Help getting accepted for a loan

jazza77

Sounds like Natwest will be your best bet. Re. your posts above though, in case you need them again you should be aware that you can get statutory copies from all the Credit Ref Agencies for £2 (think they all post them out to you, but can order online) or alternatively there are usually some free trial offers (but remember to cancel in time at the end of the free period) - info elsewhere on the MSE site.

One of the posters above mentioned that they thought Zopa used Experian, but so far as I am aware you are right and it is Equifax they use - certainly was in my case. Zopa are however known for being pretty harsh scorers, so don't be too disheartened by their decline - looks like you can sort it with Natwest in any case.:T

haz84

Just a quick update on this. I went back on the 1st of the month and arranged the loan through NatWest. Unfortunately the APR they could offer hadn't dropped any further, but it was the best I was going to get. It's affordable, and I'm happy paying that interest to get a car that I hope will last me a number of years.

Seems like a pretty ropey system with a lot of margin for error, but I guess it's the same for everyone.

Next up is considering replacing one of my cards with a NatWest card (simply so that I have everything in one place with the exception of AMEX). Just trying to work out whether I need to cancel my Santander one first to increase my chances of being accepted!

27col

The reason that Zopa are "harsh scorers", as someone has said, is because it is not their money they are lending. It is the money of individuals like me, and the loss of my capital through defaults is a serious matter. I have already had one loan default and would seriously consider withdrawing my cash if it occurred many more times. I imagine that I am not alone in my opinion.
Zopa lenders are lending money at quite reasonable rates of interest and do not take kindly to getting ripped off by borrowers. As far as I am concerned, the stricter Zopa's lending criteria are, the better.