Not confirming an application - Credit downgrade?

Crater

My husband has applied for a NatWest credit card to replace one he lost. (He didn't notice for a long time, and they closed the account in the meantime - they do this without telling you.) He was given the right information, but he did this on the phone when reporting the lost card. He has thought about this since and the card costs £24 a year and has quite high interest rate. It gives cashback, but he has realised that he doesn't do much of the kind of shopping that gives even 1%, so it is not an advantage to him. He has to confirm in response to an email. He would like to reconsider, but we don't know if not confirming the application will leave a mark in his credit record. Does anyone know this?

He would prefer to have a card that gives no-charge on overseas transactions for the occasions when we travel, as he has another card which used to give some advantages for travel but does not seem to any more. MSE recommends Halifax Clarity and the Creation card. We don't bank with Halifax, and Creation is an unknown to us. Does anyone have any recommendations? We see we can use MSE's "soft search" so that we can find out if he would qualify, for the Clarity card.

Thank you for any information.

TadleyBaggie

The only "mark" would be the search that NatWest would have performed, not going through with the application will do nothing further to the credit file.

Anthorn

He should really close the application instead of just ignoring the confirmation requirement. Otherwise the application could hang at least for 30 days and result in reminders.

As the last poster said, the only entry on your credit history will be a credit search.

DCFC79

Id ditch it especially if he doesn't do much spending to get the 1%, I agree with previous 2 posters.

Re Halifax clarity card, he can still apply for 1, I don't believe you need to be a Halifax account holder.

20aday

My friend has a Halifax credit card (it's not a Clarity one mind) and he banks elsewhere.

System

The application will just expire naturally if he doesn't send back the agreement - no different credit file wise from calling them up.

The Creation card appears to be a better card - I've got Clarity (with a old lower APR and had cashback) but as a new application I would probably choose Creation or Aqua Reward.

Crater

Thank you these replies are much appreciated.

We are intending to "reply" to the application rather than just let it lapse, we just haven't worked out what we want to do yes, these replies will help us decide. Many thanks.

PS. IIUC from other things I have read, if he doesn't want to go through with this one, he should cancel/lapse it and then make another application either at NatWest or with one of the other providers a few weeks later so as not to have "several" applications around the same time.

System

It will only make a difference with RBS Group.
All other providers will just see a credit search as no account has been created.

Shamsan wrote: »

PS. IIUC from other things I have read, if he doesn't want to go through with this one, he should cancel/lapse it and then make another application either at NatWest or with one of the other providers a few weeks later so as not to have "several" applications around the same time.

Crater

Since then we have formally withdrawn the application with NatWest, I generally think it's better to try and make things clear, though I have to admit sometimes it is just better to let things lie.

(Concurrently, nothing to do with this, NWt bank sent him a letter telling him his "Alerts" phone number seemed not to be working and please to confirm it. We are not sure he ever signed up for their "alerts", and if he did, his number hasn't changed, so we think their computer may just be "fishing" for more contact details. We are going to just quietly ignore this.)

GingerBob_3

Shamsan wrote: »

Since then we have formally withdrawn the application with NatWest, I generally think it's better to try and make things clear, though I have to admit sometimes it is just better to let things lie.

(Concurrently, nothing to do with this, NWt bank sent him a letter telling him his "Alerts" phone number seemed not to be working and please to confirm it. We are not sure he ever signed up for their "alerts", and if he did, his number hasn't changed, so we think their computer may just be "fishing" for more contact details. We are going to just quietly ignore this.)

Right thing to do.