O2 Rant / Damn Credit files
O2 Rant / Damn Credit files
Author
Discussion

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Not so long ago, I applied for an Iphone, from the O2 store online.
filled in all detials to be told straight away i was declined. (no refferals do not pass go)
as with anything you apply for these days they do a credit check and if you fail they say please contact the credit file company.

Now luckly i have access to both of these online, email O2 and asked them to tell me why i was declined. as always 1st email is please get copy of credit file, advised all ready have this. 2nd email something about business criteria. replied dont care about that just want to know why you declined me.
3rd & 4th email back and forth trying to sort out.
in the end advised me to put in writing.
luckily i kept'd all emails.
forwarded this on to them 2 weeks later get call from manager. explaining unable to tell me the reasons as all they do is credit score and i failed but doesnt tell them why.

Now with all this technology you'd think companys would be able to tell you why. in the end they want our business and this would help all of us to find out if there is anything on our credit file which looks to us, but is a big no no to them.

Sorry for the rant, it just frustrates me that i have a T-mobile contract coming to an end (never missed a payment) and can't get a different contract. (and no one knows why)


bigTee

5,546 posts

250 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
If they do know why, they arn't allowed to tell you.

Data Protection.

cazzer

8,883 posts

277 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Data Protection....bks.....Its information about you.
How can they claim Data Protection?

Quaint

658 posts

223 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
It's also commercially sensitive - if the precise criteria for passing any given lender's credit scoring system become known outside the organisation, it's potentially much easier to obtain credit fraudulently.

If you have credit cards or an overdraft, how close to the limits are you? Often lenders will be cautious of people who appear to be financially stretched, and if you're using a large majority of your available credit this can be a reason for failure. Otherwise, it's worth going through the credit reference agency files very carefully to ensure that there's nothing obviously negative showing up (e.g. missed payments).

Another point - are you registered to vote at the address you used on the application? If you're not on the electoral roll at that address then this can also lead to failure.

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
bigTee said:
If they do know why, they arn't allowed to tell you.

Data Protection.
Data Protection, Protects the company giving the information to the wrong person.

But if they do know then they are or should be aloud to tell you.

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Quaint said:
It's also commercially sensitive - if the precise criteria for passing any given lender's credit scoring system become known outside the organisation, it's potentially much easier to obtain credit fraudulently.

If you have credit cards or an overdraft, how close to the limits are you? Often lenders will be cautious of people who appear to be financially stretched, and if you're using a large majority of your available credit this can be a reason for failure. Otherwise, it's worth going through the credit reference agency files very carefully to ensure that there's nothing obviously negative showing up (e.g. missed payments).

Another point - are you registered to vote at the address you used on the application? If you're not on the electoral roll at that address then this can also lead to failure.
am reg'd to vote. only have 1 credit card £200 limit. and £0 bal on it. no loans. missed payments once or twice over 3 years ago.

Edited by MURRAY007 on Thursday 5th February 10:42

humpbackmaniac

1,899 posts

270 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Youve probably got over 10k of debts, I have 40k and used to be 990 out of 1000 on experian. But recently I dropped to 564, as unsecured debts so large (over 10k) make you a risk and thus unable to have a nice new bloody phone. No way to know how much i earn though!

editted to see your last post. thats the problem no debts!!

Edited by humpbackmaniac on Thursday 5th February 10:44

iain_cam

689 posts

259 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
MURRAY007 said:
bigTee said:
If they do know why, they arn't allowed to tell you.

Data Protection.
Data Protection, Protects the company giving the information to the wrong person.

But if they do know then they are or should be aloud to tell you.
Yes, the Data Protection Act (1998) states that any person should be able to view information held about them (the holder of the info can charge a fee though).

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
humpbackmaniac said:
Youve probably got over 10k of debts, I have 40k and used to be 990 out of 1000 on experian. But recently I dropped to 564, as unsecured debts so large (over 10k) make you a risk and thus unable to have a nice new bloody phone. No way to know how much i earn though!
NO DEBT

Neil_H

15,418 posts

280 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
It could be something like your postcode being blacklisted if they've had a lot of fraud in your area.

