Halifax not using a proper credit check on me?

Jlawson118

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Didn't you get a £1K overdraft facility added to your FD current account a short while ago due to some bills you had to pay? Seem to remember you took that because it was cheaper than a loan. Maybe you forgot? Or maybe not, because you seemed so chuffed with it at the time.

If my memory is better than yours (;)), then that means you were both "in debt" and spent more than you had in the bank didn't you?

So add (recent) overdraft facility usage to all the other things in Candyapple's list above, and use of an overdraft facility generally says you're not managing your day-to-day finances very well.

Basically being 20, my car insurance was £2600 and I had £1600 in the bank, although I'd been given a cheque for £2000 and whilst waiting for it to clear, I needed to borrow that £1000 for just less than a week.

I never forgot it. I got charged 28p interest, that's how much I used it..

Ben8282

I think I covered a lot of what you are asking in my reply to one of your previous threads.
Unfortunately, this problem ,which you probably view as age discrimination against you, is an unavoidable fact.
In the past I have congratulated you on what you have achieved in terms of obtaining desirable reward credit cards etc and have pointed out that you have achieved at age 20 far more than I did. But, as I have also pointed out, at age 20 you simply cannot have achieved a stable employment, address and repayment history going back over years.
Without repeating everything that I have previously written, this is just something you will have to accept.

Jlawson118

Ben8282 wrote: »

I think I covered a lot of what you are asking in my reply to one of your previous threads.
Unfortunately, this problem ,which you probably view as age discrimination against you, is an unavoidable fact.
In the past I have congratulated you on what you have achieved in terms of obtaining desirable reward credit cards etc and have pointed out that you have achieved at age 20 far more than I did. But, as I have also pointed out, at age 20 you simply cannot have achieved a stable employment, address and repayment history going back over years.
Without repeating everything that I have previously written, this is just something you will have to accept.

Don't get me wrong, I don't see it as being discriminative as I said I can understand that anybody older does have more history and more of a trustworthy reputation, so that bit I can respect. Although I can't wrap my head around how they were able to find my information with a false date of birth and then give me more of a chance than with my real one..

Because I entered my DOB as if I was 21, and my information could not be found. Surely if I put it as me being 27 years old, it would come up with the same thing right? My 50% chance of getting it with the correct information is fine to me, they've researched my information, based it on a credit check. So how can they actually find me and give me more of a chance with a higher age, if that isn't a real credit check?

I think I'm describing this wrong but I'm struggling to get the right words out. How can they actually complete this credit search on me with false information?

SuperHan

I'm not sure how Halifax specifically do their soft searches, but they may just be showing you representative data, i.e. 50% of people who apply with that age/level of income/address history are accepted, and this gets lower the younger you go.

It may be that when it gets to your actual data it just does an internal check and says you're unlikely to get one based on internal data held.

Are the searches with your data showing a soft footprint on your credit file? The point of the soft search is that it doesn't do a full check, so we can only hypothesise how they arrive at the results.

[Deleted User]

Hello be careful using wrong info, it can effect your credit score if info on your financial accounts are not matching. Its good you noticed a wrong post code and got that amended, as can cause unnecessary links on your credit file which make getting credit more difficult. Would check all other info is accurate too on any accounts with any financial suppliers.

As for using altering your DOB, this can have an effect - however using the wrong DOB will just mean any soft search is not picking you up correctly and so more likely to be incorrect anyway - it will therefore just be giving generic info as not linking to yourself.

After ensuring all your personal information is correct with the banks. Try to avoid further credit searches so as not to lower your scoring and try not to build up any cards you already have - bring down if possible - as increasing credit reliability will not be overly helpful. Make sure you are on the voters role and don't make any late payments. Also do NOT apply for any credit using incorrect information, they will pick it up and will be less lightly to get an instant accept in the future. If you bank with Halifax may also be worth calling up the application line before applying, as they can sometimes tell from your records if your going to defiantly get a decline - will save unnecessarily credit searches which could just be temporary and a matter of waiting a month or 2 before calling again = this will not be a guarantee by any means, but they will hold a limited amount of info on the back of your bank account. The application line will also help with the application to avoid you making any mistakes - if information conflicts you are more likely to get a decline.

