Approvals / Halifax

petebates26

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I was recently declined for a loan by the Halifax.

The next day, I started getting phone calls from a withheld number. Finally answered one of them today to be told they were from 'Approvals', ringing about the recent application I had made to Halifax - did I still want my loan approved?

I had called Halifax myself the day before and had found out the application had been declined - so I was suspicious to start with!

Basically, they worded everything to try and lead me to believe that they were the approvals department from Halifax - it was only when I pressed them that I found out they were 'recommended by Halifax' and only when I pressed them further that I found out that they were a broker!

I know it's not a new practice, but I just thought I'd mention it because it did seem like a well thought out, very sneaky, name and script to trip people up!

sscott5581

petebates26 wrote: »

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I was recently declined for a loan by the Halifax.

The next day, I started getting phone calls from a withheld number. Finally answered one of them today to be told they were from 'Approvals', ringing about the recent application I had made to Halifax - did I still want my loan approved?

I had called Halifax myself the day before and had found out the application had been declined - so I was suspicious to start with!

Basically, they worded everything to try and lead me to believe that they were the approvals department from Halifax - it was only when I pressed them that I found out they were 'recommended by Halifax' and only when I pressed them further that I found out that they were a broker!

I know it's not a new practice, but I just thought I'd mention it because it did seem like a well thought out, very sneaky, name and script to trip people up!

This is common and there is normally a button to click to opt out of this. But yeah not good practice!

dacdesigns

I have been getting these calls for the last 2 months now

I applied for a few loans from big names but the company thats give my information is experian of all people :mad:

As soon as you say you have never applied for a loan they put the phone down without saying buy lol

Lehman

Halifax is so interesting. When I applied for their current account a few years ago they declined me, because of risk quality and then it turned out their portfolio was not so high quality either, hence went into the hands of Lloyds also barely. I think, they have a bug in their approval system that declines good risk and accepts bad risk.

Ken_Ivory

dacdesigns wrote: »

I have been getting these calls for the last 2 months now

I applied for a few loans from big names but the company thats give my information is experian of all people :mad:

As soon as you say you have never applied for a loan they put the phone down without saying buy lol

That in itself shows what kind of companies you are dealing with. I've been getting these calls too and when I ask who is calling they hang up!

petebates26

That was my point really Ken - if I hadn't asked the questions myself (which I may not have done if I hadn't contacted Halifax myself), the wording of the script would have led me to believe I was speaking to Halifax!

When I questioned them, the poor girl was pretty embarrassed to admit who she worked for!

I work for a government department and my internet has filters to block access to sites that are considered a risk - i wasn't allowed on Approvals.co.uk!

edinjac

i was called by Approvals after being declined from the Halifax. i was also declined by them but was approved for contents insurance!!

numauk

Same M.O. with me. I applied for a BOS/Halifax loan on a Saturday which was declined. 0900 Monday morning this company called "Approvals" were onto my mobile and were still there an hour later.

They have helped me get cheaper Electric/Gas with my current supplier, and they have helped me reduced the cost of my Home/Contents insurance significantly.

These two situtations were discussed whilst we were waiting to see if anyone else could offer me a loan. It came through that Black Horse could, so they transferred me them. Unfortunately, I had to go through all the loan criteria again and I was "just outside of our lending criteria on the grounds of affordability". They had asked me what I could afford at the start of the call, so it is an easy "out" to say the repayments were not affordable.

Very time consuming .. but I have saved some money on my energy and house insurance.