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Original poster

Why would a credit card application be refused?

38 replies

Whydothey · 03/10/2025 14:47

Hi

I hope I'm just worrying over nothing...

Dh recently applied for a new credit card. We don't need credit to live on, he just wants it for rewards and protection.

He filled in a quick form online for the credit card provider, income, outgoings etc and it said he'd be approved so he applied.

I asked him the other day if his new card had come yet and he said he'd got an email saying they couldn't continue his application because he doesn't meet their lending rules.

Apparently it didn't say why.

He has a well paid job and he has credit history, mortgage, previous credit cards, so I can't think of any reason why he wouldn't meet their rules.

I'm worried there's something he's not telling me. Debts I don't know about? He says he doesn't know any reason why he'd be refused a credit card but while he's not exactly dishonest he has a tendency not to tell me things he thinks I don't want to hear which is making me worry.

Could there be other reasons he'd be refused or is it most likely he's somehow got into debt?

OP posts:
Lennonjingles · 03/10/2025 15:28

Which credit card is it, for American Express you have to be a very high earner. Has he ever taken out a loan or anything else on credit. Might be worthwhile checking his credit record. Years ago my father in law applied for a credit card which was declined due to ex wife taking out several loans when they divorced and somehow this effected his credit.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 03/10/2025 15:30

Is there any chance that he DID get it but he wants to use it for spending without telling you?

Darragon · 03/10/2025 15:38

Has he lived abroad or travelled for more than six months in the last three years at all? That one did me in for a while when we went back to the UK. Otherwise have you moved recently? DH had a surprise ‘bad debt’ from Thames Water last time we moved because the idiots didn’t tot up our final bill properly then wrote to him at the old address after we moved out. He could always do a credit check if he isn’t sure and wants to know.

Original poster
Whydothey · 03/10/2025 15:48

Lennonjingles · 03/10/2025 15:28

Which credit card is it, for American Express you have to be a very high earner. Has he ever taken out a loan or anything else on credit. Might be worthwhile checking his credit record. Years ago my father in law applied for a credit card which was declined due to ex wife taking out several loans when they divorced and somehow this effected his credit.

Not American express, it's a high street bank but not one he's had an account with before, don't know if that would make a difference?

I'll tell him to check his credit score but he's got this theory that checking it makes the score go down because the banks think only people who have reasons to worry about their credit score would check it. So he probably won't and even if he does unless I see it I'd be worrying he's saying it's all fine when it's not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whydothey · 03/10/2025 15:49

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 03/10/2025 15:30

Is there any chance that he DID get it but he wants to use it for spending without telling you?

Didn't think of that. But if he wanted a secret credit card then why would he have said he was applying for it in the first place?

OP posts:
TwoFatDucklings · 03/10/2025 15:51

He should check his credit history. See if it's lower than he expects and see if there are any searches that he can't account for. My DH had his identity stolen a while back. They took out store cards, credit cards, phone contracts etc in his name. It dropped his credit rating right down untill he was able to contact the fraud depts of all the providers.

Original poster
Whydothey · 03/10/2025 15:51

Darragon · 03/10/2025 15:38

Has he lived abroad or travelled for more than six months in the last three years at all? That one did me in for a while when we went back to the UK. Otherwise have you moved recently? DH had a surprise ‘bad debt’ from Thames Water last time we moved because the idiots didn’t tot up our final bill properly then wrote to him at the old address after we moved out. He could always do a credit check if he isn’t sure and wants to know.

Not been abroad for longer than two weeks and we've lived in the same house for over ten years, so that wouldn't be a problem.

OP posts:
TwoFatDucklings · 03/10/2025 15:51

Whydothey · 03/10/2025 15:48

Not American express, it's a high street bank but not one he's had an account with before, don't know if that would make a difference?

I'll tell him to check his credit score but he's got this theory that checking it makes the score go down because the banks think only people who have reasons to worry about their credit score would check it. So he probably won't and even if he does unless I see it I'd be worrying he's saying it's all fine when it's not.

Show quote history

His theory is entirely wrong

CC222 · 03/10/2025 15:52

Checking your credit score doesn’t make it go down and it’s odd he thinks that. I’m sure he can’t really believe that, but that statement would make me think he’s hiding something.
Would he show you his credit score/report if you asked to see it?

Zempy · 03/10/2025 15:53

It does sound like he’s hiding something tbh.

Hallywally · 03/10/2025 16:18

It’s easy to check your credit score for free. I check it about once a month. Instead of speculating, he just needs to check.

PositiveLife · 03/10/2025 16:32

Checking your score doesn't affect it, in fact lenders don't usually get to see the actual score (and the different credit reference agencies use different logic anyway).

