Nationwide soft search.... see result early?

[Deleted User]

There have been a few threads on here (including from me) about how 'useless' the Nationwide Credit Card soft check is - for example if you're offered £500 @ 19.9% it's probably a decline, if you are offered higher, it may be an accept.

I've routinely been offered £1,650 @ 19.9%, only to be declined on a full check.

I knew this was likely to happen again, so haven't gone for it, was just interested to see what they'd quote me, if it's changed since I last tried.... it hasn't

However, I had an idea of looking in the source code in Chrome (press F12 on the quote page - expand 'div_class="app_steps"' and then expand 'script id=tracking data') - you can see the following information on the page (just before you proceed to a full check):

{"page":{"pageInfo":{"pageName":"dis:application:credit card:soft quote"},"category":{"primaryCategory":"discovery","nbs_sub_category_1":"dis:application","nbs_sub_category_2":"dis:application:credit card","nbs_sub_category_3":"dis:application:credit card:soft quote"},"nbs_environment":"live"},"nbs_application_module":{},"nbs_product":{"nbs_product_type":"credit card"},"nbs_product_creditcard":{"nbs_cc_name":"nationwide credit card","nbs_cc_product_code":"0006","nbs_cc_offer_code":"21","nbs_cc_offer_bt":"yes","nbs_cc_offer_bt_rate":"0","nbs_cc_offer_bt_duration":"12","nbs_cc_offer_purchase":"yes","nbs_cc_offer_purchase_rate":"0","nbs_cc_offer_purchase_duration":"12"},"nbs_user":{"nbs_user_customer_number":"xxxxxxx","nbs_user_application_route":"unauthenticated","nbs_user_application_route_ibreg":"no","nbs_user_application_route_ownership":"sole","nbs_user_customer_status":"new","nbs_user_address_type":"uk","nbs_user_postcode":"xxxxxx","nbs_user_gender":"male","nbs_user_dateofbirth":"19xx-xx-xx","nbs_user_city":"xxxxxx","nbs_user_income":"xxxx0.00"},"nbs_app_creditcard":{"nbs_cc_application_product_type":"credit card","nbs_cc_application_id":"xxxxxxx","nbs_cc_application_starting_date":"2017-01-07",[B]"nbs_cc_decision_interim":"decline"[/B]}}

The last bit is potentially significant. Without knowing their system, I can't say 100% what happens with "nbs_cc_decision_interim" - but from my coding experience it would look like that's the result of the soft check (decline) and it may change based on a full check. NBS is clearly Nationwide Building Society, CC = credit card, and decision_interim = interim decision.

So, for example, I'd imagine decision_interim could be accept (or refer...??) but if they detected something else during full credit report, final decision would change to decline.

That sparks the question (as I've asked them before, but never had a meaningful reply), as to why they don't just decline at quote stage - like Creation, Capital One etc - and why they bait people into a full credit search.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else who wants to apply for a credit card gets an interim decision of accept or refer. That would mean they can't brush my latest complaint under the carpet.

Again, I 100% accept they don't have to give credit - but I feel knowing someone will be declined, but presenting a page saying

Good news, xxxxx! Subject to a credit check, we can offer you a Nationwide Credit Card with a credit limit of up to £1650 at 19.9% APR representative (variable).

If you'd like a lower limit just tell us
You can type in the amount you'd like (to the nearest £50) or use the plus and minus buttons.

Your credit card offer details

is extremely misleading, particularly the 'your credit card offer details' bit and the so called credit limit of 'up to' - it should be up to £0 if it's determined a decline!!

And I'd expect better from a mutual organisation too!

May be useful for other people who think they'll be declined following the full check to have a look - an accept or refer in the code @ 19.9% is better than proceeding based on decline!!


Are there any Nationwide Company Reps on here, might get more out of them than I do out of the complaints dept.....

(The x's relate to information relating to my app, so I've removed it.... they'll know who I am if/when my next complaint goes in!)

