Hard pull to join CU?

[Anonymous]

So I just tried to join one of my local CU's via their online application process.  Entered my info and my initial deposit and they did a hard pull on my EX report!  EX is saying the CU made an Installment Loan Inquiry.  Even worse the CU's website died after that with a "Services unavailable" message and didn't even create my account.

Is the HP normal practice?  I was just opening a savings account for now and nowhere on the website did it mention them pulling my report for any reason.

Since I'm going to have to call to have them fix this, can I request a deletion of the inquiry?  I certainly didn't approve it and might have waited for a different time for them to pull it.

[Jnbmom]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I just tried to join one of my local CU's via their online application process.  Entered my info and my initial deposit and they did a hard pull on my EX report!  EX is saying the CU made an Installment Loan Inquiry.  Even worse the CU's website died after that with a "Services unavailable" message and didn't even create my account.

Is the HP normal practice?  I was just opening a savings account for now and nowhere on the website did it mention them pulling my report for any reason.

Since I'm going to have to call to have them fix this, can I request a deletion of the inquiry?  I certainly didn't approve it and might have waited for a different time for them to pull it.

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Yes quite a few CUs will do a HP when joining, I highly doubt they will delete it, it's legit.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the CU

It might've been disclosed somewhere along your application process or terms and conditions, just saying

[Anonymous]

Would they not be required to indicate that on their website during the application process?  They also have not opened an account or pulled the $$$ from my bankcard for the deposit.  It never even got to the "ID verify" portion of the application process.

[Jnbmom]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Would they not be required to indicate that on their website during the application process?  They also have not opened an account or pulled the $$$ from my bankcard for the deposit.  It never even got to the "ID verify" portion of the application process.

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I would just call them in the morning and get your account set up.

Whenever you open a bank account there is always to possibility of a HP thats kinda how it goes with opening a new bank account, so expect it and when it's soft it's a win. I am sure it is buried in the "terms".

[SouthJamaica]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I just tried to join one of my local CU's via their online application process.  Entered my info and my initial deposit and they did a hard pull on my EX report!  EX is saying the CU made an Installment Loan Inquiry.  Even worse the CU's website died after that with a "Services unavailable" message and didn't even create my account.

Is the HP normal practice?  I was just opening a savings account for now and nowhere on the website did it mention them pulling my report for any reason.

Since I'm going to have to call to have them fix this, can I request a deletion of the inquiry?  I certainly didn't approve it and might have waited for a different time for them to pull it.

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No there's nothing you can do.

Ever since the Patriot Act, many credit unions feel that they need to do a hard pull to verify your identity.

Some credit unions do it, some don't. If you don't want to have a HP for the membership application, you need to call or email them ahead of time and ask if they do a hard pull for membership.

[CH-7-Mission-Accomplished]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I just tried to join one of my local CU's via their online application process.  Entered my info and my initial deposit and they did a hard pull on my EX report!  EX is saying the CU made an Installment Loan Inquiry.  Even worse the CU's website died after that with a "Services unavailable" message and didn't even create my account.

Is the HP normal practice?  I was just opening a savings account for now and nowhere on the website did it mention them pulling my report for any reason.

Since I'm going to have to call to have them fix this, can I request a deletion of the inquiry?  I certainly didn't approve it and might have waited for a different time for them to pull it.

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It sucks that you got an HP.   Some great advice I learned on these boards many years ago is that you should always expect an HP no matter what you are told, including from front-line CSR's.  

The whole point of the HP is to alert other lenders that you are seeking new credit or new banking relationships.  

I had an experience with Alliant FCU when applying for their credit card -- and their website kept hanging up when I would hit the "submit" button, and each time I re-submitted I got another HP.   I got seven HPs!  

When they approved my card (for 25k!) I told the guy what happened and he knew about the glitch and they wound up deleting all of the inquries, so I didn't even have one on my report.

Always, always, always ask for what you want.   The worst they can say is no.

[FinStar]

What local CU was this @Anonymous?

As mentioned upthread in some comments, this is likely in their T&C as it is considered permissible purpose.  Some CUs are HP to join, others are not.  I would never assume it's SP just because it's a CU (local or nationwide)

[calyx]

Just echoing the others, but yes, a HP is not surprising.

I'm a member of three CUs - two have done HPs, and all of them have done SPs (at least one that HPed did SPs on other bureaus), it's not surprising, and you should always expect it.  In addition to the big three CRAs, they've probably pulled other reports (like EWS or ChexSystems).

[bigfoot98]

@Anonymous what cu was it? Most HP that are small, even dcu navy and penfed used too.

The application probably said something along the lines of: "I understand that XXX may obtain information about me from a consumer reporting agency to process my application" or "XXX may obtain information about you from third party sources in order to process this application".

That are NOT obligated to say :"We will Hard Pull Experian and utilize Fico Score 8 as well as Early Warning Services and/or your Chexsystems Qualifile score which needs to meet privileged qualifying information in order to open your account. And if your account is opened we will pull your Lexis Nexis report to generate identification verification questions."

Always check doctor of credit for this info if you care about pulls or Chex/ews.