Halifax not using a proper credit check on me?

Jlawson118

So for those of you who've more than likely seen my previous threads, I'm looking to get the Halifax Clarity card to use on my travels but they've rejected me in the past. I assume this is due to my lack of history, and just recently I have had a few various credit searches due to a new phone contract, a student account that I never got accepted for and also a credit card. I do have a stable score (I know the score doesn't matter but the score still suggests to myself that my credit report is in fairly good condition)

Today, I got a letter from Halifax regarding my current account (just regarding a recent switch) and I noticed my postcode had a typo on it, and I called customer services who advised me to go into branch. And in branch, I asked the lady what the eligibility for the card is, she said she thinks you just have to work more than 30 hours a week.

I'm not aiming to apply for the card until later on this year (a good 6+ months later in which will be around 10 months after my last hard credit search and I'll be looking to go abroad) although I checked their eligibility, 'Soft search' tool when a box popped up asking to chat with somebody. I asked the lady there what the eligibility was and she stated I should be accepted for the card providing I'm 18 or over and have a stable income, and that I pass their credit check.

So I ran the soft search. Adding my earnings, DOB, entered that I've lived in the same house for over 15 years and it came up that I was 50% likely to be accepted for the card. So I changed the year of birth from 1996, to 1990, keeping all of the other information the same and I was 80% likely to be accepted.
I then tried 1997 where it came up completely that I just wasn't eligible.

To be born in 1997 would mean I'd be 19, that is over 18 and also earning a stable income. When I ran the search this time last year when I was actually 19, with a really low income, even back then I got 20% likely to be accepted.

I know somebody who is 27 would be judged to manage credit better than a 20 year old can, so I can understand the higher rating. But by entering the same name, income, address etc, but a different age gets a higher rating? If they were running a real search, then surely my details wouldn't come up whatsoever? And if age doesn't matter about the credit checks, does the higher, 80% rating due to age, suggest that my credit history and report are acceptable for the card?

I'm earning over £20,000pa, that's from working and also a little of working for myself too. So tick the stable income box. I'm 20, so tick the over 18 box. I'm on the electoral role, I've lived in the same house over 15 years. I've got a credit card already and never missed a payment. The only thing that suggests the rejection and the 50% result on the soft search is my credit search..have they really searched properly?

mwarby

At 27 having no credit problems demonstrates some financial care and restraint, at 19 most people wouldn't be given enough credit to get themselves in to a big mess

DCFC79

Jlawson118 wrote: »

So for those of you who've more than likely seen my previous threads, I'm looking to get the Halifax Clarity card to use on my travels but they've rejected me in the past. I assume this is due to my lack of history, and just recently I have had a few various credit searches due to a new phone contract, a student account that I never got accepted for and also a credit card. I do have a stable score (I know the score doesn't matter but the score still suggests to myself that my credit report is in fairly good condition)

Today, I got a letter from Halifax regarding my current account (just regarding a recent switch) and I noticed my postcode had a typo on it, and I called customer services who advised me to go into branch. And in branch, I asked the lady what the eligibility for the card is, she said she thinks you just have to work more than 30 hours a week.

I'm not aiming to apply for the card until later on this year (a good 6+ months later in which will be around 10 months after my last hard credit search and I'll be looking to go abroad) although I checked their eligibility, 'Soft search' tool when a box popped up asking to chat with somebody. I asked the lady there what the eligibility was and she stated I should be accepted for the card providing I'm 18 or over and have a stable income, and that I pass their credit check.

So I ran the soft search. Adding my earnings, DOB, entered that I've lived in the same house for over 15 years and it came up that I was 50% likely to be accepted for the card. So I changed the year of birth from 1996, to 1990, keeping all of the other information the same and I was 80% likely to be accepted.
I then tried 1997 where it came up completely that I just wasn't eligible.

To be born in 1997 would mean I'd be 19, that is over 18 and also earning a stable income. When I ran the search this time last year when I was actually 19, with a really low income, even back then I got 20% likely to be accepted.

