Santander No Fee 0% BT Offer - Don't be discouraged by the MSE Eligibility Checker.

vacheron

Just a heads up to others who may be in my situation.

I saw the Santander 0% zero transfer fee card which would have been ideal for my requirements. 

After entering my details MSE eligibility checked gave me a straight 0% chance of approval. 
Undeterred, I immediately tried  the Santander eligibility checker direct, which, after entering identical details (to the penny!) gave my chances as "Highly Likely" 

Card arrived 4 days later with a £6,600 credit limit.

So well worth checking direct with santander if you are given a straight no by the MSE app.

cymruchris

That happens often with several cards - i had the same with virgin. It’s always better to look on the banks own website as both checkers use different data pools. The banks use their own secret scoring mechanism and MSE and other multi card eligibility checkers use cra data of how many other people with a similar credit file got offered a card. 

Fingerbobs

I don't trust the MSE Eligibility Checker either. I've never been turned down for a credit card in my life, yet the MSE checker gives me a 0% chance of acceptance for most of them.

mrkds

Thanks for the heads-up! I also got 0% chance on MSE checker, but got approved when I applied directly. I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise. Thanks!

vacheron

mrkds said:

Thanks for the heads-up! I also got 0% chance on MSE checker, but got approved when I applied directly. I probably wouldn't have tried otherwise. Thanks!

Great to hear it. 
If an unsuccessful hard search may impact your future plans, or there are other options avaolable to you, then it might not be worth the risk. 

However, if, like me, you don't have any pending mortgage applications etc. in the foreseeable and this card is the only useful product on the market, then it could be worth a punt!

mrkds

vacheron said:

If an unsuccessful hard search may impact your future plans, or there are other options avaolable to you, then it might not be worth the risk.

Fortunately, they had their own 'soft' credit search which I used before doing the full application, so I didn't have to jump in blind.

HandD

vacheron said:

Just a heads up to others who may be in my situation.

I saw the Santander 0% zero transfer fee card which would have been ideal for my requirements. 

After entering my details MSE eligibility checked gave me a straight 0% chance of approval. 
Undeterred, I immediately tried  the Santander eligibility checker direct, which, after entering identical details (to the penny!) gave my chances as "Highly Likely" 

Card arrived 4 days later with a £6,600 credit limit.

So well worth checking direct with santander if you are given a straight no by the MSE app.

Can confirm. Zero chance on the MSE checker but highly likely on Santander's eligibility checker. 4 days later the card is approved and on it's way. 

Just to note. Both the 26 & 18 month cards offer 0% balance transfers however, the 26 month card has a £3 per month fee. This means if you take the full 26 months to clear a balance transfer you'll also pay £78 in fees.

The 18 month card is 0% and zero fee. For me this is the better option if you don't mind the higher average payments over a shorter period of time.

[Deleted User]

Same happened to me! 

johnbhoy70

  the opposite just happened to me!! Applied for it after checker told me i had 95% off getting it (i would have applied anyway). Just got the sorry no can do email. A bit annoying as i use the funds to offset on mortgage. I have the Sainburys already so looks like the only choice left is Barclaycard i think with no fee.

CEAJ

Exact same happened with me - 0% chance for HSBC credit card according to the MSE eligibility checker but went to HSBC direct and got the full term 0% interest 18 months deal within a minute!

jjdc

Cynic in me says the ones with 0% pay zero in referral, whereas ratesetter and the more extortionate lenders will give a very good chance