New Credit Card Application

mike_302

This seems to be a popular thread title, and I can't think of something more unique...

Anyways, I've only live in the UK for 9 months now. Full time employed, decent salary, on electoral roll, bank accounts established. MSE's quick eligibility tool suggests I have a 95% chance of applying and receiving the Halifax Clarity card. I applied to Halifax and was rejected. So I went to find out my credit history.

My experian and equifax credit scores are in the Fair range. I had to call equifax to get them to recognize my electoral registration (they incorrectly stated I wasn't on the register whereas experian recognized it properly). It just occurred to me that neither agency recognized that I've been paying a regular monthly UK phone contract, so I don't have that adding to my score. Both credit reporting agencies suggest that I need a credit card to improve my rating. Neither agency identifies any credit check on my account from anyone, let alone Halifax. IT does recognize the soft search from using the MSE eligibility tool though, suggesting the credit report is updated in near real time.

So the closing questions: Do I need to get in touch with the credit reporting agencies and get my score improved by having them properly recognize my payments and electoral roll? And it seems like Halifax rejected me based on looking up the wrong credit account. I used my first, middle, and last name consistently in the credit reporting agency and the card application though... Thoughts?

bigadaj

Not sure where you're from but credit scores aren't like in the us, they aren't exactly made up numbers but they aren't in any way reliable.

It's your credit file that lenders will look at, 9 months probably isn't long enough for mainstream providers.

If you want a credit card to build up your record and will pay off in ful then try one of the initial cards or credit builder ones like Aqua or vanquis. The other possibility is applying with the bank you hold your current account with and get your salary paid into, they have direct experience of how you manage your financial affairs and may be more sympathetic to a card application.

mike_302

Well, further to my initial post:

I called Halifax and called them out on denying my without actually checking my credit record. They admitted that it may be because I'm also a Lloyd's customer (Halifax is owned by Lloyds) and so their computer system is setup to recognize that and to only look at my bank account, and not really any of my credit history...

On top of that, the card I was going for is in fact considered a fairly entry level card. As I said, even the eligibility checker on MSE suggests it is pretty easy to get the Halifax Clarity card. Also, the first time I called Halifax, the agent on the phone admitted: the Clarity card isn't anything special or hard to get. She followed that by saying it's not easy to get any of their cards, but that she wished me luck in getting my first card... So that discussion was utterly ridiculous and useless :P

[Deleted User]

Halifax Clarity is the wrong card to go for with a thin file.

If you bank with Lloyds, try them, or one of the sub prime providers. If rejected, leave it 3 months before trying again.

eskbanker

bigadaj wrote: »

Not shbwherebyiure from but credit scores aren't like in the us, they aren't exa toy mad up numbers but they aren't in any way reliable.

A bit like your spelling then?

bigadaj

eskbanker wrote: »

A bit like your spelling then?

Corrected, just started my tax return today so am a bit distracted!

bigadaj

mike_302 wrote: »

Well, further to my initial post:

I called Halifax and called them out on denying my without actually checking my credit record. They admitted that it may be because I'm also a Lloyd's customer (Halifax is owned by Lloyds) and so their computer system is setup to recognize that and to only look at my bank account, and not really any of my credit history...

On top of that, the card I was going for is in fact considered a fairly entry level card. As I said, even the eligibility checker on MSE suggests it is pretty easy to get the Halifax Clarity card. Also, the first time I called Halifax, the agent on the phone admitted: the Clarity card isn't anything special or hard to get. She followed that by saying it's not easy to get any of their cards, but that she wished me luck in getting my first card... So that discussion was utterly ridiculous and useless :P

A lot of people get rejected for a clarity, it's popular because of the low charges abroad.

So it's sub prime I would say together with an acknowledgment that you it will take some time to build a decent uk credit record.

worldlad909

eskbanker wrote: »

A bit like your spelling then?

Before you act as the MSE spelling police, think for a moment about your own behaviour. People ,ay have learning difficulties such as dyslexia maybe they have mental health issues so they are not fully concentrating, either way no need to bully users on here.

[Deleted User]

worldlad909 wrote: »

Before you act as the MSE spelling police, think for a moment about your own behaviour. People ,ay have learning difficulties such as dyslexia maybe they have mental health issues so they are not fully concentrating, either way no need to bully users on here.

Before you act as the MSE social services, think about the existing relationships between established members of the forum.

Obviously neither bigadaj or eskbanker are as smart as me, but I wouldn't go as far as to suggest that either have mental health issues.

leon_panda

bigadaj wrote: »

Not sure where you're from but credit scores aren't like in the us, they aren't exactly made up numbers but they aren't in any way reliable.

It's your credit file that lenders will look at, 9 months probably isn't long enough for mainstream providers.

If you want a credit card to build up your record and will pay off in ful then try one of the initial cards or credit builder ones like Aqua or vanquis. The other possibility is applying with the bank you hold your current account with and get your salary paid into, they have direct experience of how you manage your financial affairs and may be more sympathetic to a card application.

7 Months in the UK, and I already have the Amex Gold, Barclaycard, Aqua Reward and Ocean (For Credit score building). Always paying in full, even small purchases to keep them alive. I'm not even on the Electoral Roll. :beer:. But the first thing I did was getting a Bank account (Barclays) and monthly contract with Vodafone.

eskbanker

worldlad909 wrote: »

Before you act as the MSE spelling police, think for a moment about your own behaviour. People ,ay have learning difficulties such as dyslexia maybe they have mental health issues so they are not fully concentrating, either way no need to bully users on here.

Whoa, hold your horses, where the hell did THAT come from?!

My post was clearly intended (and received) as light-hearted tongue-in-cheek banter, no idea how you managed to extrapolate it all the way out from that through dyslexia and mental health issues into bullying but you're way wide of the mark there. I'd suggest you refrain from trivialising serious issues like those by bringing them into play where they're clearly not relevant....