Typo in name in Credit Card Application led to rejection- will it impact credit score? 25 July 2022 at 3:22PM in Credit cards 4 replies 231 views

Jenloulin

Hi hoping someone might be able to provide some insight.

I applied for a balance transfer card with Santander to take advantage of the 0% interest. I’ve got an ‘excellent’ credit rating and eligibility checker on Santander had me as preapproved for this so was a little surprised that after submitting my application it was rejected instantaneously.   

I noticed then that I’d been an idiot and missed a letter off my surname so I think that might be the reason for it.

I just wondered if anyone knew if this rejection would impact my credit file as theres a hard search been done but essentially on a different name because I can’t use a keyboard properly (!). 

I’ve since found a better deal and didn’t reapply to Santander but wondered if I need to contact them?

Grateful for any insight! Thank you

Sandtree

CRAs use fuzzy logic to match names etc so almost certainly they'll have associated it to you... if they didn't then every Jennifer with a bad credit history would just start applying as Jen instead for a clean slate. CRAs do the ID checks for the banks and in most cases return a score on the level of verification they've managed to get that you who you say you are, this could have been significantly reduced with the name error.

CRAs do not record the outcome of decisions just that a hard search has been done. The search itself may make other lenders more concerned but typically a single one is fine.

MEM62

One search will have little or no impact on your credit standing.  You do not have a credit 'score' so have no concerns there.  

Chino

Sandtree said:

CRAs use fuzzy logic to match names etc so almost certainly they'll have associated it to you... if they didn't then every Jennifer with a bad credit history would just start applying as Jen instead for a clean slate.

But the OP made a mistake spelling their surname, not first name. "Fuzzy matching" surnames seems a dangerous game to play.

mcpitman

Chino said:

Sandtree said:

CRAs use fuzzy logic to match names etc so almost certainly they'll have associated it to you... if they didn't then every Jennifer with a bad credit history would just start applying as Jen instead for a clean slate.

But the OP made a mistake spelling their surname, not first name. "Fuzzy matching" surnames seems a dangerous game to play.

Not if you understand Boolean vs Fuzzy Logic.

Fuzzy logic is not as simple as "that'll do, near enough".