FirstDirect Gold Credit Card - will this work?

stephane_2

and no credit check done either...

YorkshireBoy

Used to say (a year or so ago) something like "based on what we already know about you there's a Gold card waiting for you with a £xK credit limit".

Maybe in the "offers for you" area, or alternatively it's there as soon as you log in. I closed my account down last Xmas so don't remember exactly, sorry.

YorkshireBoy

stephane wrote: »

and no credit check done either...

I didn't have one either, but they have a way of obtaining data (the CII in my case) from the CRAs that's not recorded on your file...and isn't even shown as an 'unrecorded enquiry'.

PennyFox

YorkshireBoy - it would show me whether I was pre-approved for the Gold card but only after clicking the proceed button on the "apply online" menu so I only found out I was pre-approved for the standard credit card.

stephane - thanks for that, means I can wait till almost the last minute if the application/approval process is that quick

stephane_2

I must say...since I have been with First Direct, they were spot on each time. How long have you been with First Direct? I have only been with them since January so should not be a problem to get Gold CC, I would call them instead of using the online application. 2 months back I was also pre-approved for the classic card but when applied got e-mail saying "declined" and 2 months later they gave me the Gold one

PennyFox

Right, I'll stick to doing it over the phone then sice I want to leave it till the last minute they could tell me immediately that I might be approved for amount x but not for amount y.

Been an offset mortgage customer since 2004. On hold once in all that time, last year, when they were overrun by mortgage applications. Couldn't get a mortgage with them because of that run on their mortgages either. Now have an offset with Intelligent Finance and while they are always polite and helpful, their opening times are rubbish!

Ritchie74

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I didn't have one either, but they have a way of obtaining data (the CII in my case) from the CRAs that's not recorded on your file...and isn't even shown as an 'unrecorded enquiry'.

Hope this explains...
When you apply for new credit, banks etc do a credit search and this is recorded on your file.
if accepted, monthly feeds are then provided to the bank showing all latest CAIS/ER/public info/demographic records etc, along with an up to date Behavioural Risk score and Indebtedness score. To have this info sent, banks must also supply up to date info of the account the customer has with them. These feeds are monthly and automatic and do not show as a search.
In your case, as you were an existing customer with FD, they will have an up to date view of your file and scores and hence made a decision based on this when you applied for a new credit facility (hence no search).

I have stated that data feeds are up to date, however this is not strictly true as there can be a 1-2 month lag, depending when files are sent & received to/from the CRA's, hence some lenders will do a new search when applying for additional credit

Sorry long winded but hope it helps,
R

YorkshireBoy

Ritchie74 wrote: »

To have this info sent, banks must also supply up to date info of the account the customer has with them.

The so-called 'principles of reciprocity'?

lopbri

With my recent experience with them, as long as you don't have any betting sites on your current account you'll be fine.
i was a customer for 5 years offset mortage gold card £10000, decent salary pre approved loan etc etc, then used my current account for matched betting, pushed about £170000 through in a year, went to remortage about 6 months ago, turned down house value £220000, only needed £80000, no card debt, loan etc, turned down flat, got the mortage thru hsbc no prob, i had closed the gold card down by then, tried 2 months ago for the other card spoke with underwritter, said i had no chance with betting sites on my account and even in 6 months would be unlikley

lopbri

forgot, i said well ok in a year then, pause and mmmm.
still the best customer service in the uk though