halifax.

McKneff

Can anyone tell me why on earth i should be declined for a credit card from halifax.

I have banked with them for years.

I have a reward account where at least £1500 goes in every month.

We have substantial savings with Halifax ISAs

We have no debt and own our property.

I dont want to get a credit report myself and talk someone through it.

They want my business, they should be doing the work or am i wrong.

noh

There may be something unexpected on your credit report.
The only way to find out is to get a copy for yourself.

The other explanation is that you don't meet their criteria for a credit card and they therefore don't wan't your bussiness.

zzzLazyDaisy

McKneff wrote: »

We have no debt and own our property..

Do you have any other credit cards? Or a mortgage?

If not, that could be part of the problem. Perversely, no credit card/mortgage = no evidence that you repay those debts regularly and on time = unknown quantity.

McKneff

I have 2 other ccards, one Amex used occasionally and Nationwide used only when we go abroad. Both balances paid off in full. Both clear at the moment.

And no, i dont have a mortgage.

I will ring them tonight, if they dont want my business as a credit card,
they wont damn well have all my savings and two monthly salaries.

Thanks for your help guys.

Moggles_2

I have a reward account where at least £1500 goes in every month. We have substantial savings with Halifax ISAs

It comes as a surprise to lots of us, but the credit card arm of Halifax will have limited info' about your bank accounts due data protection regulations, so these healthy balances do not help.

The Hally is not known to score particularly harshly, so it would be wise to check your credit reports, IMO. Mistakes happen. For links, see page 1 of the *How to obtain credit reports* sticky.

nicko33

Moggles wrote: »

The Hally is not known to score particularly harshly

I was surprised when Halifax turned me down for a credit card just the other day.
I was after their 12 month 0% on purchases

My main banks are Lloyds and FD though, I just have Rewards current accounts and Regular Savers at Halifax.

Lloyds are falling over themselves trying to get me to have a loan or CC.
FD just immediately approved my CC app for their Gold card.
LTSB and FD see a lot more of my money though

Gambit

I've had bad experiences with Halifax Credit Card but very good ones with my Halifax Bank and Savings account. I find it strange that no one in branch could ever help with my credit card questions so is it possible they are seperate from each other? Like Barclays and Barclaycard?

nicko33

Gambit wrote: »

is it possible they are seperate from each other?

a few years ago when I previously had a Hfx CC, I moved house and updated my address with Halifax, but not Halifax CC. A small payment got onto my credit card without me knowing (and after my post redirection expired) so the statements hfx sent were returned as address unknown.
Eventually they tracked me down, and while I was arguing about the charges they'd added, I asked why it had taken them so long to find me given that my current address had been on "Halifax"'s computer system since I'd moved house.

"Not allowed to"

but you can bet the banking arm will give the credit card arm your details for "Marketing" purposes

I did get them to reduce the charges, and vowed never to do business with them again - but then they brought out that 10% Regular Saver and I cracked.

LongTermLurker

nicko33 wrote: »

but you can bet the banking arm will give the credit card arm your details for "Marketing" purposes

Yup

I did get them to reduce the charges, and vowed never to do business with them again - but then they brought out that 10% Regular Saver and I cracked.

Tart!

opinions4u

Moggles wrote: »

It comes as a surprise to lots of us, but the credit card arm of Halifax will have limited info' about your bank accounts due data protection regulations, so these healthy balances do not help.

That was addressed years ago. Credit card "guaranteed offers" based on internal scoring across the product range have been available for a long time now.

Gambit wrote: »

I find it strange that no one in branch could ever help with my credit card questions so is it possible they are seperate from each other? Like Barclays and Barclaycard?

The Halifax first started issuing credit cards in 1987. Well, they issued branded cards that were managed by Bank of Scotland (pre-HBOS) in a 50/50 partnership. These were brought in house after they bought the UK credit card business of Bank One. But the actual card management platforms have never been accessible by branch staff. Their branches are usually heaving anyway, so encouraging customers to pick up the phone with enquiries probably made sense. When I had credit cards with HSBC and Nat West there was very little the branches could tell me.

nicko33 wrote: »

a few years ago when I previously had a Hfx CC, I moved house and updated my address with Halifax, but not Halifax CC. A small payment got onto my credit card without me knowing (and after my post redirection expired) so the statements hfx sent were returned as address unknown. Eventually they tracked me down, and while I was arguing about the charges they'd added, I asked why it had taken them so long to find me given that my current address had been on "Halifax"'s computer system since I'd moved house. "Not allowed to".

That was a result of the way the branch computer platforms and credit card computer platforms spoke to each other (or rather didn't). You were certainly not the only customer peed off by this and they did, eventually, set up a project to sort things out. Last I heard they had actually resolved that issue - change the address on your current account and it will change your address on other holdings (including credit card) within the wider group too.

but you can bet the banking arm will give the credit card arm your details for "Marketing" purposes

All products issued by the same bank, within their retail arm, so no problems exchanging data (as subsection 423 of part 609b of the consumer credit agreement presumably has you signed up to).

I did get them to reduce the charges, and vowed never to do business with them again - but then they brought out that 10% Regular Saver and I cracked.

we can all be bought.

Martinslovechild

I would suggest writing a letter to Halifax.

On the two occasions I was rejected for credit cards, I wrote a letter to each of the companies concerned and in both cases the decision was overturned and I was offered a card.

I would suggest writing something similar to this:-

Dear <insert name here>,

Thank You for your letter dated <insert application date here>. I am extremely disappointed that you feel you are unable to proceed with my application for a Halifax Credit Card.

As I have never been refused credit previously, I am at a loss to understand why you have refused my application at this time. I possess a recent copy of my credit history held by Experian which illustrates an exemplary record. Additionally, I have maintained a Halifax Current Account for many years and there is not a single bill that over the last 10 years which I have not paid on-time, every time.

I would be grateful if you could explain to me the factors contributing to my rejection as I am keen to explore these.

I look forward to your response,

<insert your name here>.

Best of luck.