My boyfriend and I recently applied for an "in-principle decision" on a joint mortgage with Lloyds TSB. We were declined so we both obtained copies of our credit file from Equifax. We went to see our FA yesterday(acting on behalf of our estate agent, Slater Hogg) to be told that she has received nothing in writing confirming Lloyds TSB decision and that we were declined due to adverse credit on my file. On checking my file I have discovered that I have a CIFA with a "Fraud Category 4 - Application Fraud(Facility Refused)" on my file for my current address dated 12 August 2004, the day Lloyds undertook their search and according to Lloyds TSB it was Experian who put this CIFA on my file.(posted 7186 days ago)I would like to know how credit reference agencies can make decisions that affect your credit file (I thought they just compiled information from lenders) and why a credit search was undertaken on me by Lloyds TSB when a) I didn't consent to it; b) all we wanted was an in-principle decision and c) the FA my boyfriend dealt with only had the information that my boyfriend gave her to go on - she'd only met him that day and had never met me until yesterday.
In the past I have defaulted on 1 loan which I have since settled in full but this is showing on my credit file as not being settled - could this have anything to do with it? When I sold my flat last year I settled in full my mortgage, 2 credit cards, 1 store card and 2 loans. Since moving into my current address I have received credit for an £8,000 car (this was only last month), 2 credit cards and a £9,000 car loan (which I cancelled the agreement on as I eventually didn't need it).
The FA we are dealing with at Slater Hogg seems to now think I will never be able to obtain any credit in the future and understandably I am now extremely worried about this as I don't know why I have this on my file and as it's on my current address and I'm linked to my boyfriend it is showing up on his credit file too and I'm worried it will stop him being able to get future credit and a mortgage (as we've now decided to go ahead with an application just in his name).
Can anyone help - I feel as though I must've done something really bad that I'm not aware of!! Sorry this is so long-winded it's just until yesterday I'd never heard of CIFA. Thank you.