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What to do if…
your credit report shows a new hard inquiry you did not authorise

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Treat an unexpected hard search as a possible identity-fraud warning. Use verified contact details to contact the lender that made the search, ask them to stop any application in your name, then dispute the search with the credit reference agency that shows it.

Do not do these things

  • Do not leave it unchecked just because it is only a search; a hard search can mean an application has been made.
  • Do not use phone numbers or links shown in suspicious texts, emails, or messages about the entry; find contact details independently.
  • Do not apply for more credit to test whether your file is affected.
  • Do not pay a “credit repair” company to remove the search.
  • Do not assume one credit reference agency will automatically fix records held by the others.

What to do now

  1. Capture the search details before anything changes.
    Write down the lender or company name, the date of the hard inquiry or hard search, and any reference number shown. Save a screenshot or download a copy of the report page.

  2. Contact the lender that ran the search.
    Use the lender’s official website, your own banking app, or paperwork you already trust. Tell them:

    • you did not make or authorise the application or search
    • you want any application in your name paused or cancelled
    • you want the matter passed to their fraud team
    • you want them to correct any credit-file record if the search was linked to fraud or an error
      Ask what they can tell you in writing about the product applied for and whether any phone number, email address, or postal address was used.

  3. Check all three main UK credit reference agencies.
    Look at Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, because a lender may report to one agency but not all of them. Check for:

    • new accounts you do not recognise, such as loans, credit cards, mobile contracts, car finance, or buy-now-pay-later accounts
    • addresses, names, aliases, or financial associations you do not recognise
    • more searches from the same lender or from companies you do not recognise

  4. Dispute the hard inquiry with each credit reference agency that shows it.
    Use the agency’s dispute route and say that the hard search was not authorised and that you have contacted the lender. Keep the dispute reference number. If the search is not removed or remains under review, ask the agency whether you can add a short Notice of Correction while the issue is being checked.

  5. Consider adding extra identity checks.
    Cifas Protective Registration can place a warning flag against your details so participating organisations carry out extra checks when your details are used to apply for products or services. At the time of this review, Cifas says this costs £30 for two years and can make genuine applications take longer.

  6. Report it if there are signs of identity fraud.
    If the lender confirms an application, you find other searches or accounts, or your details appear to have been used, make a report and keep the reference number.

    • If you live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud online or by phone.
    • If you live in Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101.
    • If someone is in danger or a crime is happening now, call 999.

  7. Secure the accounts that could be used to make more applications.
    Change the password for your main email account, turn on two-step verification, and check for forwarding rules you did not set up. If your mobile service has suddenly stopped working, or you receive unexpected messages about a SIM change, contact your mobile provider using verified contact details.

What can wait

  • You do not need to decide today whether to complain formally, escalate to an ombudsman, or seek compensation.
  • You do not need to pay for credit repair services to challenge a single hard search.
  • You can wait to replace identity documents unless they are lost, stolen, or you have a specific reason to think they were used.
  • You can wait to apply for new credit until the search and any protective steps are clearer.

Important reassurance

A single unfamiliar hard search does not prove that credit has been opened in your name. It is still worth acting now, because the first useful steps are simple: stop any live application, keep a record, and check whether anything else has changed.

Scope note

These are first steps for an unexpected hard inquiry or hard search on a UK credit report. If you later find new accounts, missed-payment markers, debt collection contact, or repeated applications, later decisions may need specialist financial, legal, or fraud-support help.

Important note

This is general information, not legal, financial, or professional advice. Processes can vary by lender and credit reference agency. If you feel unsafe, someone is in danger, or a crime is happening now, call 999; otherwise use the appropriate UK fraud-reporting route for where you live.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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