Keep a check on your credit rating.
Lenders turn down millions of pounds of applications every year. If you are one of the unlucky ones, you should be given an explanation. If not, ask for some guidance.
For example, you may appear to be carrying too much debt from other sources. Maybe your credit report rang some alarm bells, perhaps because you missed some payments on a previous loan. It may simply be that you don't fit the lenders profile for that product. Or even that someone previously living at your address is harming your credit rating.
You need to be sure that your credit report is up to date and accurately reflects your circumstances. It can affect whether you have access to credit, and also how much interest you pay.
To check your credit rating you can write to the credit checking agencies, enclosing a cheque for £2. Alternatively, you can get a free 30 day trial of Credit Expert, the online credit monitoring and identity protection service from Experian. Bear in mind that after 30 days a subscription is charged, but this is a good way to see your credit rating quickly and online:
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