Why am I always referred?

witches_cauldron

Over the past couple of years, on the rare occasion I apply for a credit card I NEVER get an instant decision. It is always a "refer" and then invariably I get a decline letter in the post.

There's no adverse on my credit report. My credit report is a bit "thin" - all that's reporting on there are two current accounts with overdraft limits and one mobile phone.

Six months ago I simply could not get accepted for any darn thing. But in recent months I have been accepted for an O2 mobile phone contract and I've also been given credit facilities by Freemans and Littlewoods. I applied for the Flybe card today and was told they'll write to me within 7 days. There is no CIFAS or anything on my report. So why are things always referred? Could it mean that my credit score is borderline between pass and fail?

pink_fairy_5

are all three reports ok?
have you got a notice of correction on any of them?
lots of searches?
financially linked to anyone with adverse history?

A thin file can make companies as wary as a bad one, it may just be that once you have 6 months worth of good payment history on your new accounts people will accept you for other things, sounds like your not meeting their internal scoring system, but looks as though your on your way.

_Andy_

Could well be the lack of credit. Hard to say without further info.

E.g. could be - time at address, time with employer, not being on the electoral role, number of credit searches, etc.

witches_cauldron

_Andy_ wrote: »

Could well be the lack of credit. Hard to say without further info.

E.g. could be - time at address, time with employer, not being on the electoral role, number of credit searches, etc.

I'm on Electoral Roll, been at address a long time, ditto employer. Quite a few credit searches tho....

LilacPixie

do you live in flats?? I tend to get refered because we are flat 2/2 10 our postcode and apparently the auto checking system doesn't estiguish the differance (according to RBS)

going2die_rich

Living with parents?

witches_cauldron

LilacPixie wrote: »

do you live in flats?? I tend to get refered because we are flat 2/2 10 our postcode and apparently the auto checking system doesn't estiguish the differance (according to RBS)

You mean your address begins 2/2 10? That's kind of strange.

witches_cauldron

going2die_rich wrote: »

Living with parents?

No. I'm in my 30s!

witches_cauldron

pink_fairy wrote: »

are all three reports ok?
have you got a notice of correction on any of them?
lots of searches?
financially linked to anyone with adverse history?

A thin file can make companies as wary as a bad one, it may just be that once you have 6 months worth of good payment history on your new accounts people will accept you for other things, sounds like your not meeting their internal scoring system, but looks as though your on your way.

Yup all 3 reports are fine. Nothing adverse at all. If there was anything wrong with the reports, I probably wouldn't have got the o2 contract without a deposit, or the two credit limits on the catalogues.

I guess it is just the fact that there is not much history on my credit report....

But the part that confuses me somewhat is that I don't get an outright Decline - it's always a Refer....