I know somebody who is 27 would be judged to manage credit better than a 20 year old can, so I can understand the higher rating. But by entering the same name, income, address etc, but a different age gets a higher rating? If they were running a real search, then surely my details wouldn't come up whatsoever? And if age doesn't matter about the credit checks, does the higher, 80% rating due to age, suggest that my credit history and report are acceptable for the card?

I'm earning over £20,000pa, that's from working and also a little of working for myself too. So tick the stable income box. I'm 20, so tick the over 18 box. I'm on the electoral role, I've lived in the same house over 15 years. I've got a credit card already and never missed a payment. The only thing that suggests the rejection and the 50% result on the soft search is my credit search..have they really searched properly?

Im confused you say you earn 20kpa yet you have stated your at uni in past threads and worked at royal mail in a temp role.

Must have a really good job for that pay. Not trying to derail the thread, i find if you want help its a good idea to be honest.

Maybe the fact your at uni is why you have been declined for the clarity.

Jlawson118

mwarby wrote: »

At 27 having no credit problems demonstrates some financial care and restraint, at 19 most people wouldn't be given enough credit to get themselves in to a big mess

But my argument is that I've never been in debt, I never spend more than I have in the bank, I earn a fair decent living, I'm over the age limit required..and yes I am being stereotyped for my age which I mentioned earlier I can understand that much. But they're also basing this on a credit score when they've checked the exact same credit score for me, but just with a different age entered..it doesn't make sense

Jlawson118

DCFC79 wrote: »

Im confused you say you earn 20kpa yet you have stated your at uni in past threads and worked at royal mail in a temp role.

Must have a really good job for that pay. Not trying to derail the thread, i find if you want help its a good idea to be honest.

Maybe the fact your at uni is why you have been declined for the clarity.

I am a student, counting just short of £3000pa maintenance, I've found myself a permanent job opposed to the Royal Mail one paying around £13,000 per year as well as I earn approximately £2000/£3000 doing a little work for myself slowly starting up a little business for the future within media (which is also what I'm studying) and then whatever else comes in

mwarby

Think the 'never been in debt' bit is key when applying for a mainline highly desirable card, if you had say a bad credit credit card and used this responsibly you'd have more luck in years time (say)

DCFC79

Jlawson118 wrote: »

I am a student, counting £3000pa maintenance, I've found myself a permanent job opposed to the Royal Mail one paying around £13,000 per year as well as I earn aprox £2000/£3000 doing a little work for myself slowly starting up a little business for the future within media (which is also what I'm studying)

Apologies, didnt see it being possible to have enough time for a job and being at uni.

Jlawson118

DCFC79 wrote: »

Apologies, didnt see it being possible to have enough time for a job and being at uni.

It's just part time on an evening five days a week, plus overtime if I can fit it in. I managed to survive my first year just living off what student finance lent me, but this time round I've realised I need to be earning my own money properly

Jlawson118

mwarby wrote: »

Think the 'never been in debt' bit is key when applying for a mainline highly desirable card, if you had say a bad credit credit card and used this responsibly you'd have more luck in years time (say)

I do have a Barclaycard Freedom Reward card that I always pay off, although I've learnt from my other threads that my paying them off every week isn't as good as paying them off once a month, so I'll stop being so keen to pay it off weekly :rotfl:

And I do have a First Direct Gold card but I've barely used this, I just got pre-approved and joined for their incentive that they were offering. Now it just sits in my wallet and doesn't get used. I've only spent less than £20 on it since I've had it really

GingerBob_3

DCFC79 wrote: »

Apologies, didnt see it being possible to have enough time for a job and being at uni.

The operators of that maddest of all the mad systems in the world - the student loan system - expect students to work as well as study. The loan simply doesn't cover the cost of living if you're a student.

copperclock

Are there any other credit cards that are good for using abroad?