The disadvantage of not being in debt.

dawndriver

I have great sympathy for those on here in debt, however, never having been in debt does have its downside. I applied for the O2 home phone, as I've already had O2 broadband for over a year, only to be turned down on the credit check. I ask them who they use for credit checking and it was Equifax. I then decided to apply for the 30 day free trial to see what they had and was turned down on this to, because they said they did not have enough details on me. My only other option is to apply for the £2 credit report, but I did this before and there was no negatives on it, only the fact that I've never have any loans and have never been in debt. So where does one go from here?

Mark_In_Hampshire

I'm wondering if there's a clue in your post: are you definitely on the electoral roll for your area? Do you have one of those brand new postcodes which isn't in every post office database?

Regardless, I'd get the £2 report again as it might have changed since the last time you accessed the information to check there is nothing adverse.

Heinz

Start with a credit card from your own bank. You'll probably get a small credit limit. Spend nearly up to that limit each month but pay it off so as not to get stung for interest charges. That'll count in your favour.

dawndriver

Mark_In_Hampshire wrote: »

I'm wondering if there's a clue in your post: are you definitely on the electoral roll for your area? Do you have one of those brand new postcodes which isn't in every post office database?

Regardless, I'd get the £2 report again as it might have changed since the last time you accessed the information to check there is nothing adverse.

Thanks for the reply. Been at same address for over 20 years and I do have a credit card which I always clear every month. I got my electoral card through the post for the recent election so I guessing that's ok. I think these credit checking agencies make a fortune out of other people’s lives and they don't have to be that accurate, just let those in trouble correct it for them.

mrcow

You don't need to be in debt to get a credit history. Spending a small amount on a credit card and then clearing it 3 weeks later is more than enough to show an active credit history.

Being on the elctoral role is a must too.

See if you can get a credit card with your bank. Ask for a very low limit and take it from there.

Edit: Just seen your second post - cross posted - you need to look into what's wrong here

Buzby

Why SHOULD you?

This is a case of you being made to leap through hoops to satisfy a perverse commercial decision to take the word of a third party than trust you obn yout own merits. If they don't want your money, move on - as I fail to see why you should be made to sit up and ring a bell because they want you to!

It probably has nothing to do with your file, just that you do not fit their profile of a profitable customer. Their loss, not yours.

I,_Brian

Buzby wrote: »

Why SHOULD you?

This is a case of you being made to leap through hoops to satisfy a perverse commercial decision to take the word of a third party than trust you obn yout own merits. If they don't want your money, move on - as I fail to see why you should be made to sit up and ring a bell because they want you to!

It probably has nothing to do with your file, just that you do not fit their profile of a profitable customer. Their loss, not yours.

It is actually a common problem - credit scoring as based on debt history.

Which means if you have no particular history of paying off debt, you can easily get stuck under the radar.

I found myself in a similar situation a few years ago, so now use a credit card which is paid off every month for non-essential purposes. That in itself leaves a positive trail, and helps get you scored.

HappyMJ

Why would you want a o2 home phone anyway? Just stick with BT. Make sure you have paperless billing, pay by direct debit and if you have caller display that you make the required calls to get it free. Then use carrier pre-select to get free calls through primus and cheap day time mobile and international calls through 18185. You can't do that with o2 or any other landline provider. If any one still allows it they have the right to remove it at any time. What could you save? BT line rental is £11.54 and o2 is £11.50. What's that a saving of 4p? Not worth it.

Mandy2807

I have recently applied for a new contract with vodafone, they have refused my application because of a credit rating score with Equifax. Vodafone said it was to do with an identity problem, which rang a bell as my daughter had taken out protection due to her purse being stolen 2 weeks ago. This has nothing to do with me though! I have never been in debt, have no loans, I do use my credit card to keep my stats up and always pay it off, and never had an issue before now when what you think is protection just causes problems. I don't know where to go from here, nobody seems to want to listen!

Buzby

Being 'under the radar' happens to lots of people, even those who had had a verifiable address and an established ID. For example, MSE lauded pre-paid debit card - FairFX - and remember, this is not a Credit Card and has no issues with my financial security, was denied. Why?

I was told they identity check via an external firm (not one of the CRAs), they need a score of 2000+ n order to issue their pre-pay card. My score? '0'.

Now, it is an annoyance, no more - and remains their loss, but the issue is that the firm they use (which also boasts access to the DVLA licence records) couldn't find me, despite having a valid licence. So whilst this third party company may indeed be incompetent, I have no recourse against them.

It is this I'd like to see changed.

Soubrette

Many years ago I was turned down for a credit card. I wrote a polite letter querying their decision. I explained that I had a mortgage and had never missed a payment, had an existing credit card and had never been behind in payments and asked them to reconsider.

They wrote back and advised that I could have the credit card after all.

Sometimes there are mistakes on your credit record (and if you have a credit card that you are paying in full every month, then there should be a credit trail for you) or, as has been pointed out, you are not part of their customer demographic.

Sou