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Tesco Credit Card Acceptance Criteria

Hi,

I want to apply for a Tesco credit card for a one off big purchase and was wondering what experience people have had with passing/failing the credit check. I will be applying for a mortgage in the future so I am wary of failing the check and leaving a black mark on my credit report. I got a copy of my Experion credit report and I have one late payment on a current credit card (which was the fault of the banks website and was quickly resolved, but still left a mark!) and a couple of late payments on a settled mobile phone contract. Other than that my report is clean and I have recently started a good job.

Am I worrying too much about this, have other people being accepted with similar/worse credit?
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Comments

  • Well they declined me, I can't see an obvious reason why but I must not fit their criteria! On the flip side, my other half was accepted (albeit with a low limit and high APR (21.9%)) despite having never held a CC before...

    In any case, being declined won't leave a black mark, merely a record of the search, other lenders won't know whether it was declined or not, and one search is unlikely to make much difference to your ability to obtain credit elsewhere.
  • That's helpful, I guess I should just go for it and see what happens if being declined won't affect my mortgage chances, although being accepted will improve my score.
  • BJV
    BJV Posts: 2,535 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I got one for the exact same reason. When what I bought never arrived I contacted them. The investigated it and gave me the money back. I then bought it elsewhere. 4 months later they re-charged my card without notice, which due to the size of the purchase meant that my card was over the limit, which they charged me for.

    Back in Oct 2011 I raised an official compliant. It has been so bad no communication - waiting 35 and 40 mins to speak to someone. Judging by the time it takes to talk to one-one in complaints they must be very busy! Never returning calls. The matter has been handled terribly and is now with the Ombudsman. Even they now admit that they way they have handled it is completely outside any guidelines.

    I would try another bank and would not use Tesco's card with a barge pole! I hear Barclay's are offering an amazing 0% for a gizzillion years
    Happiness, Health and Wealth in that order please!:A
  • Cheers, unfortunately my partner already has a BarclayCard so I don't think I can get one of those!
  • shiny76
    shiny76 Posts: 548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Cheers, unfortunately my partner already has a BarclayCard so I don't think I can get one of those!
    I can't see what bearing your partners cards would have on an application of your own (assuming you don't want them as a 2nd card holder).

    That said, I've never had a problem with Tesco and I'm on my 3rd cycle of being a 'new customer'.

    As guesswho said, a single search is unlikely to have much bearing on credit/mortgage applications in the future.
  • david39
    david39 Posts: 1,968 Forumite
    If the partner is living with the OP and is on the electoral roll and/or if the OP has any financial connection with the partner (joint mortgage, joint bank account etc.) then the connection will be discovered by Barclays on their credit search.

    This will affect their decision as to whether they want to lend to both of you or restrict their exposure to just the partner.
  • Just to clarify, I am financially tied to my partner and 99% sure I am down as an additional card holder, even though they never sent me a second card.
  • steve1980
    steve1980 Posts: 2,334 Forumite
    Just to clarify, I am financially tied to my partner and 99% sure I am down as an additional card holder, even though they never sent me a second card.

    Ask her to check her online account. If you are named under additional cardholders then you are. Otherwise nothing to stop you applying.

    Use https://letmechoose.barclaycard.co.uk/ first and it will give you a good idea as to whether you'll be accepted.
    Estate Agent, Web Designer & All Round Geek!
  • According to the pre-application form with BarclayCard I have an 80%-90% chance of success applying for the card I want. Last question: Could I transfer balance from my partners card to my (hypothetical) new BarclayCard? That way we could buy with that card and transfer to my new card with 22 months interest free. Is this possible? Or is it only from cards you hold?
  • shiny76
    shiny76 Posts: 548 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Could I transfer balance from my partners card to my (hypothetical) new BarclayCard? That way we could buy with that card and transfer to my new card with 22 months interest free. Is this possible? Or is it only from cards you hold?
    Transferring money from a card belonging to your partner to one belonging to you is possible. HOWEVER, transferring between different accounts belonging to the same provider will (typically) not be allowed. i.e. No moving a balance from one Barclaycard to another Barclaycard.
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