to, if they were done by an individual and not a company. ( I know soft searches generally mean nothing and score is meaningless).

I have received 2 soft searches on my transunion report via (credit karma) for the below:

novuna personal finance price comp - hdd (ar api)

purpose - affordability

type - individual

Search Org Type

Other secured lender

Search Org Name

Mitsubishi HC Capital (CR, AR, ML, CVAL,SA)

Search Unit Name

Novuna Personal Finance Price Comp - HDD (AR API)

Search Date

3 Feb 2023

The search also used my middle name which is also odd as I do not use that at all.

I did not apply for any credit or any account with either mitsubishi or novuno.

Next up is:

lexisnexis (ln) - insurance services

gi quote www.risk.lexisnexis.com/group/pn-in-faq

DETAILS

Purpose -general insurance

Date -07 Feb 2023

This one has an additional word in my address which again I found weird.

When researching , I can see the companies appear legit, but I honestly cannot figure out why they have searched me.

My activity in the last month :

First Direct switch -  hard search (all good)

kroo bank - soft searched (all good)

paypal credit - no indication as of yet of any search

amex credit card - eligibility test via amex page

I would appreciate any info , if anyone has seen searches like this.

Cheers

MorningcoffeeIV

Individuals don't do credit searches. The two companies named are companies, not individuals.

Most likely is that they're from previous applications or renewal quotes.

malarkybhoy

MorningcoffeeIV said:

Individuals don't do credit searches. The two companies named are companies, not individuals.

Most likely is that they're from previous applications or renewal quotes.

Thanks a lot for your reply Morningcoffee.

I think I worded my post pretty poorly, thanks for the reassurance, I was worrying that an individual person was making an application pretending to be me.

I have not had any renewal quotes in 24 months according to Transunion, and I have no idea about Mitsibushi/Novunaas I have never had any involvement with those companies.

Cheers

Grumpy_chap

malarkybhoy said:

type - individual

I read that line as the search was done on an individual, i.e. you are an individual.
That would mean that "type" would be the legal status of the person on which the data is being obtained and (guess) other "types" might include things such as business.

MalMonroe

I get all kinds of soft searches on my reports. It used to really annoy me because I didn't know the companies that were carrying them out and I hadn't applied for anything. But now I don't even check soft searches because they have no impact whatsoever on my credit history or credit reports. Sometimes the credit reference agencies do soft searches, too. And sometimes companies that are subsidiaries of other companies carry out soft searches.

But can an individual have access to your credit reports? And if so, how? I wouldn't have thought they could. Not just any old individual off the street, surely?

I wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye on your reports and ensure they are all correct. If there's a hard search you don't recognise, then obviously query that. I usually check mine once a month. 

malarkybhoy

MalMonroe said:

I get all kinds of soft searches on my reports. It used to really annoy me because I didn't know the companies that were carrying them out and I hadn't applied for anything. But now I don't even check soft searches because they have no impact whatsoever on my credit history or credit reports. Sometimes the credit reference agencies do soft searches, too. And sometimes companies that are subsidiaries of other companies carry out soft searches.

But can an individual have access to your credit reports? And if so, how? I wouldn't have thought they could. Not just any old individual off the street, surely?

I wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye on your reports and ensure they are all correct. If there's a hard search you don't recognise, then obviously query that. I usually check mine once a month. 

Yeah I think you are right, I get a marginally annoyed at soft searches and will stop that now.

The lexisnexis search was related to Axa insurance, which makes sense as they are my car insurance and they have just sent my renewal documents. ( in case that helps anyone in the future)

No idea about the novuno, but anyway thanks for your response Mal. I shall no longer care about soft searches.

Cheers