bisset890:

I have been declined credit cards by both American Express and the Co-Operative bank but have recently bought a house

The application should have asked for your previous address where your current residency is less than 3 years. If the application was processed correctly not yet being on the new electoral roll should have been accommodated assuming your previous address details and electoral registration were all in order. I say "should" but unfortunately there is no accounting for financial organisation idiocy.

Alternatively it's not impossible that the mortgage payments have stretched the CCC affordabilty assessment which is entirely different to credit reference agency score which does not consider earnings.

So make sure that your previous addresses was requested and the records for that are in order.

Hi

You can get your free credit file for the 1st month by checking Experian, Equifax and Call Credit. All 3 of the big agencys are offering 1st month free. It also does not affect your rating to check your own rating. There are also sites like checkmyfile that offer all 3 for £20 for 3 months but the experian report they show is not the full report so i suggest you check with all 3.

Dont keep applying, dont apply to often for lots of credit, register on the electoral roll - this is probably your biggest problem. You are probably not on the role and when they (credit card company) search your ratings they cant verify your address so probably reject you. If you are then on the role you are probably only showing for a short time so they might be concerned as you have no address history.

I would recoment waiting a few month beofre applying again and in the mean time check your reports and be sure you are on the electoral roll.

Cheers

I have been declined credit cards by both American Express and the Co-Operative bank but have recently bought a house for £210k and didn't experience any problems trying to get a mortgage. My salary exceeds the minimum income for both credit cards and I have no other outstanding debt (except for a student loan which is in repayment). I have recently paid off a car loan 2 years early and cleared a credit card.
I obtained the mortgage through an independent financial advisor and am worried that a lot of credit applications may have been made and so am worried about checking for myself as I'll only make it worse! The only thing that they will tell me is that I have failed their credit scoring!
Can anyone offer any suggestions or advice?