unfortunately 445 is actually "very poor" and not good for experian. i recently paid for my score and was given the following guidelines

0-560 very poor

561-720 poor

721-880 fair

881-960 good

961-999 excellent

cancelling all your credit cards would also have altered you credit/debt ratio... if you have been refused a credit card DO NOT apply for another one for 6 months, this will also alter your score, making more than 2 applications in any 6 month period will reduce your rating.

make sure you make all your repayments on time and in full, any payments made late in the past 6 months will effect your score.

ensure you are on the electoral roll at your current address. county court judgements and declaring bankrupt in the past 6 years will also affect your score.

being rejected for credit cards is not only down to your credit score, the likes of MBNA and AMEX have their own in house guidelines which they also follow, i have a score of 929 and was rejected by AMEX for a credit card. read the small print and ensure the credit card you are applying for suits your circumstances. some credit cards have salary guidelines...read the small print, your application may also be cancelled due to minor errors you made on the application.

my advise to you for know is not to be disheartened over not being accepted for a credit card, DO NOT APPLY for another one for atleast 6 months, reduce your outstanding amounts Calculate your debt-income ratio!!! this is very important as this tells lenders what your debt load in one month is!!!! this figure is simply your monthly debt repayments divided by your monthly take home pay.

the key is to look forward and stay positive... if you havent had a look at your entire credit report, do so!!! ensure everything on there is correct and there is no fraudulent activity on there! for a small fee you can purchase your score and experian will actullally tell you some of the factors having a negative effect on your score and those having a positive effect!

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Usual disclaimer: I'm not an expert, this is just my opinion, etc.

Your credit score means very little... lenders score based on their own criteria, which tend to have more to do with whether you'll make them a profit than whether you're "a good risk". For the record, I'm 29, never earned more than 24k in my life, ongoing debts of 10k and my last known credit score from Experian was 750 - which does suggest that your score is unusually low for your circumstances.You should establish that there are no negative entries on your credit file.

However, the likelihood is that you just don't fit the customer profile that e.g. MBNA is looking for; they want to lend money for profit, after all. Your employee, like me, is borrowing long-term and paying them their interest, which is the sort of market that MBNA caters to. They don't stand to make much out of you.

Unless there is some major problem with your credit file or your address, or your income is really overcommitted in terms of payments, my advice would be apply for a more upmarket credit card (look for cashback, free travel insurance or other perks aimed at the well-to-do), also cards that *don't* cut their competitors throats on balance transfers.

I am unable to recommend a particular card, but Smile (from the Cooperative bank) has been the most generous with my credit limit...so if you want a card with a decent limit for use as a backstop, they might be worth a try. I wouldn't assume that you have a poor credit rating; it is more likely that you don't fit the customer profile.

I am having trouble getting approved for any credit cards at the moment and I cannot understand why.

I have checked my credit rating and credit history. I have a 'good' credit score off 445 (with Experian).

I have always had lots of credit since the age of 17 (I'm now 33). Usually 2-3 credit cards at anyone time, a car loan, a mortgage and usually an additional personal loan as well. However I have always been a good payer... only 2-3 missed pyament dates ever. And last year I paid off and cancelled all my credit cards, and also paid off my car loan. So I now only have a mortgage and a small loan.

Also relevant is that I am now earning £155k per year... last year was £120k and the year before £90k... in other words I have more ability to pay now than ever before.

I don't actually need a credit card at the moment, but would like the extra security of having more than just a debit card in my wallet.

Can you suggest any reasons why I might not be getting approved or anyone I can talk to about improving my credit rating?

BTW... I don't believe this is a "credit crunch" issue... a chap who works for me and who earns just £20k per annum got accepted by MBNA the same day I got refused, and he has 3 other credit cards already, all maxed out and some with late payments!! Most annoying!!