Declined by Aqua - but with weird response?!

paulmcerlean

Hi,

It seems I can get all sorts of credit. A current account with large overdraft, finance on a car with Santander, a mobile phone with 02. Any credit I have I have NEVER missed a payment. Just green zeros on my file.

My Experian is fine, my equifax is fine, my callcredit is empty, no one seems to report there with the small amount of credit I have thus far.

I am on the voters roll. I have been at my address 5 years. I have a very well paid job.

But I cant get a credit card. Nothing. Vanquis told me I was referred last month and never got back to me, never credit checked me - just ignored me.

So I just applied with Aqua - Ive never had a CC before so thought a sub prime was the best way to start.

Just applied and got this response:

Thank you for your application for one of our credit cards.

I regret to inform you that after careful consideration your application has not been successful on this occasion.

We, like many other financial organisations, have our own unique scoring and underwriting criteria, which are used to assess each customer's application. Unfortunately on this occasion your application has fallen outside of our standard criteria, and as a result we are unable to offer you a facility with us at this time.

You can be assured that this decision was in no way based on any adverse information located on your credit file, and will not have a negative affect on your future credit rating.

Please contact us at the address below quoting the above reference if you wish to discuss this decision, or have any additional information that you wish to be considered.
Card Services
Specialist Lending Team
P.O. Box 317
Cardiff
CF23 8FN
We are sorry that we are unable to assist you at this time, but we would like to thank you for your interest.

Please ensure you have made a note of the above details should you need to contact us.

The bit that pickles me is the section saying it has nothing to do with adverse credit - well what else could it be?!!!!

Has anyone had this response before???

naijapower

Is there a CIFAS on your address about any other occupant.

Though this is not meant to affect you but the truth is that some lenders find every excuse to shy away from CIFASed addresses even though this is contrary to CIFAS rules

paulmcerlean

No. Nothing registered.

I think credit card companies hate me!

CannyJock

paulmcerlean wrote: »

It seems I can get all sorts of credit. A current account with large overdraft, finance on a car with Santander, a mobile phone with 02.

The response is standard, I've had things along those lines before on applications, nothing to worry about.

You can appeal the decision and ask for more information.

The other option is to speak to your own bank about a card as they'll have some additional background on you.

paulmcerlean

yeah but normally you are told to check your credit file - but on this occasion its nothing to do with my credit file!!?

ive never had any dealings with aqua or halifax so i cant get why they think im bad!

CannyJock

paulmcerlean wrote: »

yeah but normally you are told to check your credit file - but on this occasion its nothing to do with my credit file!!?

ive never had any dealings with aqua or halifax so i cant get why they think im bad!

If you speak to someone about the application a typical first line of response may be to advise you to "check your credit report". I've also had one CS person suggest that I pay Experian for a copy of my credit score so I can understand how scoring works. When I asked them if they used Experian's score or if they was aware the Experian's credit scoring model didn't include key bits of information like income they had to mutter that they didn't and they didn't

The exact wording you've bolded I've had from both Abbey and MBNA over the past couple of years. They're telling you that there's nothing adverse. No more, no less

Write to them for more info at the address they provided quoting the reference number they provided if you're concerned by it. As a matter of course, I appeal any rejections on the basis that I've already had a search on my credit report and an appeal won't require a new one. Costs nothing but a stamp and a bit of copy and paste from one or more "how very dare you decline the opportunity to provide me with 0% credit, allow me to grant the chance to rectify your mistake" letters.

If you're still not successful, then you know not to apply to them for a while. Santander have been one of the few providers who have repeatedly refused me a credit card under the Abbey brand in recent years. So I opened a couple of Abbey current accounts 6 months ago to build some history with them for future online applications as an existing customer. Now they've acquired A&L and B&B I've got another half-dozen accounts with them, although they're not all connected up yet.

A rejection is far from the end of the world. It can be frustrating at times and bamboozling at others, but it's just the way it is.

While appealing any rejections, feel free to apply elsewhere every 3 months and you'll find out whether others like you better without making any significant dent in your credit rating.

LeeSouthEast

Bear in mind that it's difficult to get credit anywhere at the moment. It could just be they don't want any more customers right now.

I agree with the other posters though - your bank is the best port of call to begin with.

never-in-doubt

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Bear in mind that it's difficult to get credit anywhere at the moment. It could just be they don't want any more customers right now.

I agree with the other posters though - your bank is the best port of call to begin with.

Coupled with the fact the OP stated they have never held a credit card before.

Therefore it is the old catch-22 whereby nobody will give you credit until you have credit, but how can you get credit when nobody gives you any?

I'd suggest trying your own bank as well, but also appeal to HBOS - the cardiff address is the main underwriting dept, so for them to give you that blanket response suggests that they only just declined you - i'd assume at your lack of credit.

Write to them explaining you never use cards as you earn enough (send a copy of a payslip in to prove it); then state you want a credit card to allow you to purchase more online being your debit card from your bank doesn't offer the same protection etc etc... make it look like you want a card to help you out logistically, not financially.

For what it is worth, HBOS (esp Aqua) are quite easy to overturn on appeal if you use the right wording and send proof of earnings to prove what you say.

Jemma-T

My Experian is fine, my equifax is fine
But I cant get a credit card

We can assume those scumbag companies will never use that as a tag line in their advertising trying to scam private individuals.

Worthless service for you. Obviously.

Try another credit card.

woody01

If everything is good (salary/credit report/etc) then why would you apply to Vanquis and Aqua.

paulmcerlean

woody01 wrote: »

If everything is good (salary/credit report/etc) then why would you apply to Vanquis and Aqua.

Because regardless of my salary / clean credit report etc... I have never had a credit card, and I have read that the best cards for the first time to build card history is the sub prime cards.

I will just try my bank instead.