Oh it may also be worth checking your credit file - if you do it now and find mistakes you will have time to get them corrected before you need to do the application. When you do the application need to apply at least a month before you go, as may take a few weeks to get to you.

They will look at a lot more than just your income and age - believe they have a section on their web page about credit searching that may help you understand a little more - will be your full personal circumstances and experiences. The list of things that can effect are huge - the best you can do is use what credit you have responsibly, don't take out just for the sake of it and make sure you keep up to date with everything.

Hope this helps some

[Deleted User]

Actually reading back on this, if your a full time student wont be able to apply for a clarity - they will only allow you student cards, as if the working full time is not seen as necessarily sustainable if your a student. Working part time is fine, so long as your not a full time student...

Your credit file will be picking this up. I am guessing from you wanting late this year you are also planning a gap year, could be another stumbling block if you are giving up that job, as they will not be able to take that income.. If you live at home with parents, maybe your best option would be to ask a parent to apply and have you as an additional card holder - they would be putting a lot of trust in you to do this, so don't let them down.. But maybe an option?

Also as per previous post, not all the income you mention will be useable even if you were not a student. The only certain useable income would be from perm employment - unsure the others would be taken, especially if new business venture unless you are getting a regular income from it and submitting tax returns. Unsure on the maintenance - depends on circumstances.

Jlawson118

SuperHan wrote: »

I'm not sure how Halifax specifically do their soft searches, but they may just be showing you representative data, i.e. 50% of people who apply with that age/level of income/address history are accepted, and this gets lower the younger you go.

It may be that when it gets to your actual data it just does an internal check and says you're unlikely to get one based on internal data held.

Are the searches with your data showing a soft footprint on your credit file? The point of the soft search is that it doesn't do a full check, so we can only hypothesise how they arrive at the results.

Even when I've applied properly in previous searches, they've not shown up on my credit searches. Noddle shows something to do with them, but Experian, Equifax and Clearscore have never showed them so I don't think the soft search shows anything either

Jlawson118

Deleted_User wrote: »

Actually reading back on this, if your a full time student wont be able to apply for a clarity - they will only allow you student cards, as if the working full time is not seen as necessarily sustainable if your a student. Working part time is fine, so long as your not a full time student...

Your credit file will be picking this up. I am guessing from you wanting late this year you are also planning a gap year, could be another stumbling block if you are giving up that job, as they will not be able to take that income.. If you live at home with parents, maybe your best option would be to ask a parent to apply and have you as an additional card holder - they would be putting a lot of trust in you to do this, so don't let them down.. But maybe an option?

Also as per previous post, not all the income you mention will be useable even if you were not a student. The only certain useable income would be from perm employment - unsure the others would be taken, especially if new business venture unless you are getting a regular income from it and submitting tax returns. Unsure on the maintenance - depends on circumstances.

I am considering a gap year but I'm also thinking that I don't want to give up this job because if I come back, there's probably a large chance I wouldn't be able to go back to this job, and I've worked hard to get where I am at the moment. Plus there's other job opportunities arisen for when I complete my degree so I'm debating whether or not to do the year abroad, a year's work placement or just complete my third year and get out of there into the world.

I'm wanting the card for the Summer anyway as this is when I usually go away with friends to places in Europe and I want to continue that, it doesn't even have to be Europe. And it'll be my 21st in July so I do want to get away. My last hard credit search was in September I think, so if I apply around Mid-July, I'll have had no credit searches for almost a year and I might have more of a chance. If not then I'll look into the Lloyds Avios cards again or just get some kind of travel card. I did want it to be with a reputable bank though and Halifax seems the best. I was in Bulgaria for a few months last Summer and I took cash with me but then had to withdraw more and I spent a fortune in transaction fees, and I didn't want to use a credit card for withdrawals.

I'm wishing I hadn't have closed it down now :rotfl: