Stop the Cycle of Credit Card Rejection Today

If you’ve applied and been rejected for a credit card, read this before applying again.

Blindly reapplying for other cards can make the problem even worse as failed applications can damage your credit rating, making it even harder to obtain credit creating a vicious circle of rejection. So, stop and assess why you’ve been turned down and then find the card most likely to accept you. Every card company has their own criteria for lending, so if one rejected you that doesn’t mean they all will.

Before you apply again, find out which cards match your profile using our tool, Money Match®, this clever service will tell you which credit cards you are most likely to be accepted for, without leaving a footprint on your credit record – so using it won’t affect your credit rating.

Don’t assume you’ll only get a “bad credit” card, you may be pleasantly surprised. But whatever result you get, use your new credit card to improve your credit rating.

How Does Money Match® Improve my Chances of Being Accepted?

Money Match® Results and Scores Every lender has different acceptance criteria, so it’s hard to know which card to apply for. Enter a few details and Money Match® shows you the cards you’re more likely to be approved for – and those that might reject you.

Acceptance still isn’t guaranteed, but by applying for cards that Money Match® recommends, you are over 250% more likely to be accepted than people not using the tool. Being rejected is not only a waste of time, it can damage your credit rating, so simply by using Money Match® you are taking a step towards a better credit rating.

What is a “Bad Credit” Credit Card?

Bad credit credit cards are designed for people who have had credit problems in the past or have little history of borrowing at all. If you fall into either category you represent an above-average risk to the lender, so you pay for that risk with higher interest rates and fewer special offers. As these cards are expensive, with the exception of strict use of the odd 0% introductory offer, they’re not great for new borrowing. But, if used sensibly – that means paying the balance off in full each month - they can help you build up a good credit score.

Money Match® can help you find the best possible credit card available to you, you’re likely to fall into the poor credit category if you have...

    ► A limited or nonexistent credit history
    ► Past issues like repeated missed payments
    ► Prior County Court Judgements
    ► Been declined by several other credit card providers

What are Bad Credit Credit Cards Good For?

They’re a great way to build or rebuild your credit rating
In some circumstances they can be a cheaper alternative to other forms of borrowing, such as pay-day loans or unauthorised overdrafts
Some poor credit cards feature 0% introductory rates and can be used carefully for low-cost, short-term borrowing
Many bad credit cards come with useful free purchase protection insurance and all come with Section 75 benefits

How to Improve Your Credit Score

Using a credit card the right way is one of the best means of improving your credit score and, over time, gaining access to better rates and products. Here’s how:

Do:

Repay your balance in full every month. Setting up a direct debit is a fool-proof way to make sure that happens
Stay within your credit limit
Use the card. An unused card sitting in a drawer won’t help your credit score, you need to flex the plastic, even if it is only to spend a few pounds each month



Don't:

Miss your monthly payments
Accumulate debt you can’t afford to pay off in full. Bad credit credit cards tend to have high APRs so it will work out as expensive, and could lead to you missing a payment and further damaging your credit score

Alternative Products:

If Money Match® suggests you don’t qualify for a
ny bad credit credit cards, don’t despair. There are some alternatives which Money Match® will automatically suggest:

Pre-paid cards

Pre-paid cards offer some of the benefits of credit cards including, in some cases, the ability to build your credit rating. But you can never spend money you can’t afford as these cards have to be pre-loaded with cash. The drawback to them is that their fees can be expensive.

Secured cards

A secured card works like a normal credit card except that, if your application is accepted, you have to put down a security deposit before you receive your card. These cards are a last resort for anyone who can’t get a normal credit card. They do offer some of the benefits of a standard card including building credit history and access to some credit. When you close the account, provided you haven’t missed any payments and there is no outstanding balance, you should get your deposit back in full.

These cards are about building your credit rating. You need to show that you can play by the rules in order for this ‘good behaviour’ to end up on your credit file – you may even be offered an upgrade to a normal credit card.

Pay-day loans

Occasionally, for very short term borrowing, a pay-day loan can be an alternative if you haven’t already got a credit card – they’re expensive, even in the short term, and only compare favourably to unauthorised borrowing on an overdraft.

How We Rank Cards

We only grade credit cards by their merits. They’re ranked independently of whether we’re paid by the lender to promote them. If you use Money Match®, your results table will simply be ordered by your likelihood of acceptance and we’ll only show cards you have a good chance of getting (5 out of 10 or better).

Otherwise cards are ranked by the most appropriate variable – the length of the 0% period in balance transfer or purchase cards for example. In the case of bad credit credit cards we take account of features (0% introductory offers or rewards), average acceptance rate and APR, since our experience shows that’s the priority order of our typical user.