Need to apply for lower rate transfers, how to apply without damaging chances?

techbloke

I run my own startup tech business, and I’ve built up £22k credit card debt funding it. There are potential investors, likely to come in 3-6 months from now, and it’s a viable business long term, but not ready for sales.

I’ve always made (at least) minimum payments and on time, but the interest is £500 a month, which is crippling. I don't want to talk to the credit card companies as I don't want to damage my rating and impact on the business. I’ve had a salary through a university support programme, for 8 months, with another 4 to go (the funding gap after that is another matter). Our credit rating despite all this isn’t bad. 6 months ago I applied for 0% balance transfers on the cards, via MSE links suggesting a 9 in 10 chance of approval, but got turned down, with the vaguest explanations, probably because we’re unavoidably close to our limits the whole time. I stopped after 3 or 4 when I realised that the act of applying was sabotaging further applications. I’d like to try again, either a transfer or a loan, but don’t want to accidentally get declined or damage my ability to apply.

I got one transfer of £1,900 by applying for a limit of £2k, so there seems to be a limit of 95% on transfers.

Any advice please? Thanks in advance!