Getting credit A beginner’s guide Applying for credit Credit decisions - Session four Session four - Credit decisions Tutor information How is a credit decision made? The lending decision diagram (used in session three - handout 3a) explains how organisations usually make decisions about credit applications. Lenders will have some basic criteria for applications before putting them through a credit scoring system. These criteria might include income or age. For example, many organisations will not lend money to someone who does not have a job as they do not have any money coming in to help pay off the loan. Age is also an important factor. Credit should not be given to anyone under the age of 14 in this country; 14 to 18 year olds usually have to have a guarantor who will enter into a credit agreement with them. Some organisations will not give mortgages to elderly people as these loans often have a long period over which the money is repaid. As long as you meet the company’s general criteria, your application will be put through a credit scoring system. This will establish the risk of you not repaying any money you borrow. It will answer the question: How likely are you to pay the money back in full and on time? What happens next? If your application is accepted, the credit will be granted and you will receive a copy of the credit agreement. You will usually be asked to sign and return this to the lender within a certain time. If an application is referred, this means that someone will look at your application in more detail. These people are normally called underwriters and may ask you to provide more information before they reach a decision about your application. If you are refused credit (lenders use the term ‘decline’), the lender should give you a principle reason for the decision. This means that they should tell you if it was their company policy or the information held by the credit reference agency that led them to decide not to give you credit. You will usually have to ask for this information. They should tell you which part of the policy or what credit report information caused them to ‘decline’ your application. Lenders are obliged to tell you which credit reference agency they used to help them make the decision. This does not necessarily mean that the information the credit reference agency holds was the reason you were refused. Being refused by one company does not mean you will automatically be turned down by another. The leaflet ‘Your credit decision explained’ included in this pack provides further information on how the whole process works. The leaflet ‘Refused credit’ gives more information on what to do when credit is refused. What is a credit report? Your credit report is a copy of the information that the credit reference agency holds about you. Your credit report will change over time as you make payments on existing agreements and apply for new ones. You can have a look at your credit report at any time by applying to the credit reference agency for a copy. They will send you a copy and you can ask them for help with understanding the information or changing it if you think something is wrong. The leaflet ‘Your credit report explained’ in this pack gives much more detailed information about what is on a credit report. Understanding your credit report It is important you understand the information on your credit report. Your credit report must also be up to date, because it helps lenders check: your name and address; how you have managed credit in the past; how you are managing credit at the moment. If your report shows that you repay credit on time, this will usually help you get credit. It will also help you get the best credit deals. Session four - Credit Decisions Session plan Aims of session: To look at what to do if credit is refused To introduce credit reports To discuss further the role of credit reference agencies Learning outcomes – to be able to: Explain what to do if credit is refused Understand the information held in a credit report What this session covers: The credit journey Credit decisions Being refused credit Credit reports Improving your credit report Resources Credit journey map Example decline letter Handouts (including handout 3a – lending decision diagram) Example credit report (in additional resources section) 1 per learner Fact sheet Whiteboard/flipchart Pens Lending decision diagram from previous session Your credit report explained leaflet A to Z glossaries Credit Crossroads leaflet – Refused credit Possible additional activities: Compile a credit report using a made up name and address. Each learner designs an entry to go on the report. When put together, decide as a group whether this person a) should apply for credit (are they over committed already?) and b) whether they are likely to have an application accepted. Using the leaflet ‘Your credit report explained’ (available in this pack) compile a list of facts about credit reports or credit reference agencies. Depending on group size and confidence, role play being refused credit (either receiving a letter, being told over the phone or in person in a shop). What advice is given? How does it feel? Suggested session outline for Session 4: Credit Decisions Time Topic Activity Resources 5 The credit Recap on Jeff’s progress so far. Refer to journey map. Credit journey map mins journey What stage is Jeff at now? 10 Credit decisions Refer back to the lending decision diagram and reiterate Handout 3a – mins how the process works. Remember that Jeff was refused Lending decision credit. Distribute and read out example decline letter to diagram group. Is the letter easy to understand? If not, why? Discuss how it would feel to be refused credit. What Example decline should Jeff do now? letter – Handout 4a 15 Credit reports Has anyone had a copy of their credit report? What Whiteboard/ mins information does the group expect to be on the report? flipchart Make a list as a group. Refer back to information used in Pens previous session. 