Sainsbury's credit card rejection – shall I apply again?

elamozzarella

I was turned down a couple of months ago for a Sainsbury's credit card. I want it for the double nectar points as we do all our food shopping there and will often get petrol and electricals from there too.

I was turned down, and as I've never missed a payment on my mobile phone or contact lenses (the only credit contracts I've had) I had to think it was because my name hadn't been properly put on the electoral register. When I applied for a new mobile contract a couple of years ago I was told I could have two contracts with the company and the sales guy said this must mean good credit.

So my question is, now I'm definitely electoral registered, should I reapply? I looked at other cards but I don't want a credit card for anything other than extra points.

Any

Definitely do not re-apply if it was only couple of months since the rejection.
Assuming isn't good enough - you should have asked to have their decision reviewed/explained and then you would know for sure.

And just because a bloke told you "this must mean good credit report".... well... not the most reliable source... and things might have changed on your report since.

Having phone contract counts for something, but it might not be good/long enough history for them.

Get your credit report - and check it thoroughly.

elamozzarella

Okay did my credit report- thanks for the advice!

I have no corrections.
I've only been living at my current address for 8 months. Maybe that's it? The one previous was 15 years.
All my payments are and have been up to date, no lates.
I'm on the electoral register.
It appears that I have no current credit accounts but I have had two in the past with mobile phone providers. Surprised my current mobile phone deal doesn't come up, but that is a sim-only 30 day contract. Does that make a difference?
No other names.
No financially linked people.
No public record info.
No repossessions.
6 credit checks in the last 12 months. Maybe that's it? For my Halifax Reward accounts (3), my car insurance and the credit card application, plus when I checked my record today.
8 'linked addresses' but only to three different addresses. All via current account.
No CIFAS record.
No GAIN record.

Nothing I wasn't expecting. Maybe someone who knows about these things will know what might have had me declined!

Any

elamozzarella wrote: »

Okay did my credit report- thanks for the advice!

I have no corrections.
I've only been living at my current address for 8 months. Maybe that's it? The one previous was 15 years.
All my payments are and have been up to date, no lates.
I'm on the electoral register.
It appears that I have no current credit accounts but I have had two in the past with mobile phone providers. Surprised my current mobile phone deal doesn't come up, but that is a sim-only 30 day contract. Does that make a difference?
No other names.
No financially linked people.
No public record info.
No repossessions.
6 credit checks in the last 12 months. Maybe that's it? For my Halifax Reward accounts (3), my car insurance and the credit card application, plus when I checked my record today.
8 'linked addresses' but only to three different addresses. All via current account.
No CIFAS record.
No GAIN record.

Nothing I wasn't expecting. Maybe someone who knows about these things will know what might have had me declined!

Right, most likely the problem is not enough credit history. It is very difficult to get high street card with no or little credit history.

The best place to start is either your bank (because they also have a access to your current account and can assess you on that) or subprime credit cards with high apr % to build your credit history.

Buy few items a month on them and pay in full (to avoid paying the high interest) - but this will leave a history trail on your credit report and that is what we are after.

elamozzarella

Thanks! Bank it is then