Try applying again, it may just be a mistake.

chris.mapey

4,778 posts

296 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Have you looked at your credit file?

It's easy and you can earn some cash to do it as well wink

Go to Quidco and login / sign up there. Search for "Credit Expert" and sign up to there minitoring service. You get the first month free, so you can cancel within the 30 days and pay nothing. You get £7.50 cash back from quidco as well... (How Pikey am I? hehe)

You can then have a look and see what's caused the drop in score... Have you applied for lots of credit recently / lots of activity on your account can cause an auto decline on some credit checks as it looks fraudulent (ID theft)

Hope that helps...

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Neil_H said:
It could be something like your postcode being blacklisted if they've had a lot of fraud in your area.

Try applying again, it may just be a mistake.
Property was only built 2.5 years ago.

And there's no such thing as blacklisted.

Neil_H

15,418 posts

280 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
MURRAY007 said:
Neil_H said:
It could be something like your postcode being blacklisted if they've had a lot of fraud in your area.

Try applying again, it may just be a mistake.
Property was only built 2.5 years ago.

And there's no such thing as blacklisted.
I'm not talking about a credit blacklist, but on O2s side.

I worked in credit-checking for a phone company many years ago and certain areas would simply be turned down on that basis (usually areas of Leeds and Bradford).

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
chris.mapey said:
Have you looked at your credit file?

It's easy and you can earn some cash to do it as well wink

Go to Quidco and login / sign up there. Search for "Credit Expert" and sign up to there minitoring service. You get the first month free, so you can cancel within the 30 days and pay nothing. You get £7.50 cash back from quidco as well... (How Pikey am I? hehe)

You can then have a look and see what's caused the drop in score... Have you applied for lots of credit recently / lots of activity on your account can cause an auto decline on some credit checks as it looks fraudulent (ID theft)

Hope that helps...
Sound's interesting, but what are the difference between them and using experian & equifax.

MURRAY007

Original Poster:

530 posts

224 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
Neil_H said:
MURRAY007 said:
Neil_H said:
It could be something like your postcode being blacklisted if they've had a lot of fraud in your area.

Try applying again, it may just be a mistake.
Property was only built 2.5 years ago.

And there's no such thing as blacklisted.
I'm not talking about a credit blacklist, but on O2s side.

I worked in credit-checking for a phone company many years ago and certain areas would simply be turned down on that basis (usually areas of Leeds and Bradford).
I agree with what your saying, but how would i find out if there is fruad in my area.
(not saying that i haven't seen a few dodgy people)

GT03ROB

14,019 posts

250 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
I had a similar problem getting my iphone in September.

Went into store filled in the forms online. Rejected. I went balistic. Zero unsecured borrowings, voter, etc., etc.. Had to go check my experian rating, which comes back just about perfect.

Go into different store in the afternoon. Absolutely no problem whatsoever.

Go figure, because I couldn't work it out either.

bigTee

5,546 posts

250 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
MURRAY007 said:
bigTee said:
If they do know why, they arn't allowed to tell you.

Data Protection.
Data Protection, Protects the company giving the information to the wrong person.

But if they do know then they are or should be aloud to tell you.
They really might not know though.

Our Orange credit checking system just says;


Application approved
Deposit Required
or
Application declined.



That is all we get.

chris.mapey

4,778 posts

296 months

Thursday 5th February 2009
quotequote all
MURRAY007 said:
chris.mapey said:
Have you looked at your credit file?

It's easy and you can earn some cash to do it as well wink

Go to Quidco and login / sign up there. Search for "Credit Expert" and sign up to there minitoring service. You get the first month free, so you can cancel within the 30 days and pay nothing. You get £7.50 cash back from quidco as well... (How Pikey am I? hehe)

You can then have a look and see what's caused the drop in score... Have you applied for lots of credit recently / lots of activity on your account can cause an auto decline on some credit checks as it looks fraudulent (ID theft)

Hope that helps...
Sound's interesting, but what are the difference between them and using experian & equifax.
YOu ar viewing your experian credit file directly, whilst being paid to do so wink