Application denied - why the credit card company turned you down
Credit card rejection can come as a nasty surprise - you thought your credit rating was fine, the application form was filled out properly, so why has the company turned you down? The sense of rejection, especially from companies that practically guaranteed approval, can leave a bitter taste in the mouth. But there is hope. Just because you've been turned down doesn't necessarily mean you have a poor credit rating; it could be a simple mistake such as an error on your report or a mistake regarding your address. And mistakes can be easily rectified.
Lenders are required by law to send you a letter telling you exactly why your application for credit has been denied, but sometimes these letters can be a little vague. So the first thing to do is make sure that the credit card company denied your application for a legitimate reason. Although mistakes are uncommon, they can and do happen. If you feel that the reason given is not legitimate grounds for denial, you can take action. The lender is also required to send you a document giving you the name of the credit agency that provided your credit details to the lender. If, when you check these details you come across inaccuracies, then it is essential that you contact the credit agency direct to inform them of the error. A simple mistake could be impacting on your finances much more than you are aware. It could be this small mistake that the lender sees as legitimate reason for refusal, and that's a situation that is easily rectified.
For a small fee, all UK credit agencies will send you a complete report of your credit history. This includes details on your address, occupation and income as well as financial history and credit background. The agencies are required by law to correct any mistakes highlighted by consumers, making sure that details are accurate and up to date. Once you have rectified any errors you can reapply to the original credit card lender or even appeal against the initial rejection, although these cases rarely succeed. It may be wiser to wait a little while and then resubmit an application.
Credit ratings or 'scores' as they are commonly mislabelled, are mysterious tomes, usually the preserve of banks and 'the System'. However, every consumer has the right to access their records from any of the credit agencies holding details on their financial activities. Your credit rating is affected by your previous financial history over a number of years, including loans, repayments and how you have run your financial affairs. 'Black data' (details of late payments, defaults, CCJs or other failings in your credit track record) is shared between financial lenders and can impact on your eligibility for future credit. Increasingly, 'White data' is also being exchanged as well. White data tells lenders about your financial management skills and how attractive a borrower you may be. Surprisingly, it doesn't always work in your favour. Someone who always clears their monthly credit card balance isn't going to incur any interest charges and as such is not as attractive a proposition to lenders, who depend on those interest charges to make a profit.
Something as simple as forgetting to complete your electoral registration can cause your application for a credit card to be turned down. Lenders use the Electoral Role as proof of a person's address, so if your name isn't on the list, you're a risky investment. It could be a clerical error, meaning the agency's details haven't been updated, but it is easily solved if you have insured that all your affairs are in order, not just your finances. Checking and double-checking before applying for a card can considerably improve your chances of being accepted. If, however, several credit card companies have turned you down it could indicate a more fundamental problem with your credit history. This isn't the time to ignore it and hope the problem will just 'go away'. Spend a few months restoring your good reputation and boosting your credit rating, and then reapply.
If you have been rejected for a credit card, don't reapply straight away. Give yourself a cooling-off period of about 90 days to get your financial house back in order. Check your credit history for any errors and prove to the lenders that you aren't a credit risk by rectifying any problems that led to the initial rejection. Avoid multiple applications in the hope that one of the companies will let you slip through the net. A plethora of rejections on your credit history will do more damage, meaning you have to wait even longer to get back into the lender's good books. The only ways to improve your chances are through good financial management, an eye for detail and a willingness to take back control of your financial affairs.
Lenders are required by law to send you a letter telling you exactly why your application for credit has been denied, but sometimes these letters can be a little vague. So the first thing to do is make sure that the credit card company denied your application for a legitimate reason. Although mistakes are uncommon, they can and do happen. If you feel that the reason given is not legitimate grounds for denial, you can take action. The lender is also required to send you a document giving you the name of the credit agency that provided your credit details to the lender. If, when you check these details you come across inaccuracies, then it is essential that you contact the credit agency direct to inform them of the error. A simple mistake could be impacting on your finances much more than you are aware. It could be this small mistake that the lender sees as legitimate reason for refusal, and that's a situation that is easily rectified.
For a small fee, all UK credit agencies will send you a complete report of your credit history. This includes details on your address, occupation and income as well as financial history and credit background. The agencies are required by law to correct any mistakes highlighted by consumers, making sure that details are accurate and up to date. Once you have rectified any errors you can reapply to the original credit card lender or even appeal against the initial rejection, although these cases rarely succeed. It may be wiser to wait a little while and then resubmit an application.
Credit ratings or 'scores' as they are commonly mislabelled, are mysterious tomes, usually the preserve of banks and 'the System'. However, every consumer has the right to access their records from any of the credit agencies holding details on their financial activities. Your credit rating is affected by your previous financial history over a number of years, including loans, repayments and how you have run your financial affairs. 'Black data' (details of late payments, defaults, CCJs or other failings in your credit track record) is shared between financial lenders and can impact on your eligibility for future credit. Increasingly, 'White data' is also being exchanged as well. White data tells lenders about your financial management skills and how attractive a borrower you may be. Surprisingly, it doesn't always work in your favour. Someone who always clears their monthly credit card balance isn't going to incur any interest charges and as such is not as attractive a proposition to lenders, who depend on those interest charges to make a profit.
Something as simple as forgetting to complete your electoral registration can cause your application for a credit card to be turned down. Lenders use the Electoral Role as proof of a person's address, so if your name isn't on the list, you're a risky investment. It could be a clerical error, meaning the agency's details haven't been updated, but it is easily solved if you have insured that all your affairs are in order, not just your finances. Checking and double-checking before applying for a card can considerably improve your chances of being accepted. If, however, several credit card companies have turned you down it could indicate a more fundamental problem with your credit history. This isn't the time to ignore it and hope the problem will just 'go away'. Spend a few months restoring your good reputation and boosting your credit rating, and then reapply.
If you have been rejected for a credit card, don't reapply straight away. Give yourself a cooling-off period of about 90 days to get your financial house back in order. Check your credit history for any errors and prove to the lenders that you aren't a credit risk by rectifying any problems that led to the initial rejection. Avoid multiple applications in the hope that one of the companies will let you slip through the net. A plethora of rejections on your credit history will do more damage, meaning you have to wait even longer to get back into the lender's good books. The only ways to improve your chances are through good financial management, an eye for detail and a willingness to take back control of your financial affairs.
About the Author:
James Baker takes an interest in providing the public with information about personal finances and help with simplifying the often confusing information that comes with the finance sector. Find out more information on the credit card application here.
posted by Credit Counseling at
7:53 AM
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