I recently made a loan application, and my details have been passed on to other lenders. I am getting credit searched all the time. Is there any way of this stopping this? I am really worried because I know this will affect my credit rating and I am currently looking for my first home to buy - will I still get a mortgage with all of these credit searches? I have access to both my Experian and Equifax reports.

Jennifer Shillcock

A search can only be carried out once with your permission and your details cannot be passed on to other lenders. If you think about it, a lender is unlikely to pass the details of one of their (potential or actual) customers to any competitors. If you applied for a loan then that one search should be on one of our credit reports. If you can see other searches on there, that have been made without your permission, then get in touch with the credit reference agency immediately because you might be a victim of ID fraud. Don’t panic. Help is at hand if this is the case. But you will need specialist help from CreditExpert and Experian’s Victims of Fraud team. So don’t wait any longer – get in touch straight away.

I’ve been trying to get credit for various things lately and I’m finding that the companies that I contact just don’t get back to me. I fear my credit rating is damaged. I have outstanding council tax but I’m nearly finished making payments.

I work self-employed and make a reasonable wage, I can’t get a mortgage and was hoping you could help.

John

When you apply for credit it is usual to be told whether or not it has been granted. I am wondering whether it’s possible your mail is going astray. I think you should get back in touch with the companies you’ve applied to and ask them what decision they reached and whether or not they wrote to let you know. Don’t keep applying for credit without solving this mystery because too many searches on your report will damage your credit status – they make you look too credit hungry or can even signify fraud.

You shouldn’t have a problem getting a mortgage just because you’re self-employed, but it might be a bit more fiddly than if you had a regular job because mortgage grantors like to verify your earnings with an employer. You will probably be asked to provide your business accounts from the past few years, for example. Your council tax payments don’t appear on your credit report so won’t affect your application.

You may want to find a good mortgage broker who can put you in touch with a lender who will lend to self-employed people. Or you could talk your situation over with an adviser at a bank or building society. If you go to a broker, make sure they don’t take action that involves lots of searches being made. Good luck.