What Is a Personal Credit Data Report, and When Should You Request One?
A Personal Credit Data (“PCD”) report is one of the more specialised resources available to solicitors and insolvency practitioners, precise, discreet, and extremely useful in the right circumstances, but only available for specific matters. This article sets out what makes a PCD report so valuable, what it shows, and the circumstances in which it can be requested.
Why it's such a valuable tool
A PCD report is fully compliant when requested within the specific circumstances the law allows. It relies on the same data protection exemptions that permit certain investigations to be conducted without alerting the individual concerned, and every instruction is individually assessed against those circumstances before we proceed. Where a report is appropriate, it can be produced in court, leaves no trace on the subject's credit file, and their credit score is entirely unaffected.
What a PCD report shows
A PCD report provides a snapshot of a subject's credit status at the time of the enquiry, based on the same underlying information a credit reference agency would provide to the individual themselves. In practice, this typically includes UK mortgages, loans, credit cards, and other credit activity such as hire purchase agreements, mobile phone contracts, and utility accounts.
For each account, the report can show the provider, the type of account, when it was opened, its current status, whether it is active or in default, when it was last updated, and the agreed payment terms.
For mortgages and loans, this includes the starting balance and current balance, and for credit cards, it can also show the credit limit. The report will also show any County Court Judgments, Notices of Correction, and the number of recent credit searches carried out against the subject, which can itself be a useful indicator of whether someone is actively seeking to raise funds.
Addresses shown on the report are drawn from electoral roll data and financial activity linked to the subject, rather than being tied directly to a specific account such as a mortgage.
Where a PCD report adds real value
A PCD report is not a general-purpose research tool, and it can only be obtained in two specific circumstances: in connection with a fraud-related matter, or on behalf of an insolvency practitioner or their representative. Within these two circumstances, here are some examples of where a PCD report can add real value:
In fraud matters
Assessing whether an individual responsible for a fraud holds any realisable, credit-linked assets before committing to the cost of civil recovery proceedings.
Supporting a claimant's decision on whether pursuing recovery action is commercially worthwhile relative to the sums likely to be recovered.
Adding a further layer of financial intelligence alongside a wider asset tracing investigation into a fraudster's overall position.
Where several victims are considering joint action, informing a collective view on whether pursuing an individual is genuinely viable.
In insolvency matters
Building a clearer picture of a bankrupt individual's ongoing financial position and conduct.
Investigating a director's personal financial standing where wrongful or fraudulent trading is suspected.
Identifying new credit taken on shortly before or after insolvency proceedings began, which can be a useful indicator worth exploring further.
Informing an office holder's decision on whether pursuing a director personally, for misfeasance or breach of duty under Section 212 of the Insolvency Act, is likely to be worthwhile given their apparent financial position.
Pairing a PCD report with asset tracing
A PCD report can be obtained as a standalone product, or alongside an asset trace. Where a mortgage is identified through a PCD report, that finding can often be attributed to a specific property through parallel property research, turning a line of credit data into a concrete, identifiable asset. Used together, the two services frequently build a more complete financial picture than either would alone.
Get in touch
If you have a matter where a personal credit data report may be appropriate, we would be glad to talk through whether it fits your case, and what else it might usefully be paired with. Find out more about our services, or get in touch to discuss your instruction.
Published on 28 August 2026