Declined Phone contract

James41_2

Someone please give some advice on this as I am finding this really weird.

I Need to get a phone as moving jobs and will no longer have the benefit of the company phone, first tried T-Mobile and then o2 and got declined for both!

I cannot understand why, as I quite comfortably got a mortgage offer agreed only 3 months ago.

I checked my credit history and I have warnings over two aspects.

First being the electoral roll. Checked with my local council and they said i am definately registered.

Second being that I was a victim of fraud last year.

What am I missing with regard to this picture.

I Pay my credit cards like a good boy every month. Haven't got any loans other than my mortgage.

Is it because I have just moved into my property only 3 months ago and the property before that I was renting for 10 months only?

Find this very frustrating as I don't get given a reason as to why I've been declined.

Cycrow

Firstly, you dont need a contract to get a phone, you could get a cheap phone and use payg, then there is no contract and no credit check.

The electoral roll could be a problem and it might be why you have been rejected.
Other reasons could be that there was some kind of error on your application, or the details wern't quite correct.

You could try contacting the network directly and see if they will manually check you

James41_2

Fully aware I can get a PAYG and will obviously consider it.

Next question, say the issue is the fact I have moved twice within the last year and the credit companies don't like this. I checked with my local council authority and they confirmed that i am on the electroal register. Why is it still showing as a warning on my credit report? Does it do this automatically because I have just moved and will it revert from the 'warning red' to a 'safer green' soon?

Cycrow

it does take time for the information to get to the CRA and for them to update your credit files.

if its not showing on them, then its not updated on your file yet, and thats what the lenders will see.

It took 4 months for mine to be fully updated when i moved

Remember this is all done via computers so they dont make allowances for these, and they wont make judgement calls. Either the criteria matches, or it doesn't

you can contact the network to get it looked at by a person who can then judge for themselves and override the computers decision, i know Vodafone do this all the time

lazer

I had the same issue trying to get a landline - I had abour 6 month history in the house I was living in, and only 1 year in the house before (My parents and they had recently moved), the system was only set up to search a maximum of 2 addresses.

The company advised me to leave of my current address and use my previous 1 (1 year history) and the one before that (10 year + history).

James41_2

Cycrow - thanks for your help. That has calmed me somewhat. I will perhaps wait a few extra weeks which would take me into the 4 month bracket.

Perhaps Vodafone can be more help then, So far o2 and tmobile have been anything but helpful and when talking to them can't help but reminded of the little Britain sketch "computer says no" and wonder if anyone is capable of applying some initiative.

Buzby

By initiative, you mean 'give you a contract'? I honestly doubt a few weeks will make much of a difference. However, a substantial footprint establishing your identity, will.

Considering the number of fraudulent applications (where the aim is to acquire handsets a minimal costs) who or what you are is of little relevance. If you want to prove this, apply for a SIM-only deal. Your chances of refusal plummet - and benefit from 30 day cancellation and better bundles. You just source your own phone.

Think of it as a DIY approach - and it will save you money too.

Maestro.

My advice to the OP would be to try for a SIM only contract as buzby has said above. From what I read on here even a blind dog could get a SIM only contract.

I am surprised that you haven't been able to get a phone contract though despite the situation. I was given a £36 phone contract almost two years ago despite not being on the electoral role and my only history of credit being 2 months credit card use and a bank overdraft (which seemed to count for nothing). The lady said I would get the £36 contract but the next one up at £41 I didn't score high enough for.

ValHaller

Buzby wrote: »

By initiative, you mean 'give you a contract'? I honestly doubt a few weeks will make much of a difference. However, a substantial footprint establishing your identity, will.

Considering the number of fraudulent applications (where the aim is to acquire handsets a minimal costs) who or what you are is of little relevance. If you want to prove this, apply for a SIM-only deal. Your chances of refusal plummet - and benefit from 30 day cancellation and better bundles. You just source your own phone.

Think of it as a DIY approach - and it will save you money too.

This is sound IMO. When you take out a phone contract with a handset provided, they are lending you the value of a handset. On SIM only, if you don't pay your first month, it will cost them very little and they can cut off just like that. So they shouldn't have qualms about giving you SIM only.

I can't really see why people get handsets bundled. TV rental and appliance rental in general has all but died out in this country, long ago. Why it persists with mobile phones is a mystery.

Maestro.

ValHaller wrote: »

This is sound IMO. When you take out a phone contract with a handset provided, they are lending you the value of a handset. On SIM only, if you don't pay your first month, it will cost them very little and they can cut off just like that. So they shouldn't have qualms about giving you SIM only.

I can't really see why people get handsets bundled. TV rental and appliance rental in general has all but died out in this country, long ago. Why it persists with mobile phones is a mystery.

It's a way of getting a phone RIGHT NOW without having to worry about the costs. Most people who get phones on contract probably can't afford to pay for them outright - me included. That's why it's so popular.

matttye

Maestro. wrote: »

It's a way of getting a phone RIGHT NOW without having to worry about the costs. Most people who get phones on contract probably can't afford to pay for them outright - me included. That's why it's so popular.

That and the smartphone industry has erupted and seems to be moving faster than the other tech related industries.