Credit Rejection but no search done?

mijome

So I've received a notification from Vodafone that after carrying out a credit check with Experian, they've decided to decline my order for a SIM Only Monthly deal. (£19.20/month).
There are a few puzzling factors in this one:

1. Decent credit record (991). I know this in itself is not a guarantee of being accepted and that Vodafone will have internal criteria. However the usual best practices are in place, e.g. no missed payments ever, electoral register for 10+ years, only using a low percentage of available credit, some credit accounts open for 10+ years. Basically I've never had a rejection for credit before.
2. No searches. I've checked with Experian 3 days later, and there have been no searches of my credit file. The same for Equifax and CallCredit.

So what do we think happened with this one? The cynic in me thinks that perhaps they have had enough in selling that particular package and I would have seen a different result if I'd taken the upsell. Also wondering if they'd had enough of paying cashback for referral. Maybe the account was not going to make them enough profit as there's not enough risk of default.
I'm inclined to think they've blocked the application for some other reason and are hiding behind credit control, or maybe the computer broke and they haven't been able to find my credit file, or have checked someone else's file.

Aside from the fact I'll either stay where I am or take my money to a different provider, I'm also tempted to send them a Data Protection Subject Access Request to see what data they did actually collect about me, if they even did so.

Does anyone have any theories or similar recent experience?

System

They aren't obliged to do business with you.

You asked, they declined your request - end of story.
I would take the lack of credit checks as a bonus.

Look elsewhere, lots of other providers - including MVNOs using Vodafone.

DCFC79

No loan company, bank, mobile provider has to do business with you. Go with 1 of the other MVNO's who use the same network.

[Deleted User]

Giffgaff is pretty good

daniel86_2

Have you looked at Equifax and Noddle as well they might have checked a different agency, you can always call them to check manually if you think they have made a mistake acessing you it sometimes works

DCFC79

daniel86 wrote: »

Have you looked at Equifax and Noddle as well they might have checked a different agency,

Not much point as the OP has checked Noddle which is a free or another version of Call Credit and same with clear score is another version of Equifax.

daniel86_2

Just thought I would add I have opened an account with Vodafone in on 3rd June this year and there is no record of a search on any agency

hsnyldz

I had the same experience, declined however no search record done. Will take my business elsewhere not a problem at all.

PaulW922

If Vodafone say the decline is because of Experian data then that is what it will be. Two things:

Are you sure it is not shown as a 'soft search' or similar and further down the search list?
Is it possible that they have incorrect details for the search and did not find you at the address they had, for example? That may trigger a decline and would not show up as a search if the details were wrong.

I see no reason not to ask them to reconsider on that basis saying there is no search shown, but equally, you could just go to another provider.