Carphone Warehouse / Vodafone failed credit checks (but good history)

Evie_fc77

Hiii, long term lurker, first time poster!

I've been with EE for donkeys years, for the last two contracts I've gone through Carphone Warehouse. After EE split ways with CPW, I decided to go through CPW for a better deal (don't know how EE can justify their prices). I'd used advice on here, and settled on a phone/rough idea of a plan through Vodafone that would meet my needs. Sensible.

I spoke to CPW, and we went through an Equifax credit check and was utterly shocked to be told that I'd been declined.

I've been 'working' on my credit score for a while, I have a credit card that I've paid off, a stable job, savings, have no arrears/judgements/defaults on my account, and no issues with the addresses I've lived at for the last decade. I have a 999 score on Experian, and obtained my Equifax report - it shows my payment schedules for credit cards/utilities, my address history and electoral roll history (have been at my current address for 4.5 years). I know there's discretion for Vodafone to decline, but I can't see anything worrying/negative on my report - just good things!

I've spoken to Equifax, who said that they couldn't see anything wrong - but to contact CPW.

CPW won't help (several different depts) as they're saying that the credit check was done through Equifax, but for Vodafone - I get it's Vodafone's right to say no, but CPW are saying that they can't help. They did pressure me into doing a manual check (another decline), and told me to take out a contract under my partner's name (seriously).

Vodafone - I've spoken to various Credit teams, they're saying that I can't do anything on their end either - it's up to CPW to speak to them. Their website also states that they just use Experian.

So, I'm currently left without a phone, having spent over 10 hours on the phone, and I'm left with a lot of anxiety. I'd been saving for a deposit and had intended to make a mortgage application at some point before the end of 2021, and don't have a phone!

I'm obviously not keen on using  CPW or Vodafone - but I'm also nervous about something that Vodafone have seen that's made them decline the credit check, which they're telling me they can't talk to me about - I'm not a customer, CPW should be doing this.

1) Should I have access to this information, or is it the case that discretion applies so I can't find out why Vodafone are spooked? Who should I request this info from?

2) Should I just get a SIM only phone, now that I'm at the end of my contract, and hope that my credit check will go through (obv with another provider)? Or should I wait 30 days from the date of the last credit check (my current contract expires on Monday).

Any advice would be appreciated, I don't know if I should be going to the ICO, I don't want to sound too overdramatic but this has honestly caused me so much anxiety in the last few weeks. I'd had my heart set on moving this year, and I may need to go through a credit check again as my security clearance will change through work.

sourcrates

Companies are free to decline any credit application without giving a reason, taking this any further will prove fruitless, as they have done nothing wrong.

Phones can be bought with PAYG sim card`s for under £20, or a smartphone for under £100, why not go to a recycling site where pre-owned phones are way cheaper than new.

You have lots of options here.

As regards a mortgage, just engage a good broker, most people manage to obtain a reasonable deal with less than perfect credit history.

[Deleted User]

The ICO are not going to do anything about you not getting a mobile phone contract, if the data on your files is correct and the company choose not to give you a contract then that is life. Buy a SIM free phone and get a more basic sim-only deal. Or why not use your existing phone and roll over contracts? 

Your credit score is meaningless, no lenders ever see it. This is a perfect example as to why scores are joke. 

Grumpy_chap

FWIW, the only time I was refused credit was Vodafone (five years back now) and the reason was never established.
Forget them, simply keep your current phone, get it unlocked at one of the High Street places (they still seem to be open near us) and then get a sim-only package from elsewhere.  I went to Tesco mobile.

Evie_fc77

Thanks all for your answers, I really appreciate it. I'm just anxious that there IS something on there that I haven't spotted - but if I've got the highest 'score' on Experian (I know these are sometimes meaningless) and Equifax has nothing bad (just examples of good credit-building), I guess that's the main thing.

I think I just wanted to know from Vodafone what spooked them - but appreciate this is wishful thinking and I don't have a 'right' to the info.

FWIW, I've since found out that it's possible to run a credit escalation with networks (appealing against a rejected application, where you say you've got a great score etc), but the deals they offer aren't competitive.

