Tesco declining my application for a new phone

traceyaj

I have a good credit score yet tesco have declined my application for a new iphone 16 plus which was on a good offer via clubcard. Being in our sixties and mortgage free we have absolutely nothing on credit except my Vodaphone contract which is due to end later this month. This is the first time ever that I have had a credit application refused. Does anyone have any idea as to the reason this might be? 
Really annoyed as this was a good deal missed and we have shown Tesco enough loyalty over the years, they are happy enough when we pay for the weekly shop!

MattMattMattUK

traceyaj said:

I have a good credit score 

Your credit score is a meaningless number made up for marketing purposes.

traceyaj said:

yet tesco have declined my application for a new iphone 16 plus which was on a good offer via clubcard. Being in our sixties and mortgage free we have absolutely nothing on credit except my Vodaphone contract which is due to end later this month. 

That may well be why, insufficient lending history.

traceyaj said:

This is the first time ever that I have had a credit application refused. Does anyone have any idea as to the reason this might be? 

The above, something else they do not like that is on your file, affordability, income levels, a whole bunch of things can cause a refusal. 

traceyaj said:

Really annoyed as this was a good deal missed and we have shown Tesco enough loyalty over the years, they are happy enough when we pay for the weekly shop!

It is not worth getting annoyed about. They lend to everyone on the same criteria, if you meet them they lend, if you do not then they do not. When you pay for your weekly shop you are paying before you take the goods, when you take out a phone contract you get the good up front and pay over time, so totally different.

Brie

Are you sure you don't have other credit? 

Overdraft?  Credit cards? Even if you are not using either they add to the risk you pose.

Car or house insurance being paid monthly?  This is another credit agreement.

Then there's the possibly that you have something nasty on your credit history of which you aren't aware.   A CCJ for no responding to a parking charge notice is the most common one.

And are you registered to vote?

personally I don't like Tesco mobile contracts as they seem to be too expensive to me (I'm cheap).  Maybe you'd do better buying the phone outright and getting a monthly contract cheaper from somewhere else.

traceyaj

Brie said:

Are you sure you don't have other credit? 

Overdraft?  Credit cards? Even if you are not using either they add to the risk you pose.

Car or house insurance being paid monthly?  This is another credit agreement.

Then there's the possibly that you have something nasty on your credit history of which you aren't aware.   A CCJ for no responding to a parking charge notice is the most common one.

And are you registered to vote?

personally I don't like Tesco mobile contracts as they seem to be too expensive to me (I'm cheap).  Maybe you'd do better buying the phone outright and getting a monthly contract cheaper from somewhere else.

My husband has an AMEX card in his name and I am a secondary user. Card is always kept in credit, basically we like it for the XMAS cashback.  Definitely on the E.R. at this address for over 37 years.

No CCJ s. 

It is the first time I have been turned down for credit, probably annoying my husband more than myself. Nevertheless it seems wrong as a law abiding tax paying citizen who has played by the rules all my working life. 

eskbanker

traceyaj said:

It is the first time I have been turned down for credit, probably annoying my husband more than myself. Nevertheless it seems wrong as a law abiding tax paying citizen who has played by the rules all my working life. 

It's nothing to do with complying with the law, paying tax or civil obedience!  Don't take it personally, it's just down to underwriting algorithms, etc, rather than some sort of slight on your/his character....

TheSpectator

traceyaj said:

Brie said:

Are you sure you don't have other credit? 

Overdraft?  Credit cards? Even if you are not using either they add to the risk you pose.

Car or house insurance being paid monthly?  This is another credit agreement.

Then there's the possibly that you have something nasty on your credit history of which you aren't aware.   A CCJ for no responding to a parking charge notice is the most common one.

And are you registered to vote?

personally I don't like Tesco mobile contracts as they seem to be too expensive to me (I'm cheap).  Maybe you'd do better buying the phone outright and getting a monthly contract cheaper from somewhere else.

My husband has an AMEX card in his name and I am a secondary user. Card is always kept in credit, basically we like it for the XMAS cashback.  Definitely on the E.R. at this address for over 37 years.

No CCJ s. 

It is the first time I have been turned down for credit, probably annoying my husband more than myself. Nevertheless it seems wrong as a law abiding tax paying citizen who has played by the rules all my working life. 

You are not building a history being a secondary card holder on your husbands card.

EnPointe

eskbanker said:

traceyaj said:

It is the first time I have been turned down for credit, probably annoying my husband more than myself. Nevertheless it seems wrong as a law abiding tax paying citizen who has played by the rules all my working life. 

It's nothing to do with complying with the law, paying tax or civil obedience!  Don't take it personally, it's just down to underwriting algorithms, etc, rather than some sort of slight on your/his character....

@eskbanker your avatar image is very apt  here