Credit History Search

As independent financial advisers we do not have automatic full access to the credit information held on your credit file. When we submit your application to a lender, then a full credit search will be carried out. Under the terms of the Data Protection Act, the lenders cannot release any of your information to us or you. All they will tell us is either that you are acceptable or that you have failed due to some adverse credit in the past. Each time a credit company searches your financial record a ‘search’ is noted on the record and several of these in close proximity can count against you with some lenders credit scoring systems.
 
We recommend that you apply to either of the two main credit referencing agencies for a copy of your credit file. There is usually a charge of £2.00 for the basic statutory credit report. This can take up to ten days to come through (sometimes longer). Or you can sign up for their full service online and obtain your report immediately. You usually get the first month free and can cancel before you are charged in the second month. The two main credit agencies are shown below. You only need to obtain a report from one of them for now.
 
IMPORTANT: You should ensure your profile includes all addresses where you have resided in the last six years with dates. These addresses must be shown as actual previous addresses and not just linked addressess. Also, ensure you provide any and all former names you have been known by in the last six years.
 
Equifax Credit File Advice Centre
P.O. Box 1140
Bradford
BD1 5US
 
Tel: 0844 335 0550
http://www.equifax.co.uk 
or
http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report.html
 
Experian
Landmark House
Experian Way
NG2 Business Park
Nottingham
NG80 1ZZ
 
Tel: 0800 013 88 88
http://www.experian.co.uk
or
http://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/statutory-report.html
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