Eligibility Checker

mitchino

I'm looking for a 0% credit card deal - I used the MSE eligibility checker and it said I had zero chance of getting any of the deals. Don't understand as I am self employed with good income, my partner earns more than me, we have low monthly outgoings. I have a good credit history too. Does the eligibility checker work? I'm worried about actually applying as I don't want to mess up my credit record, but I'm confused as to why I would fail the eligibility check.

wiseonesomeofthetime

Try an eligibility checker on a mainstream lender directly.

See if it offers same outcome.

Make sure you use their eligibility checker and not application.

HandD

I had the same response when I used the checker. Zero chance for the new Santander cards but, as others have said, I tried the eligibility checker with the card issuer direct and hey presto, 3 days later the card is on it's way. I opted for the 18months 0 fee 0% balance transfer over the longer card simply because the longer card has a fee attached. I'm comfortable with the slightly higher repayments over a slightly shorter period. 

cymruchris

Go direct to the banks eligibility checker - not all banks have them - but many do now. They use different scoring criteria to the generic checkers. Let us know how you get on.

jet01

cymruchris said:

Go direct to the banks eligibility checker - not all banks have them - but many do now. They use different scoring criteria to the generic checkers. Let us know how you get on.

Is this true? I thought that the eligibility checker on here and other similar ones used criteria supplied to them by the partner card companies whose cards are featured in the checker.  Infant some cards featured on MSE checker give 100% chance of approval in some cases, so those cards at least must share criteria with MSE otherwise this would not be possible would it?

Also I thought this was why eligibility checkers only include a limited number of cards, because they only look at cards of partner companies who partner with them and who pay them commission for cards opened through this route. 

MinuteNoodles

jet01 said:

Is this true? I thought that the eligibility checker on here and other similar ones used criteria supplied to them by the partner card companies whose cards are featured in the checker.

Nope, those are closely guarded trade secrets.

jet01

MinuteNoodles said:

jet01 said:

Is this true? I thought that the eligibility checker on here and other similar ones used criteria supplied to them by the partner card companies whose cards are featured in the checker.

Nope, those are closely guarded trade secrets.

Well I get that they don’t put that information into the public domain. However, other companies that they work with such as MSE could have a contract which would specify how they use the data supplied to them and would be legally responsible for its use. It’s not uncommon for businesses to share information with partners that they need to provide a service. Is that not the case with eligibility checkers? 

older_wiser

banks own eligibility checker is the way to go while i've got a clearscore/MSE/total money/karma accounts they just don't have the information about you that your own bank does.