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Original poster

Credit score shot since becoming a Mum?

18 replies

lunylovegood · 14/12/2023 21:17

Can someone help me identify if this is an injustice of our patriarchal society that happens to everyone or if I'm missing something?

Since having my son, I've not been able to get any form of "personal" credit.

I have gone through my life priding myself on my impeccable credit score. Never missed a payment on anything, got my own house, my own mortgage, earned very well pre-covid. My role changed and I went part time after my son so I did take a pay cut but still have a reasonable amount of disposable income as part of a dual earning household; however I have been declined credit on 3 separate occasions and I can't work out why?

I've just moved house and was accepted on a joint mortgage, but i have just been declined a phone contract! £30 a month. It seems I can only get credit if it's a joint application with my much higher earning DP. I mean, I get it but on applications I put the correct information as he covers all the bills due to our differences in earning, my clear score and equifax are all ok, no negatives but just no one will give me so much as a poxy phone contract! It's so frustrating and I can't help but think it's related to me having my son. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

OP posts:
Santaclausiscomingtotown2023 · 14/12/2023 21:20

Are you on the electoral roll for your new property? Could it be that the mobile phone company thought potential fraud if you are registered to a diff address etc?

KateyCuckoo · 14/12/2023 21:21

No it's because your income has reduced and your financial commitments have increased. You didn't pass their affordability check which is law that they have to consider your ability to pay it back.

mynameiscalypso · 14/12/2023 21:22

I agree with PP. There's often a problem at this time of year with the updates to the electoral roll too. I think that's by fair and away the most likely reason.

Singleandproud · 14/12/2023 21:23

Too many changes and too many applications at once probably.

Also £30 a month for a phone?Buy a Nokia smart phone outright with a £4.50 a month ID mobile SIM card for a fraction of the price overall and you can put the savings towards activities for your son etc

Precipice · 14/12/2023 21:24

If you have a reasonable amount of disposable money, why are you getting a phone on contract? Just buy a phone normally and get SIM-only. Why buy on credit, locking yourself in and paying more?

Original poster
lunylovegood · 14/12/2023 21:27

Admittedly, no I'm not but we've been here less than a week, I've sent all the stuff off to the council and I think I can join the electoral role when I get my account number.
I would think it was similar but I was denied prior to moving too and I'd been there 4 years and was on the electoral role. I basically wanted the new iPhone, so I tried to buy directly from Apple on interest free credit, was declined and then thought oh ok I'll get a contract no chance of being denied that and I was denied again! Honestly so frustrating. I have the savings to buy outright but it's the principle when no circumstances have changed other than I'm part time now, collectively as a household we earn more now than I did previously working full time. It feels like such an injustice.

OP posts:
Original poster
lunylovegood · 14/12/2023 21:31

Precipice · 14/12/2023 21:24

If you have a reasonable amount of disposable money, why are you getting a phone on contract? Just buy a phone normally and get SIM-only. Why buy on credit, locking yourself in and paying more?

It was interest free and offers perks such as Apple Music and Netflix that would have actually saved me money and my money in chase earns interest (admittedly pennies) but regardless it's still money!

OP posts:
Combusting · 15/12/2023 09:21

By repeatedly applying for different forms of credit after being declined - you damage the credit even further. So far in the last few months - its declined on Apple credit check, declined again on phone company, hard check of a mortgage, followed by another application also declined.

Please stop. Stop applying for credit. Wait, live within your current means, and allow time to heal that file.

1990s · 15/12/2023 09:32

Some overly harsh replies here IMO @lunylovegood

From what you’ve said it seems like you applied for a mortgage and then Apple and contract within a few months of each other?

Credit agencies don’t like multiple “hard check” applications in a “short time” - few months.

Mortgage is a hard check, not sure why Apple declined you but their risk tolerance might be lower than say a credit card and you’ve just had the mortgage hard check, then the third one will just add to this.

I think the general rule is two hard checks is usually ok (but a mortgage is a big one). Different credit agencies take different views on combined income too.

It’s a bloody minefield tbh, it is a bit sexist IMO, but as someone else said only thing you can do is not apply for any credit for 6 months or so and it’ll reset.

Original poster
lunylovegood · 15/12/2023 14:38

1990s · 15/12/2023 09:32

Some overly harsh replies here IMO @lunylovegood

From what you’ve said it seems like you applied for a mortgage and then Apple and contract within a few months of each other?

Credit agencies don’t like multiple “hard check” applications in a “short time” - few months.

Mortgage is a hard check, not sure why Apple declined you but their risk tolerance might be lower than say a credit card and you’ve just had the mortgage hard check, then the third one will just add to this.

I think the general rule is two hard checks is usually ok (but a mortgage is a big one). Different credit agencies take different views on combined income too.

It’s a bloody minefield tbh, it is a bit sexist IMO, but as someone else said only thing you can do is not apply for any credit for 6 months or so and it’ll reset.

Thank you, I suppose that makes more sense I just feel a bit frustrated that it's something so small. Also I actually have a contract that's just ended with a different provider and was switching for better signal so I wish I'd have stuck with them. Hindsight I suppose, lesson learnt!

OP posts:
fpqand · 15/12/2023 15:49

It's likely your income being low if part time? My DH earns less than me and wasn't able to get a credit card I had, when we applied for Amex for him instead it took into account our household income not just his so he managed to sail through that application and get a massive credit limit to boot.

Singleandproud · 15/12/2023 16:24

You need to wait at least 6 months before applying again.

Also it might be worth having a look at other free credit check companies as they may show different info, I find Credit Karma great.

NeonSoda · 15/12/2023 19:04

How do they know you’ve got a child?

fpqand · 15/12/2023 19:44

@NeonSoda credit applications normally ask how many dependents you have.

NeonSoda · 15/12/2023 20:23

fpqand · 15/12/2023 19:44

@NeonSoda credit applications normally ask how many dependents you have.

Dependent means anyone who depends on you financially. That could be a child, an disabled adult, or a non-working spouse.

fpqand · 15/12/2023 20:26

@NeonSoda yes I realise that, but it largely amounts to the same thing when women are predominantly carers, though both sexes are asked the question of course, and I'm pretty certain we are often asked their ages also, perhaps not universally across all applications. It impacts affordability.

NeonSoda · 15/12/2023 20:30

fpqand · 15/12/2023 20:26

@NeonSoda yes I realise that, but it largely amounts to the same thing when women are predominantly carers, though both sexes are asked the question of course, and I'm pretty certain we are often asked their ages also, perhaps not universally across all applications. It impacts affordability.

Of course it affects affordability. Only buying food for yourself is cheaper than buying food for you, your stay at home husband, and three kids - for example.

i suspect “mums” are not being discriminated against when applying for credit. I suspect everyone with dependents finds their affordability going down by about the same amount. But if you are only working part time you’re likely to be turned down more often.

fpqand · 15/12/2023 20:35

@NeonSoda I don't disagree, I suspect it's one of those things that indirectly impacts women more due to caring burden, society/culture etc. I said in my own post it was likely the part time income. Was merely stating why creditors will know who has caring responsibilities as it's a valid question to ask, impacts sole earners going for mortgages of course, when they have to declare dependents and their partner on one income.

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