incorrect credit decline nightmare - Santander

Sarahlou34

So I "popped" into my Santander branch last December to do a quick (or so Id hoped) credit card application to balance transfer and move away from interest charges.


No problem I thought, I'd taken out a mortgage with Santander 18 months earlier and had always paid everything in my credit past on time and have a really good income compared to expenditure.


To my complete shock Santander declined my application as "its showing you've had a CCJ in the past 18 months.....err no!!! Obviously they "couldn't" help me further or tell me any more info....


So I go away & run all of my credit reports as well as Trust Online, to prove I've NEVER had a CCJ and send Santander the proof.


They eventually write, with no apology, to tell me they've overturned their decision...card on its way. Despite having to chase them over the next month as their offices don't communicate with one another and the card actually hadn't been sent until I had to go back in branch early Feb...I figured this whole shambles was done.....WRONG!


I go to my other bank of the past 20 years to get another small credit card, pleased as expected Im pre-approved for a small fortune at lowest rates.....but oh no, approval process only gives me a measly sum at shopping interest rate - you guessed it - due to my credit rating.


Funny how I've NEVER had a problem before Santander declined me for absolutely no real reason whatsoever!!! So I've phoned Santander and they are going to "see" if they can get the decline cleared from my file - WHAT?????!!!! They declined me based on completely & utterly incorrect information......


I've contacted the Financial Ombudsman, but I guess that process will take an age....Im now up the creek without a paddle as far as my credit score goes, have been an ideal borrower in the past, am in no means up to my eyes in debt, but dint know what else to do....this is a disaster and I feel I have no control over this whatsoever....any advice out there?


It goes without saying that I'll be moving every penny I have with Santander ASAP!

happy_bunny_2

You need to complain to Santander, in writing or via website.

Have you done so already? You could argue the communications so far were and just follow up in writing.

You then have to give them 8 weeks to sort it out or send you a final response.

You can then take to FOS. But this can take months, up to 6 in my experience.

Hazzinho

What do all 3 files show? Is it just the one credit application in December? Personally I'd just go elsewhere and leave it. You have no credit score lenders have different lending criteria.

Sarahlou34

Thanks - I did complain to Santander after the initial decline, but they said they have the right to decline people and if I don't like that response, go to Ombudsman.

Credit reports showed no issues whatsoever and credit expert even said in writing that they had no idea where Santander got their info from.

Thing is, I cant leave it as clearly this wrong decline from Santander I now showing and affecting me negatively.

I don't have the time to keep running my credit reports every other week, but clearly there is now an issue....

bengal-stripe

Sarahlou34 wrote: »

......credit card application to balance transfer and move away from interest charges......

.......always paid everything in my credit past on time and have a really good income compared to expenditure.

You haven't told us how many other Credit Cards you hold and what the balances on these cards are. You obviously do carry a balance as the interest you pay bothers you. With your "really good income compared to expenditure" you might consider paying your cards in full every month.

happy_bunny_2

I would take to FOS arguing that they said they declined for a CCJ that isn't on any report. State you require their decision removing from your credit report.

You may at least find out where they got the info from. Maybe searched the wrong persons file?

gunsandbanjos

I was under the impression and please correct me if I'm wrong that a 'decision' from santander or any lender isn't on a credit file. I thought there was merely a footprint from a search.
So the other banks won't see that santander have declined you, only that they have performed a search.

Thrugelmir

Sarahlou34 wrote: »

am in no means up to my eyes in debt, but dint know what else to do....

Then that's your problem to address. Santander have made their decision on commercial grounds. The FO won't over turn a commercial decision as not their role too.

chanz4

happy_bunny wrote: »

I would take to FOS arguing that they said they declined for a CCJ that isn't on any report. State you require their decision removing from your credit report.

You may at least find out where they got the info from. Maybe searched the wrong persons file?

Only a search not a descison is on cra

solentsusie

Sarahlou34 wrote: »

Thing is, I cant leave it as clearly this wrong decline from Santander I now showing and affecting me negatively.

There is no 'wrong' decline. Santander are well within their rights to decline you if you do not meet their own specific criteria. Credit is not a right, no lender has to give you a credit account.

All that will show on your credit report is a search by Santander. It will not show that they declined you an account.

Perhaps you will have no problems with an alternative lender. You can go on here and do a credit card comparison and see who is likely to accept you.

It may also be that they declined you because they feel that your ratio of income to borrowing it too high a risk for them and you do not fit their criteria that way. It will be an internal decision within their company and I am surprised they told you that it was a CCJ that was affecting their decision to lend to you. Normally they would just say it was something on your file tell you to check your records with the relevant agency.

Good luck.

Voyager2002

Two points: Santander have a tendency to make mistakes and are unreliable, so to avoid negative experiences I suggest that you take as much as possible of your business elsewhere.

Your credit file does not record the Santander decision, only the fact that you applied for credit from them. However, it is possible that they did something leading to incorrect information being added to your credit file (something about the non-existent CCJ perhaps). So you need to check all three of your credit records again, and if any incorrect information is recorded then arrange to have the error corrected.