A4445

I had £1900 @ 19.9 and it was accepted immediately online subject to taking ID to a branch.

[Deleted User]

I've seen some say they are accepted at 19.9% (which is, in the summary box, the top APR) - but also quite a few declines, including mine @ £1,500 & @ £1,650

I've just logged in through online banking - the js code is the same as above, reflecting a new app number, the fact I'm "authenticated" and ibreg = yes - and customer number actually matching my internet banking number (the first code didn't).

however, as I'm only at the first page, it ends with nbs_cc_application_starting_date":"2017-01-07" as it's not done the 'processing' stage yet.......

[Deleted User]

Just checked the personal loan page.... where it shows as:

"nbs_pl_application_starting_date":"2016-12-24",
"nbs_pl_type":"initial",
"nbs_pl_loan_amt":"5000.00",
"nbs_pl_loan_duration":"60",
"nbs_pl_purpose":"buying a car/vehicle",
"nbs_pl_approval_status":"not pre-approved"}

"not pre-approved" - interesting for those that want a loan, if they were to get "pre-approved" in there - then you know it's 100% worth going for the full credit search!!

wiseonesomeofthetime

I was quoted £3,300 subject to a full credit check and then declined when I submitted a full application, with a mark on my credit file.

Rang to discuss but they could/would not give me any information as to why I was declined.

Told to wait six months and reapply!

Won't be bothering. There are plenty of other offerings out there.

Only went for their credit card for the no foreign fees.

pcman1985

When I applied for the Nationwide Select Credit Card, I was quoted £2,000 at 19.9%. I was weary of applying when I saw the 19.9%, but I continued anyway.

The application was approved.
I bank with Nationwide and my wages go in that account and all DDs come out of it too. So that may have swung the decision.

GingerBob_3

Although Nationwide are supposedly a mutual they are, nevertheless, part of the finance sector so obfuscation, lies and MBE are the order of the day. Take this, for example:

Good news, xxxxx! Subject to a credit check, we can offer you a Nationwide Credit Card ............

What they should be saying is:

Possible good news, xxxxx! Subject to us smacking you up with a full credit check, otherwise known as a 'hard search', which will be visible to all other financial snoopers for about 12 months, we can offer you ...... However, be aware that there's possible bad news as well. If you fail the credit check we won't tell you why and the hard search will still be available for inspection by all the snoopers.

wiseonesomeofthetime

pcman1985 wrote: »

I bank with Nationwide and my wages go in that account and all DDs come out of it too. So that may have swung the decision.

Me too. Alas it made no difference in my case.

As I said before, no loss. Shall simply seek alternative option.

I have a Supercard, so may attach my current MasterCard to that.

It's only for unexpected purchases abroad anyway, e.g. That trip you just cannot miss out on 😀

I pay my account in full each month so they would gain little from me anyway.

Glad you were successful. Looks like a decent 'All in one' card.

john1002

Looked at my loan application and it said pre approved. Not looking for a loan but be interested to see if I went ahead it would go through.

Regards

John

PROLIANT

I got a preapproved limit of £3900 @ 19%APR, clicked to the next step and got an error "Something went wrong" and that was that.
I don't expect to get accepted as I only just got approved for an Aqua card by the skin of my teeth.... I think their quotation search will just say everything is groovy until to actually apply.

rtho782

Well this thread is likely to get this changed

The reason Nationwide don't decline on the soft search is that they were early users of the whole "quotation" thing.

CRAs like data, and they tightly control what users of the data can do with the data. They then push the whole "Principles of Reciprocity" thing.

Initially CRAs were against the idea of soft searches, as it would mean that applications were not captured as hard searches and other lenders would not know about them. They see this as bad, as it reduces the value of their data, as they feel that a number of hard searches shows you are "desperate for credit".

These days they have loosened up slightly, and they allow companies to show a decline on a soft search, but nationwide likely haven't changed their system, and/or gotten new agreement from their CRA.