Turned down for interest free credit as a contractor :-(

[SpecialK]

I've just been turned down for interest free credit in a store. Rather helpfully they wouldn't tell me why although they told the salesperson that I had breached an internal lending policy, which I can only assume means that they turned me down because I am a contractor and had supplied details of my umbrella company rather than the end client. Has anyone else had a similar experience or can offer any tips on getting credit and/or financial institutions that don't have a problem lending to contractors? Many thanks.

[northernladuk]

Technically you are employed by a brolly so not really a contractor in the true sense so I doubt it's that. Get your experian report and have a dig through that.

[Zero Liability]

Check your credit rating. It's how you use credit more than anything else which determines if they'll want to lend to you.

[BolshieBastard]

I've just been turned down for interest free credit in a store. Rather helpfully they wouldn't tell me why although they told the salesperson that I had breached an internal lending policy, which I can only assume means that they turned me down because I am a contractor and had supplied details of my umbrella company rather than the end client. Has anyone else had a similar experience or can offer any tips on getting credit and/or financial institutions that don't have a problem lending to contractors? Many thanks.

No, the store wont tell you. They only get a credit score from bureaux such as Experian and your score clearly wasnt good enough to meet the store's policy rules for their finance.

You have to contact the relevant bureau and ask for a copy of your credit report. It could be that you changed 'employers' recently or missed a credit card payment etc.

if there's something clearly incorrect on your file, you have to approach the lender who notified the bureau of the incorrect details, Experian, Call Credit or HPI etc cannot remove the detail.

This can make things awkward if the lender no longer exists or has morfed into different companies since.

[Scruff]

www.noddle.co.uk

[SueEllen]

I've had no problem getting credit as a contractor.

Most of my credit applications are the same parent companies as who I had credit with before I became a contractor or when I just became one.

However I did have to threaten well-know telecommunications providers that if they put or left anything on my credit records that was untrue, and didn't remove it I would come after them. As a result one removed a search where they searched the wrong address....

BTW if you have checked your credit with all the main stream credit reference agencies not just CallCredit , see nothing and still have a problem Google "National Hunter credit reference". You have to do a full data subject access request to see what they have on you.

[BolshieBastard]

I've had no problem getting credit as a contractor.

Most of my credit applications are the same parent companies as who I had credit with before I became a contractor or when I just became one.

However I did have to threaten well-know telecommunications providers that if they put or left anything on my credit records that was untrue, and didn't remove it I would come after them. As a result one removed a search where they searched the wrong address....

BTW if you have checked your credit with all the main stream credit reference agencies not just CallCredit , see nothing and still have a problem Google "National Hunter credit reference". You have to do a full data subject access request to see what they have on you.

Experian bought Hunter some time ago. When you contact Experian, you should ask and make sure they provide details from all their bureaux.

[pr1]

when i was a permie i got turned down for a £2000 interest free sofa loan instore, I was on ~£40k/y, never missed a payment, I think the only "negative" thing was that I'd just swapped my current account the month before

my partner was earning ~12k/y at the time with a history of missed mobile phone payments (her brothers number in her name) and catalogue debt, got it approved in her name no problem (using the same joint account)

credit scores be crazy

[SueEllen]

Experian bought Hunter some time ago. When you contact Experian, you should ask and make sure they provide details from all their bureaux.

Experian and National Hunter (N Hunter) have separate data controllers, so Experian are not going to give you the information National Hunter have on you and don't have to do so by law.

[BolshieBastard]

Experian and National Hunter (N Hunter) have separate data controllers, so Experian are not going to give you the information National Hunter have on you and don't have to do so by law.

Once again, Experian own Hunter. So when you approach Experian, you make sure you request they make available all credit files held on their bureaux.

See question 4 http://www.nhunter.co.uk/faq/?secton=4