Is there 'non-bad' way to make yourself 'ineligible' for credit cards...?

rabson_2

Hi. Due to poor spending impulse control I got into credit card debt problems recently. I've managed to clear the debt but I'm worried I could get into trouble again.

So I was wondering - apart from the obvious (getting yourself blacklisted), is there a way to make yourself effectively ineligible for a credit card? Or do you just have to rely on good old willpower and self-discipline?

jonesMUFCforever

What sort of problems have you got into - late payments? non or missed payments?
If so your credit files may well be damaged and nobody with sense will offer you new cards.

If you owe money on cards consider asking them to close the cards to new spends - they will let you pay back on normal terms - no adverse information on your files as long as you make at least minimum payments and on time.

Westminster

If you want a 'brake' on new applications, paying for a CIFAS protective registration would at least buy you some thinking time as it will prevent the instant online approvals as it forces manual checking of any credit application - likely to include any potential lender phoning you up to confirm you did actually make the application.

eddddy

Westminster wrote: »

If you want a 'brake' on new applications, paying for a CIFAS protective registration would at least buy you some thinking time as it will prevent the instant online approvals as it forces manual checking of any credit application - likely to include any potential lender phoning you up to confirm you did actually make the application.

In a similar way, you may be able to add a notice of correction to your credit reports, saying something like "This person does not want to be considered for credit card applications."

See: https://equifaxuk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/656/~/what-is-a-notice-of-correction%3F

Like a CIFAS registration, a notice of correction should stop applications going through automatically, and refer them to a real person (an underwriter).

But a CIFAS and/or notice is also likely to derail mobile phone applications, energy company applications, monthly car insurance applications, broadband applications etc.

In some of the above cases, it might just result in a straight "NO" - because it's uneconomic for a 'real person' to read a credit report for a £10 per month phone contract.