Own Credit Checks Showing on Experian

CelticStar

Have recently taken out the free 30 day trial with Experian and have checked it a number of times as I am just starting to stooze money, but I am just puzzled by a couple of things. We have been accepted for an Egg money card, a Barclaycard and a Sainsbury's card within the last month. But having looked at our Experian account a few times I've noticed that only the Sainsbury's search has shown up even though Egg and Barclays are supposed to use Experian. Do you think we haven't been searched by the others, if so then I could safely apply for another card which only searches Experian.

On the negative side though, it seems like Experian are adding my own searches of my Experian record to my file - it shows me as having searched four times in the past month, is this going to affect my standing with other card companies - it seems a little strange if it is but perhaps I have read the file wrongly.

Any help gratefully received.
CS

YorkshireBoy

CelticStar wrote: »

Do you think we haven't been searched by the others...

I don't have a Barclaycard, but I believe they're one of the few providers to search Equifax only.

If you already have an Egg Card (Visa), there's every chance Egg haven't externally credit searched you and they've given you the Egg Money card based on your Egg Card account conduct.

Failing that, they must have searched Equifax (although that would be unusual for Egg).

...if so then I could safely apply for another card which only searches Experian.

I've successfully applied for 4 cards at once before now. However, doing so will trash your credit rating for a while.

On the negative side though, it seems like Experian are adding my own searches of my Experian record to my file - it shows me as having searched four times in the past month, is this going to affect my standing with other card companies - it seems a little strange if it is but perhaps I have read the file wrongly.

The fact that you've searched your own file is not seen by other lenders. It's only visible to yourself and the CRA because it's classed as an unrecorded enquiry.

CelticStar

That's really helpful YorkshireBoy, thanks very much.

I do have an Egg Visa so it looks like they have accepted us for Egg Money based on that (they did accept us in about 30 seconds flat).

I went on Martin's table of who searches what and it says that Barclaycard searches both Experian and Equifax, but perhaps the table is out of date and they have just searched Equifax after all.

The info. you've given on unrecorded enquiries is interesting and explains a lot, I was a bit concerned about that and you have put my mind at rest.

Thanks again.
CS

knights

CelticStar wrote: »

and Barclays are supposed to use Experian.
CS

I applied for Barclaycard in January and it did show on my Experian report.

regards

Dagobert

Beware: Experian might hold several records for you due different spellings of your name or variations of your address depending on how lenders entered your details.

You will only see the records which Experian linked to your online service. Or, if you request a report, you might find that they only send you one.

This happened to me and I had been wondering for months why only one of my many accounts was showing up. I became aware of this when speaking to a lender who was going through every entry on my record while on the phone and he saw all the accounts that should have showed up in my Experian report!


Note, that Experian will not consolidate the records.

CelticStar

Just thought I would update as I can now see a Barclaycard search on my Experian account, they obviously do an automatic update at certain times of the month as the search was done almost a month ago now. Anyway, it confirms that Barclaycard do search Experian.

CannyJock

CelticStar wrote: »

Just thought I would update as I can now see a Barclaycard search on my Experian account, they obviously do an automatic update at certain times of the month as the search was done almost a month ago now. Anyway, it confirms that Barclaycard do search Experian.

Don't they need your permission to do searches because it leaves a footprint on your credit file?

CelticStar

CannyJock wrote: »

Don't they need your permission to do searches because it leaves a footprint on your credit file?

I applied for credit card so I guess that is consent isn't it?

chrisbee_2

how do you know what CRA lenders use??

CannyJock

CelticStar wrote: »

I applied for credit card so I guess that is consent isn't it?

Didn't think it was continued consent after the application process though, they should be able to rate you based on how you actually use your card.

Unless the type of search they do is different and isn't visible to other providers. I'm building my stooze deck at the moment and after a January flurry, am waiting a couple of month before doing any more applications, but reason for this was just to space out the card searches - not going to work if existing card companies do periodic searches.

CannyJock

chrisbee wrote: »

how do you know what CRA lenders use??

Try the official stooze website: http://www.stoozing.com/cards.htm

It has a lot of info you should absorb if you're joining the stooze club