Advice Please on phone contract being declined

J_B

Frozen_up_north wrote: »

If you must waste £700+ on a phone

That's a bit harsh


I was going to comment that the OP loses one brownie point for starting the post with 'so' and then another for using 'affordable' and 'iPhone' in the same sentence.

29Froggle09 wrote: »

So, on Saturday 21st September I decided I wanted a nice new iPhone 11 on o2 through Affordable Mobiles.

Sorry I can't offer any sensible advice.

29Froggle09

I appreciate in a legal aspect, I’m chasing my own tail and will get nowhere. I feel my application has not been given the best chance due to this internal processing error. Nor is either party admitting or interested in finding out what’s happened. Not surprised really.
Although I cannot claim I would’ve passed a check should my details have been entered correct, I am low risk and was approved just weeks before for a very similarly priced contract with the same network so I’d like to think I’d have stood a good chance. Naive way of thinking perhaps. My beef with the 2 companies I will continue to pursue in my own time.
Currently I have a borrowed phone and no definitive way forward. Most likely to either buy a phone outright or just manage with a ‘cheaper’ phone for now until my credit record has settled for a few months. I have spoken with Experian since I started this post who explained the basics of my own personal record so that coupled with others input is a positive for me.

[Deleted User]

29Froggle09 wrote: »

Going on to my credit score, I now have 2 credit stamp checks on my record for these 2 and I don’t want another 1 as it’ll be 3 within 30 days! Which isn’t good, right?

All lenders use different criteria for measuring your credit risk, impossible to say how 2 or 3 hard credit checks in 30 days will affect your worthiness to obtain further credit. The credit score quoted by CRA's is not a definite score and is generally worthless and is doesn't equate to the methods of a particular lender.

The emphasis is usually on your credit account payment history, affordability and debt to income ratio - if that is in good order the 3 credit checks are unlikely to have any long term impact to your worthiness for future credit.

Are you planning to make an important credit application in the near future such as a loan or mortgage? If not, then there is nothing to worry about, they will be gone from your file in 12 months and according to Experian probably have no impact after 6 months.

Funnily enough Experian recommend only 1 hard search every 3 months to "protect your score" so you've blown that already anyway.

mobilejunkie

Despite what O2 apparently told you, most networks have a limit on the number of contracts someone can order in a certain peiod - Vodafone certainly do, for example - regardless of credit scores and other considerations. Network representatives (like those of many other organisations nowadays) also don't always tell you correct information and policies. It's almost impossible to actually speak with the credit department and so speculation will get you no-where.

If you believe it's the way your information was entered, either get it changed and then re-apply or apply elsewhere. Credit checks aren't always hard checks and disappear after a few months - and it's very difficult to avoid them in volume when comparing various insurance quotes (for example). They do drop off after (I think it's 12 - may even be six) months. Credit checks are also only one of many factors lenders consider and each lender has different criteria.

It's a straight choice; you pays your money and you takes your choice.

giraffe69

If you apply direct to O2 then, at least, it takes Affordable Mobiles out of the equation. Might be more expensive though.

almillar

o2 is one of the best signals for my area and work ( the 2 places I spend most time).

If you want to use the o2 network, o2 is not the only provider you can go to - think outside the box and use a MVNO (?) like Tesco Mobile. Check MSE's article for a full list of 'virtual' networks which all piggyback on the big 4.