
There are two basic types of search footprints recorded on your credit report, an application search and an enquiry. Only application searches are seen by lenders, so that they can make an assessment of how ‘credit active’ you are. There are lots of myths about the problems caused by having several credit application searches recorded on your credit file. Certainly, many searches within an hour or two can indicate a possible fraud, and dozens in a month can indicate financial desperation, but up to about 12 searches on file in a year is perfectly normal and is expected. Very low levels of searches can tell lenders that you are not very credit active, so they may not be so willing to lend to you.
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