How often do credit card companies actually phone employers?

ylesia

Hi there

Hubby has just applied for the Nationwide Select CC and got an agreement in principle and they are going to contact within 10 working days.

When I applied I was approved immediately.

The only thing that might be going against him is that he has been lazy and not closed down unused credit cards so his available credit will be quite high.

As part of their checks do they normally phone employers? He works at a school but employed by the council, so put the council address but the school phone number. He is now not very impressed that they might phone the school and have the school secretary knowing his business!

Is this likely to happen? I know nobody has a crystal ball but I honestly have no idea how common employer checks are on applications.

chanz4

they wont call

jason1231972

Just an educated guess (which could be horribly wrong), they probably very rarely do it in practice for CCs, if ever.

If they did, they wouldn't necessarily be able to discuss the specific purpose of their call (other than to say they're calling from NW, and are looking to establish some facts).

I've always taken the purpose of providing work contact details to be to give the lender extra piece of mind that if you default, they know where to contact you.

ylesia

chanz4 wrote: »

they wont call

short and sweet - ta

InsideInsurance

Never known for them to call in 15 years of having accounts and have typically switched at least annually and had everything from the introductory cards to the top tier.

pwuk

It is a rarity but it does happen.

I know for a fact that Barclaycard used to make calls but this references an experience from a decade ago. I would expect that with CRA streaming and the levels of electronic access available to CC companies that such a check is unlikely.

giblet10

First Direct phoned my employer when I applied 20 years ago! I know because I answered the call! Just asked to confirm name and address..that was pre Data Protection hysteria though..

ylesia

giblet10 wrote: »

First Direct phoned my employer when I applied 20 years ago! I know because I answered the call! Just asked to confirm name and address..that was pre Data Protection hysteria though..

I always put my work number on any application forms so if they do phone then this would happen This isn't an option for hubby as he is in class all day and doesn't have a "work" number.

Thanks for the replies - I'll pass them on.

Gromitt

chanz4 wrote: »

they wont call

I applied for 2 CC's last year - both called my employer, so that statement is clearly false.

However, all they wanted to know from my exployer was if I actually worked there. They then asked for me and asked to confirm a few things I entered into the application form to ensure it was actually me (after asking if it was ok & safe to do so). After I asked them for the date and time of the application, I confirmed a few things and they said the card was in the post. Got it 2 days later.