Bad credit?

PaulDesmond

Hi. I am now a pensioner. I have never had a bad credit to my knoledge on my account. I have had agrrements with argoe talkt talk and recently with virgin media. I am currently with tesco mobile. Experian shows me with 9s4 out of 999.

I phoned up vodaphone to get a contract with them. The credit failed. I think the problem was with the apostraphy in my name O'Toole. I have tried now EE and this has failed because it failed before. What is going on as I have never been refused credir. Has this something to do with me now being a pensoner on state pension as that is the only thing I can think of?

I have had several contract phones with Tesco and never failed a payment. All phones have been paid off and I currently have a ASIM only deal.

Neil_Jones

The Experian "x out 1000" thing means nothing.

Get a copy of your credit report and see what's on it as to why you may be being refused:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

However it may be plausible that since you have retired you have less disposable income.  Retirement on its own doesn't mean anything or affect your rating - however your being retired may be.

badmemory

Not having any debts can be a bigger problem than being retired.  If I have a month when I pay everything in cash or debit card my credit rating goes through the floor.  Pay for everything by credit card & by some miracle I am credit worthy again.

PaulDesmond

I pay more a month on energy. I paid off my Tesco mobile phone and am on a £8 sim only deal I am trying to get a phone with another provided vodaphone. I would not be turned down if I went for a new mobile phone with Tesco mobile. I have also got broadband and I have home insurance ans private helath insurance nothing has ever had a missed payment. Maybe getting something on my argos card would be better but I can't think what else. What would looking at my credit report give me. It would ionly have  bank accounts. I did go for the free experian report but I never got it electronicaly. I don't have a credit card but would probably be turned down for it as I am not working.

badmemory

Well my income is well below average wage & my credit card provider keeps putting up my creit limit & it is now over £5k.  So you never know.

PaulDesmond

So what are the chances of me obtaining a credit card as a pensioner? Or is badmemory not a pensioner but in full employment by his statment?

Farway

PaulDesmond said:

So what are the chances of me obtaining a credit card as a pensioner? Or is badmemory not a pensioner but in full employment by his statment?

I keep getting offered cards, and I've been retired nearly twenty years, so pensioner does not come into it.

It's what you have available Versus outgoings

Word of warning, if you keep applying & getting refused it makes you appear desperate for credit and all barge poles are deployed

If you want a credit card, try your bank first, they know you and can see all your financial details

Assuming you intend, and do, repay in full every month the interest rate need not concern you

PaulDesmond

Hi as Martin Lewis always says on TV Pay in full. This means that you do not get charged interest. But does this go against you as the card provider dosn't get anything out of it.

ALSO. I was told over the phone by Vodaphone that I could have a SIM ONLY deal and after 90 days if I keep paying, then they will let me have a phone. Is this 90 days significant in anyway. I.E. 90 after you have a hard search does the hard searxch drop off your dile. There has to be something about this 90 days.

I also heard him mention that I could do a soft search with someone on line to get an idea of what card I could get. Maybe I should have done that for the mobile instead?

badmemory

I have been retired over 10 years since my mid 60s.  Also mostly just a state pensioner.  I don't think it makes any difference to the bank but I'm female.  I do buy everything on my credit card since they started paying cash back, & as Martin always says pay it off in full.  A few years ago though I got a new car & new bathroom within months of one another both on interest free which equalled my annual income & my savings are not with my cc/current account bank.  I seriously doubt that I am anything special to get that.

I did notice you said "I am NOW a pensioner".  Does this mean it is very recent, if so I wonder if that could be your problem.  They know you are no longer employed & so far cannot see an income.

PaulDesmond

I did go onto one of thouse soft checks to see what credit card I might get. I was going to get in touch with my bank Lloyds to ask them. What happend was the soft check took me to a credit card with capital one under the name of tm. This is not only been aproved which I was not looking for but the card is being sent to me. Not a lot £200 but I don't relay need a credit card and having it will benifit me. I assume this link is genuine capitalone@notification.capitalone.co.uk

Frozen_up_north

Forget the "must have a SIM contract" idea. Our two phones were outright purchases and we have a 1p Mobile SIM only (EE network) and a GiffGaff one (O2 Network). Both SIMs are 30 day rolling "non contract" ones. Paid by auto top up from a bank account/debit card/credit card. No annual price rises, or if there are we can ditch and switch networks easily in a few days.