Can't seem to get accepted for the Halifax Clarity Card?

Jlawson118

I'm 20 in a few weeks so I'll accept that my credit history is pretty limited. I was looking for a credit card that I could use abroad early this year, and the Lloyds Avios one stood out to me, but I was rejected and I ended up getting the Aqua Advance card. Giving me a credit limit of £300

Around a month after I was accepted for that, I tried my luck with the Lloyds one again and was accepted for that.

Currently, I have current accounts with First Direct, Lloyds and I recently opened a Halifax Reward account, and I have credit cards with Aqua and Lloyds. My Aqua card limit was recently increased from £300 to £1050 whereas my Lloyds bank is at £750 and is unchangeable until I have had the account for six months. But I'm currently away for a few months in Bulgaria, and I thought I'd exchanged enough cash but I've had to make a few cash withdrawals and it's costed me quite a lot in foreign transaction fees. I discovered Metro Bank but they don't allow for applications online, and I don't live near a branch.
So I tried for the Halifax Clarity (a second time) and was rejected. Somebody told me if I had a Halifax account, then I may get pre-approved, but they offer free foreign withdrawal fees. And I'm going away again after Bulgaria where I'd like to withdraw cash as and when I please rather than taking a big lump of Euros with me (I hate carrying cash)

Any advice on what I could do?

tripled

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Clarity is hard to get. Lots of applications and very young accounts are unlikely to be helping you.

Have you sorted travel insurance yet? If not, you could do worse than the Nationwide FlexPlus current account (£10 per month). If you do a switch, get a referral from a friend or family member with a NW account to bag 100 quid each (conditions apply, etc.).

Also take a look at Martin's guide for other options which are cheaper, even if not free.

Jlawson118

tripled wrote: »

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the Clarity is hard to get. Lots of applications and very young accounts are unlikely to be helping you.

Have you sorted travel insurance yet? If not, you could do worse than the Nationwide FlexPlus current account (£10 per month). If you do a switch, get a referral from a friend or family member with a NW account to bag 100 quid each (conditions apply, etc.).

Also take a look at Martin's guide for other options which are cheaper, even if not free.

Thank you for your reply! The nationwide offer does look good, although I'm currently looking at the Halifax Ultimate Reward account. The Nationwide one does look like it offers more, but I'm not really keen on them. I had an account with them last year and I hated their internet banking service, as well as in branch..:/

eDicky

As I already suggested in your previous thread, you could consider the Norwich and Peterborough BS Gold Classic account with its worldwide fee-free debit card, or the Revolut prepaid Mastercard with no fees except 2% for ATM withdrawals in excess of £500/€650/$700 per calendar month and no credit check.

Steve059

They gave me one, so they can't be that fussy. I've only an occupational penson coming in, but being 61 and banking with them for years and staying "in the black" may have helped.

darkidoe

Try writing to the underwriters to appeal the decision. Worth a try without wasting a credit search. I did and got accepted.

YorkshireBoy

darkidoe wrote: »

Try writing to the underwriters to appeal the decision. Worth a try without wasting a credit search. I did and got accepted.

You sure they didn't manually search you again? You checked all 3 agencies?


Reason I ask is that I'm not sure they keep the results of the original search on file? They might not do as doing so wouldn't really be in keeping with the 5th data principle (of the DPA), namely "personal information must not be kept for longer than is necessary". And once they've declined you they no longer require that information do they?

darkidoe

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

You sure they didn't manually search you again? You checked all 3 agencies?


Reason I ask is that I'm not sure they keep the results of the original search on file? They might not do as doing so wouldn't really be in keeping with the 5th data principle (of the DPA), namely "personal information must not be kept for longer than is necessary". And once they've declined you they no longer require that information do they?

I didn't check my credit file after the appeal but I did send them a copy of my statutory credit report I got after I got rejected. It's been almost 8 months now. I hope my credit history looks decent now.

mrssjs

We're a married couple in our late thirties that bank with Halifax, not in debt or an overdraft, with savings and good incomes and we can't get one either!

[Deleted User]

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

You sure they didn't manually search you again? You checked all 3 agencies?


Reason I ask is that I'm not sure they keep the results of the original search on file? They might not do as doing so wouldn't really be in keeping with the 5th data principle (of the DPA), namely "personal information must not be kept for longer than is necessary". And once they've declined you they no longer require that information do they?

Just my 2 cents....

Some companies state that you must appeal in 30/60 days, otherwise they'll assume you don't wish to appeal (aka we'll keep your search results for 30-60 days before getting rid of them)

I'd be amazed if declined applicants info is deleted - they probably use it for future modelling etc, rather than using CRA data which may cost them. They could do it anonymously but in the immediate days and weeks after I don't think you could reasonably argue they've kept info for longer than necessary - especially as N Hunter keep everyone's info for god knows how long!!

Many employers keep information on applicants (even ones that aren't shortlisted!) for say 6 months - useful for Internal Audit and quality checking with regards to who was/wasn't chosen. (as well as any lawsuits!!)

Any request for a review (/an appeal) isn't authorisation for a second search - certainly not a visible one! If they declined again you've then got 2 searches for 1 app when the chances of acceptance from the 2nd search may have been minimal at best