Mobile Phone Contract Credit Check

kirstyl13

I'm hoping this is the right place to ask for some help/advice!

On 24th Feb I tried to take a new mobile phone contract out with o2, through Mobile Phones Direct. After a few hours I received a notification from MPD to say I'd failed their security check so the order had been cancelled. No idea why - they can't give any more details than that, and I've spent many phone calls asking.

Luckily the same deal was on another website - Affordable Mobiles - so I reordered with them. A few hours later the same thing happened - order declined. But this time it said it was because of a failed credit check with o2. No idea why because I've got accounts with Experian and Equifax and my credit is excellent on both.

I spoke to the credit referrals team at o2 who were super helpful. They informed me that as far as they were concerned the first order - with MPD - had been approved, and sent back to them to process. Its MDP who have declined it, due to security reasons - which they can't explain. Which is why when I placed a new order, on the same day, with Affordable Mobiles, it was declined by o2 because it looked suspicious. Me trying to take out two the same day, for the same thing, when the first had already been approved, doesn't look good apparently!  
The credit team at o2 said they could escalate the issue and try and get someone to override it, but I'm yet to have that happen, or actually hear from them again.

So.. two days ago, I tried again. This time I'd tried to take a contract out with Affordable Mobiles, but through the Three Network. Shock.. the same thing has happened I've been declined, as I've failed the credit check. I can see on my credit file that o2 have done a hard search, so I'm presuming this is why.. but any ideas how I'm now going to get around this? There isn't actually anything wrong with my credit. It just seems that because of the very first issue on the 24th Feb, I now am unable to get a contract anywhere!

Sorry this was so long!

Ebe_Scrooge

kirstyl13 said:

I've got accounts with Experian and Equifax and my credit is excellent on both.

Do you mean your score on both is high?  If so, ignore it, the score is meaningless, and is not even seen by any lender.  Basically, there is something in your credit file that is raising a red flag.  Check all 3 CRAs and make sure there's nothing untoward on there.  It could possibly simply be the fact that there are multiple searches in a short space of time - although that's usually less of an issue for a phone contract than it is for credit card or loan applications.

kirstyl13 said:

After a few hours I received a notification from MPD to say I'd failed their security check

 Its MDP who have declined it, due to security reasons

That's a bit of a vague reason - "security" could mean anything (not that that's much help to you!).  Theoretically it could mean there's a fraud marker on your account - but that's highly unlikely, you'd probably know about it if there was (though you can check).  It's more likely something much more mundane - not registered on the ER, recent change of address, differences in name on the different CRAs (Catherine on one and Kate on another, that sort of thing).

Bottom line - check all 3 of your credit files carefully (there's no need to pay to access them).  Ignore the score, but ensure that all data recorded is factually correct, check that you're listed as being on the ER, check that names, addresses etc. are all correct and consistent, make sure there are no red flags (e.g. a missed payment being reported, that kind of thing).

kirstyl13

Ebe_Scrooge said:

kirstyl13 said:

I've got accounts with Experian and Equifax and my credit is excellent on both.

Do you mean your score on both is high?  If so, ignore it, the score is meaningless, and is not even seen by any lender.  Basically, there is something in your credit file that is raising a red flag.  Check all 3 CRAs and make sure there's nothing untoward on there.  It could possibly simply be the fact that there are multiple searches in a short space of time - although that's usually less of an issue for a phone contract than it is for credit card or loan applications.

kirstyl13 said:

After a few hours I received a notification from MPD to say I'd failed their security check

 Its MDP who have declined it, due to security reasons

That's a bit of a vague reason - "security" could mean anything (not that that's much help to you!).  Theoretically it could mean there's a fraud marker on your account - but that's highly unlikely, you'd probably know about it if there was (though you can check).  It's more likely something much more mundane - not registered on the ER, recent change of address, differences in name on the different CRAs (Catherine on one and Kate on another, that sort of thing).

Bottom line - check all 3 of your credit files carefully (there's no need to pay to access them).  Ignore the score, but ensure that all data recorded is factually correct, check that you're listed as being on the ER, check that names, addresses etc. are all correct and consistent, make sure there are no red flags (e.g. a missed payment being reported, that kind of thing).

Thanks for your reply - really appreciate it

Yes I realise now the score is irrelevant. But all info on the 3 sites is fine (Equifax, Experian & Credit Karma). No errors, no red flags, no missed payments. I have 2 credit cards - always paid in full. I literally can't see a thing that would cause an issue.

There is one hard search showing up for o2 which was done on the 24th (this shows on Equifax and Experian) and then I noticed yesterday another search shows up on Experian for three which was 3 days ago.

Could it just be a case of me needing yo wait a month or so since the first one?

Also don't have much of an idea about phone contracts but could it be that these third party sites can only sell so many (the phone I want is a preorder) so are automatically declining it?