Is my credit utilisation failing my O2 contract credit check?

stringsonfire

My credit rating is "Good" at around 620.

However, O2 just failed my credit check for a new phone contract. They did the same about 6 months ago. They won't give me the reason.

I pay a mortgage, bills, the usual. Never had a late payment on anything.

The only thing I can think of is Credit Card utilisation. I'm usually around 50-60% on my main Credit Card, as I do all my spending on it, but it's paid off in full by direct debit every month. Could this be having an impact?

[Deleted User]

No. You're clearing in full each month so it isn't a problem.

Have you checked all three credit files? Ignore the pretend credit scores, but check for problems in the data itself.

stringsonfire

Which three? I used Middle/Credit Karma to check. They use TransUnion UK.

[Deleted User]

Credit Karma (formerly Noddle), Experian (via MSE Credit Club) and Equifax (via Clearscore).

stringsonfire

On Clear Score I can see the search by Carphone Warehouse for today.

My main bank account is (incorrectly) £0, and hasn't been updating since January.

My main Credit card is missing.

Guess that could do it

[Deleted User]

Bank accounts normally show as zero, unless you're overdrawn.

It sounds as if you may have a thin credit file, although the standard for phone contracts is fairly low. What other accounts do you have showing? Are you asl showing as being on the ER?

stringsonfire

Yeah, 4 addresses (one is a parent's address where I had a card registered while renting elsewhere) and 3 (including current address) electoral role history

My other accounts are there, a credit card and two other current accounts

Also, no utilities showing. I pay electricity via DD

stringsonfire

I've raised a dispute for the following:

It shows a financial link with my girlfriend through a joint account that was closed years ago. Asked to remove it, though she also applied for the same O2 contract and was approved.

Add my missing credit card.

Add my missing utilities (electricity and water).

Fix the electoral role dates. It shows a range record for each address, e.g. 17-19, but they're wrong and don't match with the added/removed dates, e.g. Added March 18, so range should be 18-19.

Asked them to remove my dad's house from "previous address" - had cards registered there when I was renting, but never lived there.

Even so, I got their credit score back as over 490. The only caution is "You are registered to vote at the current address for less than 3 years" which can't be helped.

Are any of the above likely to be the cause of this decline, or is there anything else I should be checking?

[Deleted User]

Ok, a few things -

You can't just add accounts to your credit files. If the lenders doesn't report to any given CRA, it won't be reported.

If you had cards at your dad's address, it's an official address. Trying to have it removed suggests you gave a false address on application - that's not a great thing to flag.

Your credit score still means nothing. Ignore it with every fibre of your being.

The best guess of the cause from what you've put is your association with your girlfriend.

[Deleted User]

Comments below - what you're doing seems pretty pointless and unachievable and could lead to more issues.

If anything, if they did "fix" and add these anomalies you will likely see your score drop due to new accounts being added - but see my last point.

Being rejected for O2 twice likely means you're not matching their customer portfolio so look elsewhere or apply directly with O2 and not via a middle-man.

stringsonfire wrote: »

I've raised a dispute for the following:

It shows a financial link with my girlfriend through a joint account that was closed years ago. Asked to remove it, though she also applied for the same O2 contract and was approved.

That's fine so long as the account is indeed closed

Add my missing credit card.

It depends if the card lender reports to all CRA's and how old the card is

Add my missing utilities (electricity and water).

You can't just ask for utility companies to start reporting your to your files. Not all water and gas/electric companies report to the CRA's and are not obliged to nor will do just on your say/demand.

Fix the electoral role dates. It shows a range record for each address, e.g. 17-19, but they're wrong and don't match with the added/removed dates, e.g. Added March 18, so range should be 18-19.

This should be OK to fix

Asked them to remove my dad's house from "previous address" - had cards registered there when I was renting, but never lived there.

This cannot be done as it is reporting factually where the cards were registered to. You should have had the cards registered to the address where you were actually residing at the time.

Even so, I got their credit score back as over 490. The only caution is "You are registered to vote at the current address for less than 3 years" which can't be helped.

Ignore the scores and ratings at all costs - if this is why you are trying all of the above then it is a completely pointless exercise.

Are any of the above likely to be the cause of this decline, or is there anything else I should be checking?

stringsonfire

OK, I've asked them to ignore 5 - removing the associated address, but will leave the rest.

Tried Mobiles.co.uk again, apparently an old address on O2's systems can cause a cancel. O2 have my dad's address on my old account, which wouldn't even be in my new application, so that could do it. Going to try changing that now.

Wish I'd have know how awkward all the address/post stuff would be. Really didn't want important things coming through the letterbox in that house though...