Failed credit check

HJH07

We have just moved house and will not appear on the electoral role until September (I checked this morning). I went into O2 this morning to get a new Iphone but no can do as I failed the credit check. I came home and checked my credit record with Equifax - the company O2 uses and the only problem is that we are not yet on the electoral role and equifax has not updated where our credit agreements are registered.

The manager at O2 told me not to bother retrying for another 30 days.
Very frustrating. I called back O2 and spoke to their retentions people who are sympathetic but less than helpful. I cannot believe that O2 want to lose a paying customer because of the credit check failing on non credit grounds - by that I mean we have not defaulted on anything and have no CCJs etc.
Can any one suggest anything? My contract with vodafone runs out shortly and at this rate I will have to go on a PAYG to keep my number! What a hassle! Feeling very put out as I would love an iphone and we have a discount at O2 which would make it lovely and affordable too.

Thanks in advance.

Jon_01

If you've just moved you going to have a problem as no credit history at your new address. This will catch up with you in time, but as they've told you, it'll take a month.

What you should have done was to apply at your old address just before you moved (not much help now I know, sorry).

HJH07

That's what I thought the answer would be! Was hoping there maybe some magic words I could say to someone at O2 but looks like I will have to be patient! Unfortunately we didn't have the discount until last week. Strikes me as a classic 'computer says no' situation.

bringmeshoes

HJH07 wrote: »

That's what I thought the answer would be! Was hoping there maybe some magic words I could say to someone at O2 but looks like I will have to be patient! Unfortunately we didn't have the discount until last week. Strikes me as a classic 'computer says no' situation.

i work for o2 and know that if you are not on the electoral role it will automatically fail a credit check and the system that we use for new accounts will not physically let an account be set up until a credit check has been passed, its not that they don't want to do it, they physically can't

HJH07

Thank you, bringmeshoes. It's useful to know that. Hopefully by the time it's sorted a newer even better iphone may be available and it will have been worth the wait. Looks like it's a PAYG for definate for the mo.
It is quiet frustrating though, credit checks in general - it seems like it is really a check on whether information has been updated not on our ability to pay. I suppose there has to be something in place but it does seem that potential customers are being lost. I suppose big companies can absorb the loss.