Hope this is the right board...Advice re catalogue account

Lou67

I am a bankrupt and so is my partner. We did it together. (Nov 2010) But we paid everything we had to in life for 30 years before it, and since then, we have paid our rent early every month, and all our bills etc...

OK, here is the issue: I applied for a Studio Cards Catalogue last August (almost a year after we went bankrupt) and they didn't send one, so I enquired why, and they said it was the credit rating. I was disappointed but did understand.

I didn't bother this year as I knew I would be probably turned down.

Then out of the blue, 3 weeks ago, I got a 'mini-catalogue' from Studio, with a letter enclosed, saying "Dear Ms Jones, please find enclosed, your Studio catalogue, for you to enjoy perusing." They gave me an order form - with my name and address pre-printed, and a first order code, and said I have £80 to spend today!

I did ring them to check it was definitely OK, as I had been turned down previously, and the woman on the phone, said that as it had been almost 2 years now since my bankruptcy, my credit rating would be starting to heal by now, and they were giving me the chance to order with a small bit of credit. I was delighted, as I did want a few things, and it would help my credit rating.

So I went to the catalogue and ordered a few things (£35 worth) and sent off the order form.

Then a week later (Monday this week) I got a letter from someone at Studio, saying 'thank you for your order, however, I am sorry to tell you that it has not been accepted!' The letter went on to say that it was down to the credit rating!

So why the bloomin heck did they send me the ruddy catalogue then?! With an offer to order something, and "£80 to spend today." They sent it to ME, I didn't ask for it, and then they rejected me!

I rang the helpline to find out why, and they basically had NO answer. The guy just said oh yeah it's your credit rating' and I said 'but you sent it to me with an offer to order, and the woman I spoke to said my credit rating was 'healing' and this is probably why they were offering me the chance of an account now!' He had no answer: just that 'my name was on file...' but surely, the only record they would have of me, would be me applying last August and being rejected because of my credit rating!

It was a total kick in the teeth and quite upsetting actually. Does anyone know why this happened? Why send me a catalogue which I DIDN'T request (on this occasion) and an order form and £80 to spend etc, and then let me order and then say 'nah actually, you're not worthy after all!' I am actually quite peed off and a little hurt!

Edited to say: I am also worried that it will leave a BLIP on my credit file. That is, applying (because they encouraged me to!) and being rejected will make it look like I was trying to gain credit, when it was THEM who approached me!

Lou67

Shameless bump

IF

Lou have you cleaned up your credit files as Fermi's sticky?

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> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/677875

If...x

IF

If you have clean credit files then I would post this on the Praise, Vent and Warning board.

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>http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=82

Lou67

Thank you both for your responses, but the point I was trying to make, was that they offered me the catalogue and the chance to open an account, and "£80 to spend today," and then when I ordered (which they asked me to do) they rejected me. I wondered why they did this?

PippaGirl_2

Lou, it is completely normal marketing and has nothing to do with bankruptcy. Many people (maybe even most) get stuff through the post offering them credit card deals or loans etc. all addressed to a person personally, name and address and all and yet if the person were to actually apply they would get turned down. Stupid I know, but happens to everyone.

Think positive though, Studio is either cheap tat or over priced anyway! You escaped ..

Lou67

PippaGirl wrote: »

Lou, it is completely normal marketing and has nothing to do with bankruptcy. Many people (maybe even most) get stuff through the post offering them credit card deals or loans etc. all addressed to a person personally, name and address and all and yet if the person were to actually apply they would get turned down. Stupid I know, but happens to everyone.

Think positive though, Studio is either cheap tat or over priced anyway! You escaped ..

Thanks Pippa. It does seem odd though, that the only info they should/would have on me is that I was turned down last year! So why the heck did they send me an offer like this?! :mad:

Changling

Hi Lou
Their marketing computer won't be linked to their credit computer. No-one at the company will know why, because no-one will ever think to follow it up, nor understand the implications. Nor indeed have thought of the impact this could have on their customers. Whom they say they value so much, when really it's shareholders and profits they value.
So the people you spoke to gave you genuine answers, but the people who set up the computer systems just don't get it.
You should see some of the systems holding some of our banks together. Imagine bits of string, carbon paper and bulldog clips, and you get the idea!
What's annoying is that if a customer makes a mistake the company is straight in there. When the company mucks up (being polite here), they just get away with it.
So sorry they gave you false hope. If you're feeling feisty, write to their Chairman and ask for an explanation. The reply will be hilarious, if nothing else!
Changling

rossireps

youve had a lucky escape,studio were one of my creditors and not a overly nice one

tigerfeet2006

ifwisheswerehorses... wrote: »

Lou have you cleaned up your credit files as Fermi's sticky?

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> https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/677875

If...x

Lou67 wrote: »

Thank you both for your responses, but the point I was trying to make, was that they offered me the catalogue and the chance to open an account, and "£80 to spend today," and then when I ordered (which they asked me to do) they rejected me. I wondered why they did this?

If has given you some valuble info. here, I would follow it.

Lou67

Changling wrote: »

Hi Lou
Their marketing computer won't be linked to their credit computer. No-one at the company will know why, because no-one will ever think to follow it up, nor understand the implications. Nor indeed have thought of the impact this could have on their customers. Whom they say they value so much, when really it's shareholders and profits they value.
So the people you spoke to gave you genuine answers, but the people who set up the computer systems just don't get it.
You should see some of the systems holding some of our banks together. Imagine bits of string, carbon paper and bulldog clips, and you get the idea!
What's annoying is that if a customer makes a mistake the company is straight in there. When the company mucks up (being polite here), they just get away with it.
So sorry they gave you false hope. If you're feeling feisty, write to their Chairman and ask for an explanation. The reply will be hilarious, if nothing else!
Changling

Thank you. Thanks to rosee too.