When you apply for credit the process normally involves you giving your permission to the lender to check your credit report. The most common lenders are banks and other money lenders, as well as mail-order companies, providers of fixed and mobile telephone services, and utility companies. Employers and landlords can also check your credit report, although they will generally only see public record information.
It is advisable to review your report at least once a year and especially before applying for new credit, so that you can correct any mistakes or alert the credit reference agency if someone else has taken out credit in your name. This enables you to have the chance of getting the best credit deals in the future, as lenders will usually check your credit report before deciding on whether to lend you money.
It is your legal right to see your credit report and to correct anything in it that you can prove is wrong. The maximum cost to see your statutory report is £2 and you can view it online or get a copy by post. If you are using a debt advice agency, you can get your credit report for free if the agency applies on your behalf.
Baines and Ernst Ltd