Get plastic recommendations based on your credit profile

• Featured Articles
• Published: 26 Jan 2010 in Money and Credit Cards

By Owe Carter

If you don’t already know, to aid with the credit card selection process we’ve got a really clever little tool. What it does is to give you a selection of cards you might be interested in, and tells you how likely you are to be accepted based on your credit profile. What’s more, this won’t leave any footprints on your credit record. Interested? Then read our Q&A to find out more.

How does this service work then?

You fill in your name, address and a small number of basic questions, and they’ll be fired off to a credit checking agency. Using your credit profile and lender rules, you’ll get a list of products back, ranked in terms of your likelihood of being accepted for them were you to apply.

The cards that are listed will also carry with them a number out of ten, which represents the likelihood of your acceptance (e.g. ‘8 out of 10 people like you will be accepted for this product’). Whether you use this rating as encouragement or discouragement in applying for the card is up to you. But if you do choose to apply for a card, then the remainder of the process is exactly the same as it would be if you used Confused.com to compare credit cards without the acceptance-checking tool.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the personal data that the credit agency holds on you will not be made available to Confused.com – or indeed to the lenders – during the course of this process.

How does this benefit you?

By using your credit profile as a point of reference, we think we’re offering a service more tailored to your needs and circumstances. And because you can see how likely you are to be accepted for a product before you apply:

• you won’t waste time and effort by applying for cards you might not get;
• you won’t have multiple credit application searches recorded against your name;
• you can compare cards on price and service, rather than worry about the likelihood of being accepted.

Is it biased?

Absolutely not! The credit check company do not receive any commission in return for recommending certain cards, and Confused.com simply show the cards which you’re most likely to be accepted for and then display them in order on that basis.

I’m not likely to be accepted for a card! What can I do about this?

If your credit history isn’t that great, then you’re naturally less likely to be accepted for a card. Don’t fret though – there are steps you can take to improve your profile. Read our article: ‘Get a Better Grade on your Credit Report’ to find out more.

Choosing the best credit card for you

How to apply for a credit card

Credit card options for those with a poor credit history

A credit card terms glossary