3 identical letters from NatWest after failed credit card application.

SlovakianGuy

Hi all.

I tried to apply for a NatWest credit card on the 1st May 2020.

Everything was going smoothly until I got to the final page and tried to get the result. The only info I received was an error message shown on the screenshot.
As you can see, the website says "We need to ask you to start again please". My logical conclusion was that the application simply didn't go through and I need to try one more time, which I did. The result was the same (error) and again, I was asked to start again. I decided to try for the last time (3rd attempt) using a different browser. Different browser didn't help and I received the same message. Eventually I gave up.



What came as shock to me were 3 letters from NatWest yesterday. They are identical apart from different "application reference numbers".

Not only I was rejected for the card (after 95% chance for getting approved in their eligibility checker) but it looks like I will now have 3 hard searches on my credit files because of their lame website. Since free credit reports come with a long delay, I won't know until June/July. Don't want to wait so long so I contacted NatWest. First on Facebook. They redirected me to their secure online chat where they redirected me to their credit card team. I was then told they can't do it in the chat and I need to use another chat which I find in my NatWest mobile app. I used the in-app chat and there I was told I need to call a phone number... which I haven't done yet, but I think it will be a pain in the neck during this time.

I just wanted to ask you guys if anyone else has similar experience. How likely are banks to remove hard searches? It clearly wasn't my fault, was it? The website asked me to start again and again. It looked as if the previous application didn't go through. Not a single word about multiple applications.

mcpitman

SlovakianGuy said:

Hi all.

I just wanted to ask you guys if anyone else has similar experience. How likely are banks to remove hard searches? 

My mortgage application had a hiccup where I received 3x hard checks (passed on the first one).

As soon as I realised, I complained and they were gone on the next report.

So in my experience - very likely if you ask politely and it was there fault.

[Deleted User]

SlovakianGuy said:

Hi all.

I tried to apply for a NatWest credit card on the 1st May 2020.

Everything was going smoothly until I got to the final page and tried to get the result. The only info I received was an error message shown on the screenshot.
As you can see, the website says "We need to ask you to start again please". My logical conclusion was that the application simply didn't go through and I need to try one more time, which I did. The result was the same (error) and again, I was asked to start again. I decided to try for the last time (3rd attempt) using a different browser. Different browser didn't help and I received the same message. Eventually I gave up.



What came as shock to me were 3 letters from NatWest yesterday. They are identical apart from different "application reference numbers".

Not only I was rejected for the card (after 95% chance for getting approved in their eligibility checker) but it looks like I will now have 3 hard searches on my credit files because of their lame website. Since free credit reports come with a long delay, I won't know until June/July. Don't want to wait so long so I contacted NatWest. First on Facebook. They redirected me to their secure online chat where they redirected me to their credit card team. I was then told they can't do it in the chat and I need to use another chat which I find in my NatWest mobile app. I used the in-app chat and there I was told I need to call a phone number... which I haven't done yet, but I think it will be a pain in the neck during this time.

I just wanted to ask you guys if anyone else has similar experience. How likely are banks to remove hard searches? It clearly wasn't my fault, was it? The website asked me to start again and again. It looked as if the previous application didn't go through. Not a single word about multiple applications.

What do you mean here, all credit reports are free; a lot more due diligence needed regarding loan applications and getting them, and the 95% you mention.

SlovakianGuy

Catsacor said:

What do you mean here, all credit reports are free; a lot more due diligence needed regarding loan applications and getting them, and the 95% you mention.

What you get for free (ClearScore, Credit Karma, MSE credit club) comes with a delay of up to 6 weeks or so. These show you what WAS on your credit report a month ago or even earlier. If you want to see what's on your credit files right now (including daily updates), you need to use paid services such as Experian Credit Expert for 15 quids a month.

It wasn't a loan but a credit card. What more can you do than check your credit reports and do an eligibility check before applying?