Barclaycard Pre-Application Check Experiment

traynor1987

Hi,

I have always assumed that this checker was faulty and tonight I decided to put it to the test, I filled it out and got my results as follows:

Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity Credit Card - 90%+ chance of success
Barclaycard Initial Credit Card 90%+ chance of success

Now I understand the Barclaycard Initial Credit Card being 90%+ but why the Simplicity Credit Card? I already knew I would be rejected but I applied for it anyway to prove that the system is broken.

Got rejected because of something in my Equifax credit report, looked at it and there's nothing wrong, all up to date with phone bill and halifax credit card. In other words 'Perfect' (Ill never miss a payment)

Then I applied for the Barclaycard Initial Credit Card, which said 'Thanks for your application. We promise we'll be in touch soon.'

So I emailed them this (excuse the slang and sarcasm)

Hi,

Just wanted to prove to you and my 'friend' that your pre-application check is rubbish and should not be trusted.

I just used it and got a 90%+ rate of success on your Platinum Simplicity Credit Card.

Now I knew I had no chance of getting it and its worth you putting the search on my credit report, Just to prove the point. But this is really misleading, and you should make it more realistic instead of people wasting a credit search, like me, which affects your credit rating for the next 3-6 months (I know I did it on purpose).

With such a low APR I probabaly had a 30-40% chance of being accepted. NOT 90%+. Why even offer it to me in the first place??

Now I know I have a very good credit rating, and I will never EVER, miss a payment! Moving on...

I've also got offered 'Barclaycard Initial Credit Card' at 90%+ (oddly the same chance as your best credit card). This one I really want and thought I would get, so I applied straight after the one above (maybe a bad idea?) and you said and I quote:

'Thanks for your application. We promise we'll be in touch soon.
Thank you for applying for a Barclaycard Initial credit card. We need to check some more details before we're able to give you a decision, please bear with us while we complete your application.'

Which is fair enough, anyway all I wanted to say is that you have flaws in your system and I hope I will be a customer of yours soon,

Thanks

James

All I wanted to say is not to trust this checker even if it says 90%+.

James

P.S Before anyone says I have wrecked my credit score, I have no intention of getting any more credit within the next 10 months (When my contract ends), if they accept the second application, then fair enough, I was just testing the checker.

callum9999

Well 90% chance does leave a 10% chance of you getting rejected - which is by no means small...

Rupert_Bear

traynor1987 wrote: »

Hi,



James

P.S Before anyone says I have wrecked my credit score, I have no intention of getting any more credit within the next 10 months (When my contract ends), if they accept the second application, then fair enough, I was just testing the checker.

Just as well then!

traynor1987

Rupert_Bear wrote: »

Just as well then!

Yea, I'll only need my credit report when I get a new contract phone in December, don't want or really need any more credit, but my friend hasn't got a credit card and he was convinced he would get one based on this pre-check which I said is a load of rubbish.

So instead of him wasting his time trying and failing I told him I would prove it doesn't work. Think he might go for a capital one card now!

James

traynor1987

Never mind, apparently it doesn't matter how many searches are against your record, as I have been approved for a Capital One Progress Card and a Barclaycard Initial Credit Card (with Eight searches against my credit file within 2 weeks).

Someone please explain, as I feel like this 'experiment' backfired!

James

iAMaLONDONER

traynor1987 wrote: »

Never mind, apparently it doesn't matter how many searches are against your record, as I have been approved for a Capital One Progress Card and a Barclaycard Initial Credit Card (with Eight searches against my credit file within 2 weeks).

Someone please explain, as I feel like this 'experiment' backfired!

James

I see, the checker might be new or something?

zerog

traynor1987 wrote: »

Never mind, apparently it doesn't matter how many searches are against your record, as I have been approved for a Capital One Progress Card and a Barclaycard Initial Credit Card (with Eight searches against my credit file within 2 weeks).

Someone please explain, as I feel like this 'experiment' backfired!

James

Looks like the criteria for those two cards don't include low searches then. Not that a barclaycard initial is of any use except to build credit.

chanz4

I got 80-90 on plat, I got it

FireMS

like someone else said it was 90% not 100%....

UsetheFORCE

zerog wrote: »

Looks like the criteria for those two cards don't include low searches then. Not that a barclaycard initial is of any use except to build credit.

The 6.9% LOB offer on it is a good use....

zerog

UsetheFORCE wrote: »

The 6.9% LOB offer on it is a good use....

... if you can earn 10% on your savings.