*****ulent credit enquiry

On 11 October 2023 Old Mutual ran a hard search (credit enquiry) against my credit profile, which as we all know has a negative effect on one’s credit score. Old Mutual did not have consent to run the enquiry, in fact I had not even app**** for credit from any institution so I was extremely shocked to get this notification that there was a hard search against my account. I sent an email to Old Mutual on the 23rd of October 2023 querying this and I have continuously followed up, but I have received zero assistance! The only response I ever get is “we have escalated your query and are awaiting feedback”. . It is now 3 months later and that is the generic response that they are still giving me. To my understanding, a financial institution has no right to run a credit check without consent and with no accompanying credit application.