Confirm identity
Information can help check that an applicant is who they say they are and support fraud-prevention checks.
Credit search consent
Know what you are agreeing to.
A credit search can help a lender understand identity, borrowing history and financial commitments. Before you consent, understand what may be checked, why it is needed and how the search may appear on your credit file.
01
Ask which searchSoft and hard searches can leave different records.
02
Read the explanationCheck why information is needed and who may receive it.
03
Keep details accurateCorrect errors rather than guessing or omitting commitments.
Why a search may be used
A credit file provides context—not the whole decision.
Your application may involve credit and identity checks with one or more credit reference agencies. We may use the information returned with the details you provide and other checks relevant to your application.
See how we use personal informationUnderstand commitments
A report may show accounts, balances, repayment history and public-record information held by the agency.
Assess the application
Credit information may contribute to creditworthiness and affordability checks alongside income, spending, property and other circumstances.
Manage risk
Searches may support responsible lending, verification and fraud-prevention processes. The precise checks depend on the application.
Understand the difference
“Credit search” can describe more than one kind of check.
Ask which type is proposed for your enquiry or application. Do not assume the same kind of search is used at every stage.
Soft searchEligibility or identity context
A check that generally is not visible to other lenders.
- You can usually see it on your own credit report.
- Other lenders generally cannot see it when reviewing your file.
- It may be used for quotation, eligibility or identity purposes.
- Its use does not guarantee that later checks will also be soft.
Hard searchCredit application record
A formal application search that may be visible to other lenders.
- It is normally recorded on your credit file.
- Other organisations reviewing the file may be able to see it.
- Several hard searches in a short period may affect how future applications are viewed.
- Ask when it will happen before proceeding.
Important: This is a general explanation, not a promise about the search we will use in a particular case. Ask us to confirm the search type and timing for your application.
Consent reviewFive things to know
- 01
PurposeWhy is the search needed at this point?
- 02
Search typeWill it be soft or hard?
- 03
AgencyWhich credit reference agency may be used?
- 04
VisibilityHow will the search appear on your file?
- 05
Information useWho may receive the data, and why?
Before you consent
Five answers worth having first.
You should be given clear information about a proposed search. Take time to read it and ask questions. If an explanation is unclear, pause rather than making an assumption.
Your credit information
Review, correct and protect the information around your application.
A credit report can contain information from several sources. You can request your statutory credit report from a credit reference agency and raise a dispute if something appears inaccurate.
Review your report
Check names, addresses, linked people, accounts, balances and public-record information. A credit score is not the same thing as the underlying report.
Raise an inaccuracy
Contact the agency and the organisation that supplied the disputed entry. Keep a record of what you reported and any supporting evidence.
Protect sensitive details
Use the method we ask you to use. Do not send passwords or more personal information than is needed for the stated purpose.
Common questions
Clear answers before a check takes place.
For an answer about your own enquiry, ask us to explain the proposed search before you consent.
Why do you carry out a credit search?
We may use credit and identity checks to verify your identity, assess creditworthiness and affordability, prevent fraud and manage your application. We consider a credit report alongside the other information you supply; it does not decide an application on its own.
Will asking for information affect my credit score?
Not necessarily. Simply reading this guide or asking a general question does not create a credit search. Before an application search is carried out, ask whether it will be a soft or hard search and how it may appear on your credit file.
Can other lenders see a credit search?
That depends on the type of search. Soft searches are generally visible to you but not to other lenders, while hard application searches may be visible to organisations reviewing your file. The credit reference agency’s information notice explains how its records are used.
Does consent guarantee that I will receive a loan?
No. Giving consent allows the stated check to take place; it is not approval, an acceptance in principle or a promise of particular terms. Any outcome depends on the full assessment and the information available.
What if information on my credit report is wrong?
Contact the relevant credit reference agency and the organisation that supplied the information. You can also tell us if disputed information may be relevant to an active application. The agency can explain its correction or dispute process.
Continue informed
Prepare the rest of your enquiry.
Credit information is one part of a wider application. Review affordability, the documents you may need and the total cost before deciding whether secured borrowing is right for you.