MBNA hard search 3 July at 10:27AM in Credit Cards 8 replies 227 views

IrishSean

MBNA weren't showing up on my credit file soft searches so I did an 'eligibility softsearch' on their site.

It was only when they gave me an indicative credit balance & asked for 'a few more details' that I realised i'd be moved into a 'hard search'.

My reason for posting is a question and a warning: has anyone else encountered this? What was the outcome? Approved or rejected, with a hard search (in some cases unknowingly) placed on file. 

I think ppl need to be careful when clicking on MBNA soft search as i'm pretty savvy when it comes to applying for products but at no stage until the 'request for credit agreement signature' page did it appear as a hard search.  

dr_adidas01

So did you actually apply for the product from MBNA? 

If the answer is yes then of course a hard search would be performed and would show on your credit file and it would be correct. 

MBNA soft searches don’t show on Experian from my experience, they do however show on my Trans-Union (Credit Karma) file as a soft search. 

As for application Approved or rejected that would be down to each individuals circumstances. 

IrishSean

No, it followed me into an actual CC application with them via the 'just a few more Qs' page

I may apply anyway; i'm not worried if a rejection affects my ability to get another card.

I cancelled what I realised was a hard search application that i'd been 'bounced' into, to take advice from the forum.

It didn't feel right to start off doing a soft search on their site to then realise, at the last page, you were now actually applying. There are ppl for whom that would have a negative impact on if turned down by MBNA but would have been able to get a card from another provider. 

D3xt3r5L4b

Rejections don’t appear on your credit files. 

onlyfoolsandparking

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Rejections don’t appear on your credit files. 

No they don't but hard searches do which is what the OP was commenting on.

maxximus75

They perform a soft search to give you the estimated APR and credit limit.  It then states that if you proceed a full search of your credit file will be performed.  If you continue, you are basically giving them permission to perform this search and will be recorded accordingly.  You are actually "applying" for a card, at that point.

If you have proceeded then you will have applied.

Unless they uncover something untowards in the full search, you are usually approved with the APR and CL as shown in your soft search.

IrishSean

maxximus75 said:

They perform a soft search to give you the estimated APR and credit limit.  It then states that if you proceed a full search of your credit file will be performed.  If you continue, you are basically giving them permission to perform this search and will be recorded accordingly.  You are actually "applying" for a card, at that point.

If you have proceeded then you will have applied.

Unless they uncover something untowards in the full search, you are usually approved with the APR and CL as shown in your soft search.

I'm with you; many thanx.

I didn't find it that clear when I was completing it (hence the thread☺).

I didn't (checkbox) sign the last page so didn't apply. I thought it was probably indicative limit & apr but also reckoned they're unlikely to find anything scary in my credit file, so i'll need to run the numbers on the one other option I have and see which is cheapest & least hassle for a BT.

I was with MBNA before (long time ago) and found them OK

Thx again to all who replied👌

maxximus75

No worries.

Since you had the hard search done, it would be ashame to waste and not get the card as you would most probably get hit for another hard search if you re-applied.  It seems like you had an approval.

You could always call them and say that the webpage crashed and you couldnt complete the checkbox.  They will probably pull up your applicaton and finialise it over the phone for you?

IrishSean

maxximus75 said:

No worries.

Since you had the hard search done, it would be ashame to waste and not get the card as you would most probably get hit for another hard search if you re-applied.  It seems like you had an approval.

You could always call them and say that the webpage crashed and you couldnt complete the checkbox.  They will probably pull up your applicaton and finialise it over the phone for you?

It's a funny one, MBNA seems to sit outside equifax & experian soft searches. I ran it again today (it still doesn't make the fact you move from a soft to hard search clear), same details, same outcome. Again I didn't complete so no mark left on file. 

In one way it's better than credit rating searches as they set their own criteria: in another they should be that bit more transparent with would-be customers...

Still, @ 14months 0% it's there as a BT option for some or all of my remainder👍, providing it doesn't get pulled...