How to qualify for firstdirect accounts?

cinereus

Was just notified after a week that I was rejected from opening a firstdirect account due not achieving high enough scores on some of their criteria. I am self employed and can meet their £1000/month requirement. The main problem I can see is that I have several other current accounts and am not a home-owner. Any ideas what would be causing them to reject me?

Gromitt

Any defaults/missed payments in the last 6 years?

Electoral roll check?

cinereus

Nope. Should be on electoral roll.

innovate

Should be?? You either are or are not, and you can check this yourself, e.g. by calling your Council, and/or checking your CRA files.

Are your CRA files generally in order? FD are very particular to who they take on as new customers. The slightest discrepancy between your name and address on the ER / your CRA files and the data you used in the application could lead to rejection. As will any default etc on your CRA files.

Check your data, and then may be call them. They aren't obliged to tell you why they have turned you down, but you might charm a reason out of them. There is, in principle, always the possibility of an error on your files.

YorkshireBoy

Age?
Do you regularly/permanently use the O/D facilities on any of your existing accounts?
Do you have any financial associates (ie share a joint current account/loan/mortgage with anyone else)?

typistretired

Check the following list:-

The credit reference agencies keep the following information:

•The Electoral Roll. This shows addresses you've been registered to vote at and the dates you were registered there
•Public records. This includes court judgments, bankruptcies and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, IVAs, Debt Relief Orders and Administration Orders. In Scotland it includes decrees, sequestration orders, DAS Debt Payment Programmes and Trust Deeds
•Account information. This shows how you have managed your existing accounts such as your bank account and other borrowing. It shows lenders whether you have made payments on time
•Home repossessions. This is information from members of the Council of Mortgage Lenders about homes that have been repossessed
•Financial associations. This shows details of people you are financially connected to. For example, it includes people you've applied jointly for credit with or who you have a joint account with
•Previous searches. This shows details of companies and organisations that have looked at information on your file in the last 12 months
•Linked addresses. This shows any addresses you have lived at.