Partially completed card application - will it affect my credit rating?

StellaSaver

I recently applied for a Post Office credit card with the intention to transfer money from another credit card. I applied online and I'd got as far as being told I was eligible for the card and how much my credit limit would be, when my brower decided to shut down and my laptop went into a mini-meltdown. I thought (apart from screaming) 'oh well, I'll just pay off my outstanding amount - it wasn't meant to be' and thought no more of it. I've just received documentation from them saying that they need more information from me and to send everything back within 30 days to complete the application.

I don't want the card now - will this partially-completed application affect my credit rating?

Cheers

National_Debtline

Hi

The only way it would affect your credit file is if they conducted a search and left a ‘footprint’. I think it will depend on whether you had given them permission to search your credit file by that stage and whether they had actually done so to assess your eligibility for the card.

Sometimes they can do the initial checks with a soft search that doesn’t have the same effect, or it may have just been based on information you gave yourself.

James
@natdebtline

StellaSaver

Very helpful - cheers James. I was just worried that as I haven't agreed to the card, it'll look like they refused and it'll affect my credit rating. I'll give it 30 days so the application is automatically closed (as it says in the papers they sent me) and then take out the Experian 30-day free trial to check everything over

GingerBob_3

StellaSaver wrote: »

I recently applied for a Post Office credit card with the intention to transfer money from another credit card. I applied online and I'd got as far as being told I was eligible for the card and how much my credit limit would be, when my brower decided to shut down and my laptop went into a mini-meltdown. I thought (apart from screaming) 'oh well, I'll just pay off my outstanding amount - it wasn't meant to be' and thought no more of it. I've just received documentation from them saying that they need more information from me and to send everything back within 30 days to complete the application.

I don't want the card now - will this partially-completed application affect my credit rating?

Cheers

In that case, yes, they will have smacked you with a credit check.


A similar thing happened to my son. He applied for the PO card - his first ever credit card application - and despite the website saying "instant decision" the final message was to the effect they needed to contact him. That contact duly occurred a few days later when they sent instructions for him to furnish them with a quite onerous set of documents, all of which had to be authenticated by a solicitor or something similar. Amongst other things he had to send proof of income and utility bills (he doesn't have any in his name). He gave up. Next thing they were ringing him about it. They were quite happy that he then cancelled the application.


Thing is, he would be an excellent customer for them. Stupid companies these CC providers.

StellaSaver

GingerB, fortunately (or not) for me it wasn't my first application as I've had lots of different credit cards over the years - I've just looked at what they want me to send back and it's just my signature on the application. However, what has unnerved me is that I was going with them as they had 2.98% fee for a balance transfer but that's paid back after 90 days … but I can't see that anywhere in the form they want me to sign and return. Now, I'm sure it'd be OK and I'd get my money back as the evidence is out there but can I be bothered if it goes pear shaped? Life's too short. Ta for your reply and I hope your son got a card.