Capital One approved then declined

MissBetty2019

I was “approved” for a Capital One credit card; received an email to tell me my card was on its way, direct debit set up etc. I then was told that my application was declined. The reason I applied was because it said I was 100% approved. I now have a hard search on my credit file for a card I am not eligible for apparently. Has anyone had anything similar? 

jsmith9

It is rare but not unheard of

It may well be worth giving them a call and find out what has spooked them

MissBetty2019

jsmith9 said:

It is rare but not unheard of

It may well be worth giving them a call and find out what has spooked them

Thanks. I did and they said they couldn’t give me a reason and that perhaps it was an error and to try again. So stupid me did and again it said that I had been approved and said the card is on its way. When I rang to check this application they said they couldn’t give me an answer whether this one will be approved or declined. I have a good credit score so no idea why it would decline

CRISPIANNE3

MissBetty2019 said:

jsmith9 said:

It is rare but not unheard of

It may well be worth giving them a call and find out what has spooked them

Thanks. I did and they said they couldn’t give me a reason and that perhaps it was an error and to try again. So stupid me did and again it said that I had been approved and said the card is on its way. When I rang to check this application they said they couldn’t give me an answer whether this one will be approved or declined. I have a good credit score so no idea why it would decline

Perhaps it is something to do with final checks these companies often refer to.  Whatever that means. 

MalMonroe

MissBetty2019 said:

jsmith9 said:

It is rare but not unheard of

It may well be worth giving them a call and find out what has spooked them

Thanks. I did and they said they couldn’t give me a reason and that perhaps it was an error and to try again. So stupid me did and again it said that I had been approved and said the card is on its way. When I rang to check this application they said they couldn’t give me an answer whether this one will be approved or declined. I have a good credit score so no idea why it would decline

As everyone on here will tell you, your credit score means nothing, no lenders have sight of it.

If the same thing has happened twice with the same credit card company, I think it's about time to complain to Capital One and ask for the hard searches to be removed. They are messing you about and it isn't fair. 

I know things like this do happen but it isn't acceptable because by the time they tell you you have been accepted and your card is on the way, they should really have completed ALL their checks. There isn't an excuse. And as you say, the hard searches will then appear on your credit report and it will start to look like you're credit hungry, which lenders don't like. I certainly wouldn't  accept any of that "can't give you a reason" nonsense, they've obviously made a mistake and should tell you what they've been up to. If they continue to be inefficient, I'd contact the Financial Ombudsman. Or at the very least I'd tell them that's going to be my next step. Oh, and I wouldn't make any more applications to Capital One, either.

cymruchris

Do you have any particularly adverse history on your credit files? Even if it's a long time ago? 

The soft search they do doesn't get to see ALL of your credit file history - so it may be that when they completed the hard check - and after going through everything, an anomaly came up and they declined the application, however that should have happened before you got the 'your card is on the way' email. 

ThriftyMister

I'd suggest you send a Subject Access Request to both CIFAS and N.Hunter to check the data they have on you.

This is often the cause of a "late in the day" decline, or the withdrawal of an offer. 

MissBetty2019

ThriftyMister said:

I'd suggest you send a Subject Access Request to both CIFAS and N.Hunter to check the data they have on you.

This is often the cause of a "late in the day" decline, or the withdrawal of an offer. 

Thanks. I will do that. Just odd that I have received two emails to tell me “my card is on the way” only to be declined. Capital one are meant to be calling me today so hopefully will get an answer 

JP2019

MalMonroe said:

MissBetty2019 said:

jsmith9 said:

It is rare but not unheard of

It may well be worth giving them a call and find out what has spooked them

Thanks. I did and they said they couldn’t give me a reason and that perhaps it was an error and to try again. So stupid me did and again it said that I had been approved and said the card is on its way. When I rang to check this application they said they couldn’t give me an answer whether this one will be approved or declined. I have a good credit score so no idea why it would decline

As everyone on here will tell you, your credit score means nothing, no lenders have sight of it.

If the same thing has happened twice with the same credit card company, I think it's about time to complain to Capital One and ask for the hard searches to be removed. They are messing you about and it isn't fair. 

I know things like this do happen but it isn't acceptable because by the time they tell you you have been accepted and your card is on the way, they should really have completed ALL their checks. There isn't an excuse. And as you say, the hard searches will then appear on your credit report and it will start to look like you're credit hungry, which lenders don't like. I certainly wouldn't  accept any of that "can't give you a reason" nonsense, they've obviously made a mistake and should tell you what they've been up to. If they continue to be inefficient, I'd contact the Financial Ombudsman. Or at the very least I'd tell them that's going to be my next step. Oh, and I wouldn't make any more applications to Capital One, either.

Watch out giving a reasonable and fair response like this... The forum police will be along in a minute to defend capital one and blame it all on the OP.

ThriftyMister

JP2019 said:

MalMonroe said:

As everyone on here will tell you, your credit score means nothing, no lenders have sight of it.

If the same thing has happened twice with the same credit card company, I think it's about time to complain to Capital One and ask for the hard searches to be removed. They are messing you about and it isn't fair. 

I know things like this do happen but it isn't acceptable because by the time they tell you you have been accepted and your card is on the way, they should really have completed ALL their checks. There isn't an excuse. And as you say, the hard searches will then appear on your credit report and it will start to look like you're credit hungry, which lenders don't like. I certainly wouldn't  accept any of that "can't give you a reason" nonsense, they've obviously made a mistake and should tell you what they've been up to. If they continue to be inefficient, I'd contact the Financial Ombudsman. Or at the very least I'd tell them that's going to be my next step. Oh, and I wouldn't make any more applications to Capital One, either.

Watch out giving a reasonable and fair response like this... The forum police will be along in a minute to defend capital one and blame it all on the OP.

I totally agree with this, the only thing I would say is that the validity of eligibility checks always have an asterisk attached stating something along the lines of "Subject to fraud checks"; which is why N.Hunter and CIFAS results are likely to be what skewed it here for OP.

I'm not sure why N.Hunter and CIFAS records don't cause insta-declines but it's possible that these agencies aren't able to provide instant responses, which is why lenders have to say that the application could still be refused depending on the results of fraud checks. 

MattMattMattUK

ThriftyMister said:

I'm not sure why N.Hunter and CIFAS records don't cause insta-declines but it's possible that these agencies aren't able to provide instant responses, which is why lenders have to say that the application could still be refused depending on the results of fraud checks. 

As far as I am aware, checks with the CRAs are instant and done at the point of application, for both successful and unsuccessful applications. Where as checks with the anti-fraud agencies are not instant and only conducted against "approved" applications.