Does not having a landline effect your credit rating?

ynwa

Despite having a good credit rating and never having problems getting cards, loans, phones etc, recently I have been turned down for everything I've applied for.

This has coincided with me getting rid of my landline. Anyone know if this could be a factor??

olly300

Shouldn't be but they like landlines as fraud prevention.

All my cards etc have my mobile registered as my primary phone number including the ones I've taken out more recently.

Did you put your work landline number on the applications? As that apparently is suppose to help.

Also as you have been turned down a lot I wouldn't apply for anything for a good while.

Mr.Mulla

No, I don't think so.

You credit rating includes only your credit history. Why would closing your phone line affect that? Not unless you owe the phone company..

ynwa

Well I work in retail and when we offered finance the first question we were told to ask is "do you have a landline". If the answer was no, the finance company wouldn't even consider them.

Also you can't actually apply for a mobile phone from some sites (eg carphone warehouse) without a landline.

Are you sure registering a mobile number with a credit card company is the same as 'applying' with one??

Just seemed a bit of a coincidence thats all, although I'm aware credit is much harder to come by these days.

ManAtHome

Certainly did 10 years ago when I last worked for a CRA - time at address, landline, bank account, couple of CCs were all positives.

PBA

Having a landline definitely improves a credit score.

gamesmad

PBA wrote: »

Having a landline definitely improves a credit score.

Seconded. Information such as a landline phone number that makes you less likely to just dissapear of the face of the earth will increase your credit score.

-Will

inmypocketnottheirs

I sell on finance with Barclays, and a good number of the deals that I have had approved do not have a landline number.

Ritchie74

I haven't had a landline for the last 5 years and in that time have been accepted for 3 CCs with a combined limit of over £16k- HSBC Gold, Santander Zero and Tesco Clubcard (this latest one in Aug 09). Maybe it depends on each banks own policy rules or perhaps you now have too much exposure:income?

anselld

Register with Sipgate and get a free georaphic phone number.

You can receive calls with X-Lite or other soft phone or just use it as an online answerphone service.

Either way you can still say you have a number.

jonnyenglish

I guess it depends on the financial institution and isn't a blanket rule for everyone. From my own experience I would always include a landline in any application.

I remember when I applied for a first direct bank account I was initially rejected for no apparent reason which was put down to their internal credit scoring. When I queried why I had been rejected, bearing in mind my credit rating was excellent at the time, the customer service advisor hinted it was because I had included a mobile number as my home number instead of a landline in my application. I wrote a letter of appeal which included my home number and strangely enough I have been a happy first direct customer ever since without receiving any marketing calls to my landline.