15 Credit reports Jeff has got a copy of his credit report from a credit Example credit mins reference agency. Look through his credit report using report the explanatory leaflet to help understand the codes and terminology used within the report. Discuss why you Fact Sheet Four think information is included. Refer back to the list the group made as you look A to Z glossaries through the credit report. Are there any surprises? Why do you think certain information is not on there? Your credit report explained leaflet 20 Credit reports Give out Handout 4c and explain activity. Learners are to Handout 4b mins use leaflet and example report to answer the questions. Your credit report Go through as a group once completed. explained leaflet Example credit report 5 Querying your Discuss what to do if you think information on your report Your credit report mins report is wrong. (Note: this information is found on the report explained leaflet and in the leaflet.) Example credit report 15 Improving your Give out handout 4c and explain activity. Learners Handouts 4c and mins credit report should have the do’s and don’ts sheet and a pile of 4d (Page One tips/advice. They must assign each tip to either the ‘do’ should be cut up or the ‘don’t’ pile. Go through answers as a group into strips) afterwards. (Note: The ‘Your credit report explained’ leaflet holds the answers to these so leaflets should be put to one side during this activity.) Handout 4e (answers) Distribute Handout 4e - Improving your credit report and go through points. Do you have any suggestions for Jeff (register on electoral roll, contact lenders about late payments)? 5 Credit journey Recap session and refer back to Jeff’s journey Credit journey map mins The following resources are required for session four: Handout 4a: Decline letter Lendu Money Ltd Lending Lane Lend town LN1 4LN Mr Jeff Penney 23 Green Street Forest Glade RR9 5AQ Date 25/01/2006 Dear Mr Penney Thank you for your application for a Lendu Money Ltd loan. I regret that we are unable to grant your request on this occasion, as your circumstances did not meet our lending criteria. We assessed your application by taking account of the following: • The information on your application form • Any information we already hold about you (if you have been a customer before) • Information provided by a credit reference agency We assess this information using a combination of rules and credit scoring. Our credit scoring system gives points to each piece of relevant information and adds these up to produce an overall score. Unfortunately your application did not reach a high enough score for us to be able to give you a loan. If you would like to see what information the credit reference agency we used holds about you, their contact details are below. If you apply for your credit report in writing, you need to provide your full name, date of birth and addresses over the past six years. Experian Ltd PO Box 8000 Nottingham NG80 1WF 0870 241 6212 www.experian.co.uk If you have additional information to support your application and would like us to reconsider your application, please let us know within 28 days of receiving this letter. Thank you once again for your interest in a Lendu Money Ltd loan. Yours sincerely Lending manager Tutor handout for session 4 Example credit report The example credit report can be found in the additional resources section of this pack. If for some reason the report is missing, it can be downloaded from www.experian.co.uk/learningzone and clicking on the ‘getting credit’ option. All the details, names and addresses in this report are fictitious and are not based on any real people. It appears very much like an actual credit report but has additional explanatory boxes in the left hand margin of every page. The credit report has a date of 16th January 2006 on it. The information within the report relates to the period preceding this date. The credit report activity Answers to credit report questions 1. Jeff’s date of birth is 23rd February 1953 (see page 3 of the report). 2. Jeff Penney is financially associated to Sally Penney (see page 2 of the report). 3. Jeff’s previous address was 4 Arnott Drive, Manchester M26 9AG (see page 2 of the report). 4. Jeff’s judgment was ‘satisfied’ in May 2006 and was for £681 (see page 4 of the report). 5. Jeff doesn’t owe Boodles Bank anything. The balance on the account is £0 and the account has been settled (see page 5 of the report). 6. The account code ‘D’ means that the account is not being used and nothing is owed (see page 5 of the report). 7. Hope, Bing and Lamour Ltd ‘searched’ Jeff’s credit report on 15th December 2006 (see page 6 of the report). 8. In his Notice of Correction, Jeff explains that his redundancy was the cause of his court judgment (see page 7 of the report). 9. Jeff’s defaulted mobile phone account will be removed six years from the date the account was defaulted which was 06/10/2006 so it will stay on his report until 06/10/2012 (see page 5 of the report). 10. Jeff has five credit accounts recorded on his report. Fact Sheet Four Getting credit: A beginner’s guide Why have I been refused credit? There are a number of reasons why an application for credit can be refused. Only the lender who made the decision can explain why they refused an application. Lenders may tell you that they used the information held by a credit reference agency to help them make their decision. This information is called a credit report (or credit file). You can get a copy of your credit report from a credit reference agency at any time for a small fee. It is a good idea to check your credit report from time to time to make sure the information on it is accurate and up to date. What is a credit report? Your credit report is a copy of the information that the credit reference agency holds about you. It will show your electoral roll details and details of your current and past credit agreements. Your credit report will change over time as you make payments on existing agreements and apply for new ones. You can have a look at your credit report at any time by applying to the credit reference agency for a copy. They will send you a copy and you can ask them for help with understanding the information or changing it, if you think something is wrong. How do I get my credit report? You can order a copy of your credit report online at www.experian.co.uk or by calling 0870 241 6212. It costs £2 if you apply online and up to £3 if you phone for a copy. The other credit reference agencies are Equifax (tel: 0870 010 0583) or www.equifax.co.uk and Callcredit (tel: 0870 060 1414) or www.callcredit.plc.uk Understanding your credit report Each of the credit reference agencies will offer you help to understand the information held on your credit report. Your report may come with an explanatory leaflet. Experian’s leaflet is called ‘Your credit report explained’. Each of the agencies will hold different information on you so it is well worth getting a copy of your report from all three of them. Information relating to your family members or partner will not appear on your credit report. Your credit report will hold some or all of the following