Help - problems with Santander credit card application

Moggles_2

LouKC1984 wrote: »

Could I cancel this application and apply for another one without affecting my credit rating? What would you recommend?

Terminating your application would not mitigate the effect of any credit check(s) made by Santander.

That said, credit checks are viewed as negative only if you attract too many in a short space of time. Even then, each footprint drops off credit files after 12 months, so the effect is fairly short-lived.

Btw, you can find out for certain whether Santander has searched your credit files. (For help, see page 1 of the *How to obtain credit reports* sticky.)

Moggles_2

LouKC1984 wrote: »

I do have debit cards with NatWest and Abbey. This is the first time I've applied for a credit card so I don't have any unsuccessful applications. I don't mind waiting until 24 December to hear what has happened with the appeal, but if I'm to go by previous experience it might be that the card still isn't sorted then and then I'll have the christmas/new year period to contend with in sorting it out. As I need to have the card by February, I'm not sure what to do and, as I said before, the customer service is influencing my decision.

Should you decide to cut your losses, a 0% for 15 months BT card is available to existing bank account customers from NatWest

http://www.natwest.com/personal/credit-cards

LouKC1984

Thanks all! And thanks Moggles for the NatWest link - I will have a look at that.

One final question... From what you've all said, the current 'decline' on my application with Santander doesn't affect my credit rating, but I'm sure actually being fully declined for a card would. I'm also conscious that the man I spoke to at CS said that if you're declined you shouldn't apply for another card within 6 months of the original application. I'm just thinking that if I get declined for this Santander card then I'm not going to be in a good position to apply for another card, and as I've said I need one by Feb, so it might be best to cancel this application, get a paper copy of my Experian credit report and take that in to a branch of NatWest or another bank (once I've re-researched the cards available), and explain what has happened with Santander, then apply for their card.

Do you think this would be a good idea or not? Also, based on the fact that the bank are appealing for me, would you say it's likely I will be accepted? Surely they wouldn't bother if it wasn't going to result in business for them? That's a bit cynical I know but also business thinking.

Thanks again

NickX

LouKC1984 wrote: »

From what you've all said, the current 'decline' on my application with Santander doesn't affect my credit rating, but I'm sure actually being fully declined for a card would.

No, your Credit Report will only show a search. There is no way other lenders would know if that was an accept or a decline. A single search will not affect your Credit Report in a negative manner.

LouKC1984 wrote: »

I'm also conscious that the man I spoke to at CS said that if you're declined you shouldn't apply for another card within 6 months of the original application.

He's talking rubbish, probably so you stick with the Santander application. As you have found Santander Customer Services are far from reliable.

LouKC1984 wrote: »

I'm just thinking that if I get declined for this Santander card then I'm not going to be in a good position to apply for another card, and as I've said I need one by Feb, so it might be best to cancel this application

Not the best course of action IMO. I would just leave the Santander application for the time being incase they do come through with the goods, but apply elsewhere in the meantime as a precaution.

LouKC1984 wrote: »

Also, based on the fact that the bank are appealing for me, would you say it's likely I will be accepted? Surely they wouldn't bother if it wasn't going to result in business for them?

Well Santander are very much a law unto themselves, so who knows what they will decide. This story about it being appealed internally sounds a little far-fetched to me and I suspect they are just stalling because of the delays. I'd just leave the application going, but as above go elsewhere in the meantime.

LouKC1984

Brlliant, thanks NickX and everyone. I'm going to apply for another one as a precaution as you say and we'll see what happens...

Lou

catieeb06

Right, first of all the bank wouldnt appeal to decision for you, you need to do that.

And you need to write to:
Credit Card Appeals
201 Grafton Gate East
Milton Keynes
MK9 1AN

Include any relevant information that you may feel would assist the underwriters to overturn their initial decision.

And lastly, sometimes internet applications don't appear to send the information to the central computer system so just because you have been given an OLA number doesn't always mean that it's been recieved. Best give us a check on the application tracking number on the website to double check.

And how do I know this? I work for them.

Pm me if you need any further help.

Ta!