Haggisfish3 · 03/10/2025 16:34

He’s hiding something. Ou can make an account with Experian for free, take one month free trial for in-depth access and check any linked accounts. Checking it has abaolutely no impact on your score whatsoever.

Haggisfish3 · 03/10/2025 16:35

So you could potentially see any application he has made if your names are linked through the address.

GloryFades · 03/10/2025 16:37

Not only does checking your credit score not make it go down, mine automatically checks every time I log onto my online banking, which is multiple times a day most days. It was also the only way I spotted 7 fraudulent credit applications that had been made in my name, so it’s crucial you check regularly.

Also he needs to check his credit record, not his credit score as the credit score is largely made up and meaningless.

But back the question at hand. I’m a £125k earner with no consumer debt, £2k ish credit card spend that is fully repaid each month and two mortgages that are always paid on time. I was recently declined a sim only context for £10 a month as I declined the credit check…

Similarly my DH who earns £50k, has a few hundred spend on credit cards that is repaid every month and has less available credit than I do was just declined for an Amazon Barclaycard. I was accepted despite my available credit being way more than his (and more than double to reflect the double salary). Sometimes I think there is no rhyme or reason and it is a glitch where computer says no for no discernible reason.

And both of us have applied for and been accepted for credit since these examples (I got the Barclaycard after this and he bought his glasses on interest free).

Bluebottlerecycling · 03/10/2025 16:38

I'll tell him to check his credit score but he's got this theory that checking it makes the score go down because the banks think only people who have reasons to worry about their credit score would check it.

This is arrant nonsense, I have banking apps with two different banks - they both include a credit checking facility.

LividArse · 03/10/2025 17:01

He's hiding something, and if you are married, at the same address and have otherwise shared finances it's going to impact you.

Isitmybathtimeyet · 03/10/2025 17:05

DH had a problem for a bit because his electoral registration had got screwed up so he didn't show at living at our address. I know you've been in the same place for a while but any chance something like that has happened?

Otherwise, yes, could just be a random madness in their scoring. They also score people with some debt history (paid on time) higher than people with none so if this is his first credit card that might possibly be an issue.

WhoaaaBodyform · 03/10/2025 17:06

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 03/10/2025 15:30

Is there any chance that he DID get it but he wants to use it for spending without telling you?

Did it make you feel good to type that?

OP: it may be that the bank have looked at his credit and don’t think that they’ll make any money out of him. If your husband uses the card sensibly and pays off everything he’s put on it before it earns any interest then there’s no money in for them so he could appear less of an appealing prospect than someone on a lowernincome, who is more likely to rely on the credit?

it goes in cycles and 6 months ago they might have been opening their books to those sorts of customers.

CandidLurker · 03/10/2025 17:31

I’ve got a perfect credit score and got turned down for a high street bank credit card. I only wanted it for fee free use abroad. I had no other debts etc. sometimes you just don’t fit the lender’s criteria for whatever reason. No point asking the staff as they will not know the reason.

he should just check his credit record to see if there is anything detrimental.

if not he just needs to forget about it.

Original poster
Whydothey · 03/10/2025 19:55

Thanks for all your answers.

So it looks like there's a good chance it's just a computer says no thing then, as several of you seem to have been turned down for no apparent reason.

I looked at Experian. I realized I actually signed up for it a few years ago but forgot about it. My credit score is good, but I can't see where to find linked accounts. I'm guessing that's something you have to pay for. I don't want to do the free trial because you still need to put card details in to get it and I don't like doing that.

I've told dh that checking his credit score won't harm it and he should check to make sure there's no fraud, and he says he'll do it in a bit.

Anyway my minds at rest now, thinking he's most likely not in debt and hiding it from me.

OP posts:
Seainasive · 03/10/2025 20:01

There could be a CCJ?

jay55 · 03/10/2025 20:03

Has he got their cards that he doesn’t use? The amount of credit he has can affect getting a new card, but closing accounts and reducing available credit can affect it too.

Ive been declined for not sending in the requested documents fast enough when they wanted more id than I was expecting. And I’ve a high credit score, not so much as a late payment and good salary.

Haggisfish3 · 03/10/2025 20:03

Yes, to see linked accounts you need to have the full access. Free trial is easy to cancel-you literally can sign up and then cancel and you will still have a months access. You can also delete card details. I don’t see why you wouldn’t do this tbh-seems very head in sand-y to me to not at least check for free! It is unusual to have a cc application refused if you use credit, even if you clear it monthly.

cabbageking · 03/10/2025 20:23

Has he applied recently for other cards as it can affect the credit score.
Have there been repeated late payments. Has he more outstanding than you think? An outstanding CCJ? Linked accounts need both names on to have any effect. Have you checked the card requirements in case he needs to have X amount a month going into the account or other stipulations.
He may have realised the interest rate was higher than he thought and cancelled the application