Halifax Credit Checker Explained

Halifax (owned by Lloyds Banking Group), is a major UK banking institution that started as a building society in (you guessed it) Halifax, West Yorkshire. They have been around since 1853 and are known for a wide array of products and services including:

• Current & Savings Bank Accounts
• Loans
• Credit Cards
• Mortgages
• ISAs
• Investing
• Insurance
• Much more
  

The big banks that offer lending products such as loans, mortgages and credit cards typically run credit checks and affordability checks before approving the application. This is a standard process and Halifax is no exception. This guide will help you understand what to expect when using the Halifax credit checker to apply for loans or plastic (credit cards).

Is Halifax a Credit Reporting Agency?

No. Halifax is not a credit reporting agency, but is a lending institution. Credit reporting agencies do not decide whether you are to be approved for credit. That is Halifax’s decision. 

In the UK there are three main credit reference agencies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

The agencies work alongside building societies, banks, mobile phone companies and others to help those businesses make a quick and accurate assessment about whether the person is likely to pay the loan back.

Which Credit Reference Agency Supplies the Halifax Credit Checker Data?

Halifax credit checker uses financial data from TransUnion in official reports. TransUnion is one of the larger credit reporting agencies and they claim to keep financial records for over 1 billion people. 

We suggest running a credit spotlight to see how lenders like Halifax are viewing your credit report or download your personal credit report on the TransUnion website to take the mystery out of what your results on the Halifax Credit Checker will be. Oftentimes you can easily increase your credit score by correcting a mistake.

What to Expect - Information Included in a Halifax Credit Checker Report:

The Halifax Credit Checker report references the credit data held on you by TransUnion including:

• Current account performance information held over a 6-year period; this does include closed accounts.
  

• Whether you are registered on the Electoral Roll or not.
  

•  Any financial relationships such as the names of the people you share finances with. This could include significant others, people who share a mobile contract or even dependents. It will also include other names or addresses you’ve used to take out loans or cards against.
  

• Identity theft and fraud checks using Cifas data. Cifas is a non-profit organisation that works to protect its members from criminals by providing additional security checks.
  

• Notices of Correction. Did you know that you can leave a statement of your choosing on your credit file to explain your financial situation? You have the ability to write a 200 word statement but it “must be relevant to the information on your credit report, must not be frivolous, defamatory, or libellous, can’t name a third part, can’t apportion blame, and can’t contain confidential information.”, according to TransUnion.
  

• Notices of dispute. If you have logged a formal dispute regarding the accuracy of some information within your credit report a notice of dispute will appear next to the relevant area. This is included in the Halifax Credit Checker report.

Will the Halifax Credit Checker Log a Hard Credit Check?

Yes and no. The Halifax Credit Checker process does log a hard inquiry on your credit report when you are applying for lending products such as loans or credit cards. This means that a record will be placed on your file saying it has been reviewed. Hard inquiries can be taken into account for future applications. It is standard for credit card and loan applications to trigger a hard inquiry on your credit report so a word of caution: try to avoid applying for multiple credit cards or loans at the same time. 

Users who navigate to HalifaxCreditChecker.co.uk will not incur a hard inquiry. This website operates as a free online credit checker.

Is the Halifax Credit Checker the same thing as Halifax Simple Check?

No, they are not the same. The Halifax Simple Check credit card eligibility checker is a quick online tool to help you understand which credit cards you’re eligible for. This card eligibility checker shows you which cards you’re likely to be accepted for and your estimated credit limit. An added bonus of the Simple Check is that it does not log a hard inquiry on your credit report!

The Halifax Credit Checker is a deeper and more official process when you are applying for a loan or credit card. For more information on the Halifax Credit Scoring process, download their guide.

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