What type of search will I see on my credit report?

There are two types of search that you might see on your credit report:

• Hard search – when a lender has performed a full credit check on your details as part of a credit application.

• Soft search – which could be checks by landlords or employers, or when you get a quote for a credit product or use a comparison website. They may also relate to when you check your report, or existing lenders check your current status.

It’s entirely down to the credit reference agencies how long they hold search records for. Usually, Experian and Equifax will report hard searches for one year, and TransUnion will report them for two.

If you speak to the credit reference agency that is reporting the search they’ll be able to advise on whether it can be removed earlier.

Why do I have multiple searches for the same application?

It's unlikely that the number of searches on your credit report will directly match the number of applications made. We'd expect lenders to run multiple searches for:

• Your current address.

• Your previous addresses.

• More than one credit reference agency.

• Various products.

If you've lived at your current address for less than three years, it's normal for a lender to search both your current and previous addresses when processing an application. This helps them to see the full picture of your credit history.