information: Information What it means Electoral roll A record of whether you are registered to vote from your address Aliases and Financial A record of other names you have been known by (e.g. maiden name) associates and a list of financial links between you and a partner (e.g. joint account/joint mortgage) Judgments and bankruptcies If you have been taken to court for a sum of money or made bankrupt Credit account information A list of your present accounts or credit agreements and those that have been open in the past six years Previous searches Any applications that you have made for credit recently Financial associate searches Applications that your partner has made where your information has been looked at by a lender Linked addresses Places that you have lived at before or transferred an account from/to CIFAS information The UK’s fraud prevention service. Fraud protection information Handout 4b – Jeff Penney’s credit report Using Jeff Penney’s credit report and the explanatory leaflet ‘Your credit report explained’, answer the following questions: 1. What is Jeff’s date of birth? 2. Who is Jeff Penney financially associated to? 3. What was Jeff’s previous address? 4. When did Jeff pay off his court judgment and how much was it for? 5. How much does Jeff owe to Boodles Bank? 6. What does the code ‘D’ mean on a credit account? 7. Which company searched Jeff’s credit report on 15th December 2005? 8. What does Jeff say caused the court judgment on his report? 9. When will Jeff’s defaulted account (C5) be removed from his report? 10. How many credit accounts does Jeff have on his report? Page one Handout 4c - Improving your credit report Here is a list of ways in which you can improve your chances of getting credit and also some advice which is not worth listening to. Cut along the dotted lines so that you have twelve separate statements. Using the chart on page two, sort them into piles of things to ‘do’ and ‘don’t’. If you cannot pay your debts just ignore the demands from the organisations you owe money to. Make sure you are on the electoral roll. This helps lenders to identify you at your address. Answer an advert in the paper from a company which offers to clear your credit rating for a fee of £250. Make your payments on time. If you cannot do this, contact the lender as soon as possible to discuss what options are available to you. If you have paid a court judgment, make sure it is shown as paid on your credit report. If it is not, notify the court. If you want proof of payment, you can ask the court for a certificate of satisfaction. This will cost £15. Keep on applying for credit if you keep getting refused. Sooner or later someone will accept your application. Don’t bother registering on the electoral roll. If a bankruptcy order has ended and this is not shown on your credit report, send a copy of your certificate of discharge or annulment to all credit reference agencies and ask for your report to be updated. Assume that your credit report has ‘bad’ information on it. If you have paid off a credit account but your report doesn’t show this, contact the organisation concerned and ask them to make the necessary changes. Or contact the credit reference agency and they will contact the relevant organisation for you. Assume that if you have been refused credit once, you will be refused by everyone that you apply to. Always check your credit report. It makes sense to get a copy of your credit report before you apply for credit or if you are refused credit as a result of information held by the credit reference agency. Page two Handout 4d - Improving your chances of getting credit To improve your chances of getting credit:- Do Don’t Page one Handout 4e - Improving your credit report These are some of the ways of improving your chances of getting credit: Make sure you are on the electoral roll. This helps lenders to identify you at your address. Make your payments on time. If you cannot do this, contact the lender as soon as possible to discuss what options are available to you. If you have paid a court judgment, make sure it is shown as paid on your credit report. If it is not, notify the court. If you want proof of payment, you can ask the court for a certificate of satisfaction. This will cost £15. If a bankruptcy order has ended and this is not shown on your credit report, send a copy of your certificate of discharge or annulment to all credit reference agencies and ask for your report to be updated. If you have paid off a credit account but your report doesn’t show this, contact the organisation concerned and ask them to make the necessary changes. Or contact the credit reference agency and they will contact the relevant organisation for you. Always check your credit report. It makes sense to get a copy of your credit report before you apply for credit or if you are refused credit as a result of information held by the credit reference agency. Page two The misleading information is listed below along with an explanation of why it is not true. Assume that if you have been refused once, you will be refused by everyone that you apply to. This is not true. Lenders have their own way of scoring an application and you may well be accepted by another lender. Assume that your credit report has ‘bad’ information on it. The majority of the information held by credit reference agencies is ‘good’ and shows that most people make their payments on time. Your report may not tell you why you have been refused. The tips above can help you to make your report more attractive to lenders. Keep on applying for credit if you keep getting refused. Sooner or later someone will accept your application. If you are refused, get a copy of your report just to check that everything is OK before you make another application. Don’t bother registering on the electoral roll. You are legally obliged to register on the electoral roll if you are eligible to vote. Lenders then use the electoral roll to check you live where you say you live. If you cannot pay your debts just ignore the demands from the organisations you owe money to. Keeping in contact with your lenders is very important. Most lenders will want to help and will come to an arrangement with you to make reduced payments if you are struggling. Answer an advert in the paper from a company which offers to clear your credit rating for a fee of £250. You can do everything you need to do for free with the help of the credit reference agency. Paying money for this is silly. Debts cannot be removed from a credit report if they are correct.
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