Credit card eligibility checker

When you use MoneySuperMarket’s credit card-eligibility checker we perform a ‘soft’ search on your credit history. This means that we look up your credit report to find out some basic information about your finances. But it doesn’t have any negative impact on your credit score, you can do it as many times as you like and therefore it won't impact your ability to get credit in the future.

When you apply for a credit card, however, your provider will perform a ‘hard’ credit search. This is more thorough – and it also leaves a mark on your credit file – as evidence you are searching for credit.  

If someone else looks up your credit report later, they’ll see that a hard search has been performed. Too many hard searches can lower your credit score. So it’s a good idea to always check your eligibility before you apply to avoid harming your credit score.

Even if you have a low credit score, it’s still possible to get approved for a credit card. Credit-builder credit cards are designed specifically for people with low credit scores who want to improve their credit rating. It’s likely that you’ll be offered a low credit limit at first, maybe just a couple of hundred pounds for example, and the interest rate is likely to be relatively high. But if you use your card responsibly, you’ll be offered more credit – and your score will improve too. As your credit score improves, this should open the door to better credit card deals at lower interest rates.

If you’re not eligible for any credit-builder cards, there are other ways to improve your credit score as a first step in finding suitable credit products.

If you’re pre-approved for a card, your interest rate and 0% period are guaranteed – but we still can’t say for certain what your credit limit will be. This is because credit-card companies usually only set your credit limit after they’ve performed a hard credit search. But don’t worry if your credit limit isn’t as high as you’d like: many providers will raise your credit limit if you ask, especially if you’ve been using your card responsibly for a few months.

If you apply for a credit card and you’re rejected, you won’t be able to take advantage of the deal on offer. Being rejected for a card doesn’t impact your credit score, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to apply for lots of credit cards if your eligibility is low. 

Every time you apply for a credit card, your provider performs a hard search on your credit report – and every hard search is recorded. This means that if you apply for one credit card, it doesn’t matter if you’re accepted or rejected: the same thing will happen to your credit score. However, if you keep applying for cards and getting rejected, the number of hard searches will pile up, and your credit score is likely to go down. 

If you do get rejected for a card, there are steps you can take to improve your chances of being accepted in the future. Our free Credit Score Tool helps you keep track of your credit score, and we’ll give you plenty of tips on improving your credit. But the best way to prevent disappointment is to check your eligibility first and see if you’ve been pre-approved for any cards.

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate – it’s the amount of interest you’ll pay on any money you borrow. It also includes all upfront charges.

When you compare credit cards with MoneySuperMarket, you’ll usually be shown a representative APR, which is the maximum rate that at least 51% of customers will be charged. Credit-card companies tailor their APRs to each individual customer: so depending on your financial history and credit rating, your APR might be lower or higher than advertised. But if you’re pre-approved for a card, the APR you’re shown is exactly the rate you’ll be charged.

Most credit cards have what’s called a variable APR. This means that the interest rate can change, usually based on the base rate set by the Bank of England. In general, you don’t need to worry about your interest rates skyrocketing, though – the amounts involved are usually very small. For instance, if you’re borrowing £1,000 and the base rate rises by 0.25%, this would usually increase your monthly interest by around 20p.

The best card for you will depend on what you need the card for. In general, if you’re looking to cover a big purchase or transfer an existing debt, you’ll want a longer 0% interest period – but you should also consider the interest rates once that period ends.  

If you’re considering a cashback or rewards card, you’ll want to see which cards offer the best perks – but you should also be aware of fees, which could cancel out the cashback or points you’re earning. 

Luckily, with MoneySuperMarket it’s easy to compare all the credit cards we have on offer. You can sort them by APR, lowest fees, or longest interest-free period, and we’ll give you all the important details so you can quickly find the right card for you.

If you change your mind after applying for a credit card, you might be able to cancel your application. However, you can only withdraw your application until it’s been approved – and in some cases this can be very quick. Some providers automate the approval process, so it could only take minutes for your application to be approved or denied. And even if you manage to withdraw your application in time, keep in mind that the hard search of your credit history might have already taken place – so your application will have already left a mark on your credit report.

Your credit rating, also known as your credit score, is a number that shows how well you’ve handled credit in the past. Different ratings agencies use slightly different scales, but a higher number is always better. If you’ve reliably made all your repayments and borrowed within your limits, your credit score should grow. However, if you’ve failed to pay back debts in the past, this can lead to a bad credit rating or a low credit score.

A high credit score makes it easier to apply for credit cards, loans, and mortgages. If you’re worried about your credit rating, our free credit score tool can help. You can check your credit score for free and get tips on increasing your rating.

It’s worth checking your eligibility every time you apply for a new credit card. Checking your eligibility won’t leave a mark on your credit rating, but will give you confidence that you’ll be approved when you apply.

There are several steps you can take to improve your credit rating, such as getting on the electoral roll and checking the accuracy of your credit report to correct any mistakes. However, the most important thing for the long term is to stay on top of your finances so you pay off any outstanding debt. Our guide on how to improve your credit score can help further.

You can also get a free credit check with our Credit Score service, which will also provide tips and tricks to improve your score