Credit search for a pre-approved card

matesalka

I applied for an MBNA credit card a couple of weeks ago. I did the eligibility checker and it came up that I was preapproved so applied for the card and got accepted.

My question is do credit card companies do a credit search if you have been pre-approved for a card? I have checked my report and there is no credit search by MBNA. Would it show up later on?

This may effect my decision in applying for further credit now or waiting.

Thanks

Rich7111

In my own experience Yes, they have a legal duty for responsible lending, they will carry out a number of checks on a full application to confirm ID and to protect against fraud etc. The soft search is a very good indication of approval but it's not 100%

Anthorn

matesalka wrote: »

I applied for an MBNA credit card a couple of weeks ago. I did the eligibility checker and it came up that I was preapproved so applied for the card and got accepted.

My question is do credit card companies do a credit search if you have been pre-approved for a card? I have checked my report and there is no credit search by MBNA. Would it show up later on?

This may effect my decision in applying for further credit now or waiting.

Thanks

In the case of MBNA they initially do a soft search and from that either decline to make an offer or make a provisional offer. If you accept the provisional offer they then do a full credit search and then either confirm their provisional offer or decline. If you don't see a full credit search perhaps they did it on a CRA which is different to the one you are searching. You need to check all three CRAs but you can probably get away with just Equifax and Experian.

matesalka

I checked clearscore and noodle and nothing is there. Do you know a company that lets you check your Experian report for free?

Thanks

Anthorn

matesalka wrote: »

I checked clearscore and noodle and nothing is there. Do you know a company that lets you check your Experian report for free?

Thanks

For your full credit history report direct from Experian. Your statutory report will cost you £2. But try MSE Credit Club.

theburningcat

I was pre-approved at Santander and they still had to do a credit search. The pre-approval, in their words, would guarantee I got a card but the limit was down to the credit search.