When you apply for Cardeo Credit, we first tell you if you qualify by running a soft search of your credit history. This doesn’t affect your credit file in any way – no matter the result.

It is only when we’re sure you’ll be accepted, and go on to complete the application and open your account, that the check is reported to your credit file.

To process your application we give your personal information to credit reference agencies (CRAs). They give us information about you, such as your financial history. We use this to assess creditworthiness and product suitability, check your identity, manage your account, trace and recover debts and prevent criminal activity.

We will exchange information about you with CRAs on an ongoing basis, including about your settled accounts and any debts not fully repaid on time. CRAs share your information with other organisations. Your data is linked to the data of your spouse, any joint applicants or other financial associates.

The identities of the CRAs, and the ways in which they use and share personal information, are explained in more detail on the Equifax or Experian websites.