Email fm Experian saying new credit account added

PinkUnicorn8

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

MattMattMattUK

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

PinkUnicorn8

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

MattMattMattUK

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

PinkUnicorn8

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

MattMattMattUK

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

Real time data vs batch processed data. They want you to pay them to access the real time data, do not as A, that means they win their silly little game and B, you cannot do anything yet anyway.

PinkUnicorn8

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

Real time data vs batch processed data. They want you to pay them to access the real time data, do not as A, that means they win their silly little game and B, you cannot do anything yet anyway.

That makes sense, thanks so much, I will just keep checking (and worrying!)

PinkUnicorn8

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

Real time data vs batch processed data. They want you to pay them to access the real time data, do not as A, that means they win their silly little game and B, you cannot do anything yet anyway.

I've just checked on Clearscore and it mentions my card credit limit reported as changed this month, in your view do you think that could be what Experian are reporting as new account?

MattMattMattUK

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

Real time data vs batch processed data. They want you to pay them to access the real time data, do not as A, that means they win their silly little game and B, you cannot do anything yet anyway.

I've just checked on Clearscore and it mentions my card credit limit reported as changed this month, in your view do you think that could be what Experian are reporting as new account?

It could. Experian are by far the worst in my opinion, so I would not be surprised if something like that triggered a "PANIC - Pay us money for instant access" type email. 

PinkUnicorn8

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

MattMattMattUK said:

PinkUnicorn8 said:

Please can you help as I'm freaking out a bit.
Received email today from Experian saying "a new credit account has been added to your file"
I've not applied for anything.
I logged in to the app to check, there are no hard searches, which I would expect if credit had been fraudulently applied for? Soft searches are those I would expect for insurance renewal etc.
All accounts and balances (ie utilities, phone and accounts) are in order.
Just a bit confused, I know new accounts can take a while to show up but would surely be a hard search? None for a year.
I'm really stressing, I've locked my credit score now, am I panicking unnecessarily and is there a simple explanation or does this always mean there's been some sort of fraud?
They are closed until Monday but I've emailed, thank you in advance for any help

Nope, lots of accounts do not use hard searches. Just wait, it is all you can do. It could well be an account reporting differently. 

It could mean fraud, it might not. If it is then just deal with that when it happens. It has happened to me twice, accounts in my name, it is how I realised that so many banks and companies have such poor customer ID verification. But if that happens it does not really matter, it will get resolved quite quickly once you complain to the relevant companies and has no long term issues. 

Thank you for your reply, would you expect a soft search? None I don't recognise

Not always no, or I have had it where a search has shown up after the account did when I opened a new account myself. 

Thank you, appreciate the info, so I just have to wait and see? If it isn't showing I wonder how Experian know about it to alert me tho, any idea on that please?

Real time data vs batch processed data. They want you to pay them to access the real time data, do not as A, that means they win their silly little game and B, you cannot do anything yet anyway.

I've just checked on Clearscore and it mentions my card credit limit reported as changed this month, in your view do you think that could be what Experian are reporting as new account?

It could. Experian are by far the worst in my opinion, so I would not be surprised if something like that triggered a "PANIC - Pay us money for instant access" type email. 

Thanks so much, really appreciate picking your brains! Very good points, my anxiety is just about under control, I will update when mystery is solved!

singhini

@PinkUnicorn8
Just last week i had an ALERT email from ClearScore which panicked me. 

Last week i received an alert email from ClearScore relating to my Equifax credit report. The email was to inform me a credit agreement was being added to my report. 

Having panicked, i logged in, and it looks like my Lloyds current account is being added to my credit file. 
What's strange is ive had my Lloyds bank account for over 27 years and its never been on my credit file.

I then logged into both CreditKarma (Transunion) and Experian App and the Lloyds account already appears there (but it looks like there is only one months worth of data on both files and so i suspect its only just been added to those two credit files). 


EDIT: there were no soft or hard searches on any of my credit files. Why after 27 years Lloyds are now reporting my account i'm not sure. I did log into my Lloyds account and i was asked to confirm some personal data i.e. employment status etc.... (was asking me personal info coincidental, who knows). But having been the victim of fraud previously (aswell as once having someone else's info wrongly added to my credit file), those ALERT emails panic me, so i feel your pain.