Thanks again - feel a bit silly that this has stressed me out so much!

sparelogin

Evie_fc77 said:

 I've got the highest 'score' on Experian (I know these are always and without exception meaningless)

You had a tiny typo in there.

DCFC79

Evie_fc77 said:

Thanks all for your answers, I really appreciate it. I'm just anxious that there IS something on there that I haven't spotted - but if I've got the highest 'score' on Experian (I know these are sometimes meaningless) and Equifax has nothing bad (just examples of good credit-building), I guess that's the main thing.

I think I just wanted to know from Vodafone what spooked them - but appreciate this is wishful thinking and I don't have a 'right' to the info.

FWIW, I've since found out that it's possible to run a credit escalation with networks (appealing against a rejected application, where you say you've got a great score etc), but the deals they offer aren't competitive.

Thanks again - feel a bit silly that this has stressed me out so much!

Pointless telling Vodafone you have a great score since it wont matter one jot to them.
You just dont fit the criteria.
You can pick some great phones and get a pay monthly sim.

[Deleted User]

Evie_fc77 said:

Thanks all for your answers, I really appreciate it. I'm just anxious that there IS something on there that I haven't spotted - but if I've got the highest 'score' on Experian (I know these are sometimes meaningless) and Equifax has nothing bad (just examples of good credit-building), I guess that's the main thing.

I think I just wanted to know from Vodafone what spooked them - but appreciate this is wishful thinking and I don't have a 'right' to the info.

FWIW, I've since found out that it's possible to run a credit escalation with networks (appealing against a rejected application, where you say you've got a great score etc), but the deals they offer aren't competitive.

Thanks again - feel a bit silly that this has stressed me out so much!

There is an obvious contradiction here - you have the highest score but you think they are only "sometimes" meaningless? This is the perfect example of why the score is 100% meaningless. If you are scored 999 then you should never have an application refused as your account is perfect. If you have 999 through the MSE Credit Club though that might be why - there seems to be a bug where people get 999 regardless. I have 999 on Experian while Equifax and TransUnion both score me around 2/3 from top score which isn't unrealistic as I have debt on BT cards being paid down monthly - while the scores are meaningless, it does make sense that I am not scored perfectly vs someone who pays their normal credit off in full every month and has no debt and hasn't applied to anything for a while.

Vodafone will never tell you why they decline as that would help people game the system to get credit they shouldn't have.

You can ask for a manual review of a rejection yes but it isn't necessarily going to achieve any results different. You saying you have a perfect score certainly won't change anything as they don't use that to judge your application.

chrichi

It’s my understanding that the data sharing between Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone and the credit reference agencies is less than perfect. At times when there is a glitch, the system automatically reports that the individual has ‘failed’ when in fact no credit check has actually occurred.

 

I’ve read a number of posts on other forums where people are surprised to learn that they’ve failed a credit check when trying to sign up to Vodafone through Carphone Warehouse. When those people have subsequently checked their credit reports, there’s been no record of a search having been carried out.

 

It’s possible that this has happened to the OP.

phillw

Deleted_User said:
There is an obvious contradiction here - you have the highest score but you think they are only "sometimes" meaningless? This is the perfect example of why the score is 100% meaningless. If you are scored 999 then you should never have an application refused as your account is perfect.

"your account is perfect"? what account are you talking about?
It's probably best if you stop trolling people like this all the time.

adamp87

I'm not sure on the details but if you pull a contract through Carphone, are you having to pass a Carphone credit check or a Vodafone?  Just wondered that reading your post.

You won't find out why unfortunately, it could just be you don't fit their profile at the moment for what they are looking for. As you've already looked at your credit file and not seen anything amiss. It might be worth checking all 3 major files just in case, and in case they have also searched those.

Are you left without a phone? Most contracts when they end will just roll over, or switch to Pay As You Go, has your EE one not done this? Once you aren't paying for the phone anymore, their sim only deals should be decent

I do think nearly all contract providers are similar from the networks direct, Carphone and online sellers can usually offer something cheaper though. But I've certainly noticed for certain model/brands they are all very similar.

Aside from sim only deals, I can't say I've ever seen a deal where I think that's cheap. Because ultimately most contracts are buy now pay over 24 month plans for the phone itself.