credit check fail on £10 p/m sim only - 999 experian score

[benwrigley]

I've just been refused a £10 p/m sim only deal becasue my credit check failed.

Vodafone said to contact experian.

My score is 999, not a single payment missed, no recent checks,  14 years at same address on electoral role, credit cards paid off each month. This seems crazy. Experian say there is nothing nagative on my report at all.

Any thoughts?

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @benwrigley

Unfortunately Vodafone UK are unable to provide a reason as to why a Credit Check has not been successful as their systems only show an acceptance or declined status. 

They advise to contact one or more of the Credit Houses, Experian being one, in order to check that nothing wrong has been recorded there. To add even a clear Credit File with good Credit Score does not guarantee acceptance.

It doesn't always come down to a credit score problem, or a certain time at the address. As a quick example, it can be due to the amount of incoming to outgoing payments. If a customer has a mortgage and a car and something else on finance, then something else for the kids which is paid monthly, the credit check is ran to see if the customer can pay the finance (monthly cost) based on other payments per month. 

It's also good practice to let 90 days elapse before making another application in order to let the Credit Score recover.

Vodafone's help page is https://www.vodafone.co.uk/privacy/credit-checks

[152bobby]

There was loads in the news on this issue.

Apparently, there was a issue with Vodafone's system refusing orders from vendors, stores etc and people wrongly getting refused credit .

I also read that people should phone Vodafone and get them to recheck the application.

Don't ask where I read this, as I forget.

[hrym]

Did you do this through Carphone Warehouse by any chance?   There have been issues before with the interface between their system and Vodafone's.   It also seems that, if the connection fails, and a check isn't made, the system defaults to "computer says no".   On the plus side, it means you haven't failed a check (because one wasn't made) and that, when the enquiry is processed properly, there's no additional hit to your credit history.

Hang on for the forum team - they'll be able to take your details and get this sorted.

[azhar]

Failed my credit check with vodafone through mobiles.co.uk. Reason being i mistyped my birtdate from 11 to 12.

After contacting mobiles .co.uk and vodafone regarding this issue still same answer cant change. Wait 90 days.

Check Experian as Vodafone unable to provide reasons.

I go on Experian, my credit rating 999 out of 999.

Same adress for last 12 years. On electrol register.

Same employeer for last 30 years.

Never missed a payment , alrady have three sims on my name from Virgin ( one for me two for my young sone on my name) which I was going to port to Vodafone.

I subsequently pased my home broadband credit check and got installation date  but still vodafone refuses to carry out another sim only  check.

Logged complain, same answer 90 day waiting is required.

Unbeleivable.

Vodafone is a joke.

I have since took sim with Plusnet, pased credit check first time.

So many people complaining about Vodafone, not all wrong.

[TJ]

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had getting a new contract @azhar and apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. I'll be sure to pass along your feedback, to help improve our customer journey in the future. 

[Vickky]

This weekend we made an order to buy a Samsung S9+ with a Vodafone Contract from a third party retailer ( www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk ) but my order has been refused even if my Experian credit score is 803 /999 wich is a Fair credit. I contacted mobile phones customer services and they said I should contact Vodafone, I contacted Vodafone they said I should contact Experian, now I wait for an answer to my complain from Experian. Is this some kind of joke? I and my wife have both Vodafone pay as you go sim card with 50 £ /month (tigether), this can be verified by Vodafone, now we can't make a contract for 36 £ /month. This is ridiculous.

[hrym]

There have been issues with some 3rd party systems not integrating properly with Vodafone's.  If this happens, the answer sometimes defaults to "computer says no" even if there has in fact, been no full enquiry made.   It would be worrth seeing if there's been any contact from Vodafone or the supplier on your Experian record.

Armed with this information, make contact with the social media team on Facebook or Twitter.   Ask for this to be escaleted to the Credit File Support team.   I can't guarantee that they'll be able to help, but they may be able to see if there's been a system error.

[Tash]

So we can take a closer look into your credit check @benwrigley, please follow the details that I've sent in the private message that you'll receive shortly.

[WendyRichards]

February 2021 and it seems this has not been resolved. I have had a similar experience this weekend when trying to obtain a SIM only deal. I got all the form filled, PAC code sorted, bank details - to be told I was refused. Then checked my record via Experian and it was 999. It now seems that I cannot have any kind of account with Vodafone because of this. So, they have now just lost my business. I will need to go to another provider.