Applied for 118118 Credit card - Hard searches & now Fraud? search has killed ny score - help

[TomTucker]

hey 

 

I’m new to all this. 

 

Back story is very very bad credit.

Wanted to start rebuilding.

Chose 118118 money (wrongly) as a credit card.

They are constantly doing hard credit searches almost weekly and it’s bringing my score down. 

 

Ive complained loads.

Never get an answer.

 

Today I get an alert that they have again done a hard search but displaying differently.

It says AF.

I’ve searched and it indicates a application fraud investigation.

 

I’m horrified!

It’s searched a previous name I used 15 years ago.

I changed it legally due to an issue I had with something else not debt or credit rated.

It’s not massively different to my name now.

It’s linked on my noodle account which applied for the 118118 card for me (I just had to click a button).

 

I’ve called them and the American lady looked and immediately said “I can’t discuss this with you. Keep your phone line open someone might call you later. 

 

Ive got a few mental health issues and it’s going over and over in my mind. 

 

Do they do this kind of thing often?

Sorry I’m probably over reacting. 

 

Tom. 

[dx100uk]

retitled for clarity and moved to the PDL forum.

[AndyOrch]

Hi and Welcome to CAG

 

Is this something that is appearing on the main Credit Registers or just one in particular ?

 

Andy

[TomTucker]

It’s appearing on noodle as a search carried out this morning and my total money one isn’t allowing me to look at my credit report today just keeps showing 0 but it could be playing up I guess. 

 

Now call total money is saying it can’t access my credit file from call credit. No idea what is going on 

[AndyOrch]

Have you tried registering with the bigger boys ....Experian etc.....? 

 

Might be worthwhile to check what they are reporting.

 

andy 

[fkofilee]

I also have this happening to me - Go register with Noddle for more information. 

Thats direct with Transunion / Callcredit.

[TomTucker]

Hey. 

 

I have registered with noodle and this is where I seen it. 

 

I registered with Experian and nothing. Not even a search from them yet it states on noodle it was done today. 

 

Total has has now displayed my credit report and although score has dropped from yesterday strangely it isn’t showing there. 

 

Just odd. 118118 refused to even discuss it which annoyed me even more. I’m probably over reacting I know this but still bugging me

 

Tom 

[fkofilee]

If they are searches you have not agreed to as part of a credit application then they can be removed. 

You've given me an idea. 

[TomTucker]

I did ask this on phone to 118118. All she said was that the code used is for checking against fraudulent applications. I don’t see why they would do it now as I’ve had card for 5 months. 

[fkofilee]

Well you arent making these applications right? 

They are doing them on their own merit? 

[fkofilee]

Have you sent them a complaint at all?

[TomTucker]

Just giving them the 72 hours they say they want to reply. Interestingly I’ve found out something that I didn’t know. 

 

118118 identify as two separate providers on credit searches. 118118 money (madison UK) which is used for initial credit searches. Madison Cf Uk limited t/a 118118 money is used solely  by their head office In Cardiff so this indicates this isn’t the standard search or account management. 

 

Ive also noticed that the search they carried out this morning used a slightly different spelling of my name - used in 2010 for some strange reason. I think it was a Barclays account or something. It is linked to me as it’s appeared on my credit file under my birth name. I don’t know what they are doing but it’s certainly not application fraud as they claim (the code they used AF apparently only used for this purpose) if it was fraud i wouldn’t have such a low score lol. I don’t owe any money to anyone or have loans other than the measly limit they’ve given me. I’ve also not ever been accused of fraud in my life. 

 

The card is still active so I’m guessing if it has of been such a huge thing that would have changed by now. Still it’s a hard search without my consent. 

 

Plus ive complained before about them doing something else and they never answer emails or call back. 

 

Tom. 

 

Oh I should have mentioned I do have a card with them. Had it about 5 months now 

[fkofilee]

When did you complain to them? 

[TomTucker]

About 4 weeks ago 

Called them this morning about this search 

[fkofilee]

Hmmm - IF you have a card with them then thats interesting. So they are doing it because they search to see if you can have more products from them. Its known for companies you have a relationship with to do this for things like CL Increases etc and Admin reviews. 

 

Id be interested to find out whats triggering these AF searches on your side. You can ask them why they are doing this. 

[AndyOrch]

" I’m horrified!

It’s searched a previous name I used 15 years ago.

I changed it legally due to an issue I had with something else not debt or credit rated.

It’s not massively different to my name now. "

[fkofilee]

Oh right - Deed poll name change.. 

Then that would be a reason why it would trigger these searches. But technically they should stop. 

[fkofilee]

Info for you from 118 - I know how to squeeze it out of them...

 

Quote

Any credit searches on your credit report such as AF, Anti-Money Laundering and Quotation Searches are all ‘soft’ searches and thus will not affect your credit rating. Whenever you search a comparison website for credit cards or even view offers on a credit reference agency website such as Clearscore, soft searches are made on your report to give an accurate response in relation to the likelihood of acceptance for the product.

 

Please note that we do not randomly perform searches on members of the public and any information from soft searches is provided for by the credit reference agency and the comparison website.

 

Other companies also performing AF (affordability) searches on your report is not due to 118 118 Money.

AF, AML and Quotation searches are all soft searches which all financial institutions run in order to comply with due diligence and KYC checks.

 

[TomTucker]

strangly they’ve just emailed 

 

They are saying it isn’t them. They state that any searches with AF are soft searches and not carried out by them more done by credit agencies. It doesn’t explain why it says them though and it’s definitely a hard search but I guess they’ve responded and the guy is saying there is no concern from them. He said yes it’s anti financial crime but after looking through my account there is nothing he can see that’s an issue.  

 

At least I’ve had a response. 

 

He said he will add a note to my account to watch for any further applications and check with me if anything is flagged. 

 

Looks like my over active brain ran away with its self. I’m £14.99 down though from Experian but it did alert me to both an email address and password combination of mine being displayed on a not so good website. I’ll chalk that 15 nicker down to finding that out  

 

thanks for taking time to answer though. I don’t have much family and stuff. Simply having someone answer has helped huge! 

That’s brilliant. Thank you mate 

[fkofilee]

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