Credit card declined

adidas

Sorry thread title should read *credit card application declined*

Hello all

Wondering what your views are and what you think about where I should go.

I have been away working in New Zealand for the year and upgraded to a Santander 123 current account a few months back. I earned a reasonable wage whilst away and sent money back regularly to cover some outstanding direct debits I had over here.

I am currently in-between contracts having finished work in June and starting in August. I had some savings from my time in work that I am using to live on and moved back with parents. I applied for a Santander 123 card and got declined. Got a letter stating I didn't meet the criteria. I can only presume this was because of my employment information.

I decided to appeal this decision after reading the forums and sent them quite a lot of information, explaining that I had worked abroad, sent 3 months of my most recent current account statements, other recent credit card bills, my employment contract for my next job stating my salary and my last wage slip.

I was contacted by an advisor saying that I was declined by the underwriters. I can only assume this is because I'm not very profitable. Initially, I thought there was not much I could do. But I thought about this a little more and decided to pursue it and called them back up. They said the decision recorded was something along the lines of either that I had not been in the UK for more than 12 months or not been in the UK for the last 12 months. I told them this was untrue and gave them a list of the dates I had been in the UK (as I had visited the UK and had been in/out of the UK).

I also made them aware that I was a UK taxpayer and a UK resident since birth. I had a 123 credit card before I left but cancelled it because I wanted to avoid the annual fee for the year. They advised me they would pass this back to the underwriters.

They have now received a letter stating that the decision cannot be overturned and they are not obliged to tell me why they declined me.

I think it's all unfair and looks bad that I've been declined. I haven't re-checked my credit file because I'm quite good at keeping up with things. My address on all my correspondence has been my UK address because this was the easiest way to do things whilst working away.

Sorry for all the info but wanted to tell you the background! Is it worth appealing the decision again to the financial ombudsman, has anyone any experience in anything like this? Or should I let it go and take it on the chin?

Herbalus

It sounds unusual from what you've said. Who knows if there is anything on your credit file that you don't know about - you won't know without checking. Fraud, for example, is something that you wouldn't know about until you checked. Fraud's probably not relevant given what they've said as a reason.

As a rule, I never tell banks/hospitals/official bodies if I'm out of the country for a period of time. If I have to, like if I have to call a bank from abroad, I never disclose how long I'm going to be there for, because it causes problems. I once got an NHS bill for £1300 because I'd said I'd spent more than 3 months out of the last 12 abroad (gap year, so technically yes I was abroad, though it has no impact on my residency). Didn't pay, but it taught me a lesson.

You need to be a permanent resident of the UK to have a 123 account, and my guess is that spending a number of months abroad means that you are not classified as permanently living in UK, even if you believe you are, and have no further ties to NZ after your contract. It's the system (though if they have allowed the 123 account to be kept open it shouldn't be the case).

I wouldn't appeal further - you don't have a right to the credit card so the decline is subject to whatever they want. There are other cards. Don't tell them about NZ.

sirwiggum

Santander seem to be very picky about who they give a credit card to.

I've been with them since the Alliance and Leicester days. Never overdrawn, never missed a direct debit, healthy monthly salary going in.

Was declined.

Albeit I'm on the last six months of a default marker on an account, and I checked with noddle and this account was still listed as open (which I got amended, and strangely noddle downgraded by rating from 3/5 to 2/5...).

Ended up with a Luma card for now for business expenses.

Try the likes of noddle or an experian trial and see if it says where you stand.

You-kip

sirwiggum wrote: »

Santander seem to be very picky about who they give a credit card to.

I've been with them since the Alliance and Leicester days. Never overdrawn, never missed a direct debit, healthy monthly salary going in.

Was declined.

Albeit I'm on the last six months of a default marker on an account, and I checked with noddle and this account was still listed as open (which I got amended, and strangely noddle downgraded by rating from 3/5 to 2/5...).

Ended up with a Luma card for now for business expenses.

Try the likes of noddle or an experian trial and see if it says where you stand.

No they're not picky whatsoever! If you've a decent credit history you'd have been accepted.

adidas

Thanks all. I will have a think about finding out more credit history. I got accepted for a mobile contract recently so a little bit odd. I will wait a little while and then apply elsewhere with no info about being abroad!

Maestro.

adidas wrote: »

Thanks all. I will have a think about finding out more credit history. I got accepted for a mobile contract recently so a little bit odd. I will wait a little while and then apply elsewhere with no info about being abroad!

A three legged dog wouldn't have too much trouble getting a mobile contract, so you might not be out of the woods yet.

adidas

Haha true! Thanks for the advice.

Tim_Fox

You-kip wrote: »

No they're not picky whatsoever! If you've a decent credit history you'd have been accepted.

Hate to disagree but they are!
I have an excellent credit record. I've never had any ccj's. I have no loans or debt outstanding. I pay my current card off in full every month. I earn more than £100k. I have a LTV of 15% outstanding on my property. Yet apparently I'm too high a risk for Santander!

Adidas - Whilst they might not be obliged to tell you directly, under the data protection they ARE obliged to reveal to you any information they hold about you if you submit a freedom of information request.

Herbalus

Tim_Fox wrote: »

Hate to disagree but they are!
I have an excellent credit record. I've never had any ccj's. I have no loans or debt outstanding. I pay my current card off in full every month. I earn more than £100k. I have a LTV of 15% outstanding on my property. Yet apparently I'm too high a risk for Santander!

Don't think he meant picky as in only accept the best customers who earn loads of money, but rather they have a specific customer profile that they're targeting and you don't fit it.

You neglected to mention if you are on the electoral role. If you're not then that could also be a reason on top.