Declined by Three for iPhone Offer

Player_86

Hi all,

Just a couple of quick questions for you.

I applied today for the free iPhone, €40 per month, 24 month contract. My application was declined. I've heard of people having to pay a deposit, especially where they haven't owned a bill phone before, and I have heard of people being declined, but usually in circumstances where they have poor credit history or they're unemployed.

I'm fortunate enough to have a reasonably good, secure job (I earn circa €40k per annum) and, although I've never had a bill phone before, my application was simply declined; there was no suggestion that I pay a deposit or anything like that.

Perhaps I was declined because, essentially, I don't have a credit history. I'm only 24 and I've never had a credit card or paid any direct debits. I still live at home. However, my currect account has a very comfortable surplus every month and I manage to make pretty good savings every month. I don't have any judgments or anything like that against me. I got a small credit union loan earlier this month and I start repaying it later in the month, so perhaps that might strengthen my application.

So, my questions are this:

1. Why do you think I was declined? Was it the lack of credit history? It still seems quite harsh - I'd happily pay a deposit and a quick glance at my bank statements indicate that €40 per month (or more) would be no problem at all.

2. Is there any point in appealing the decision? I was given information on how to appeal, but I'm concerned that it may be a pointless exercise. I'm also quite busy in work and it seems like quite a time-consuming exercise.

3. If I do appeal, what kind of documents should I submit? Bank statements etc I presume?

Someone will probably suggest that I go to a different network, and I am hugely tempted to do that. My girlfriend, however, signed up for the deal last month and the free 3 to 3 calls are very important to us. I also think the 3 offer is very good, and I don't want to go elsewhere just because my ego is damaged due to the fact that they declined me!

Many thanks for reading, and any suggestions/comments welcome.

Player_86

theliam

sounds ridiculous, if you call up and talk to a manager im sure theyd sort it out

antodeco

Nothing to do with credit history or salary. What most credit ratings go by are:

Age
Occupation
Address

Kinda sucks, and id say ringing up won't do much either.

Jimdagym

I know someone who filled on the credit application that they have not had a job in 4 years and they got the iPhone €40 contract no deposit, no problem, nothing.

The whole system is loopy.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Doodah7

Surely this is more appropriate to the 3 forum rather than Apple Devices???

tfitzgerald

tallpaul wrote: »

Surely this is more appropriate to the 3 forum rather than Apple Devices???

Does it matter what forum this was posted in the op was looking for advice, are we not supposed to help him because we don't like where it's posted. I think that's a load of anal retentive bollix and he was talking about an iPhone so maybe he thought apple media devices was the right forum

Player_86

Thanks for the responses guys.

I rang the Sales team but they said it was nothing to do with them; it's the Finance team that makes the decision. That's fair enough - I've worked in call centres before and it's rarely the people taking the calls who are to blame for these things. But there's no way I can speak to anyone in the Finance team about it, which is frustrating. I have to write a letter. I can't even send an e-mail.

Antodeco, you could well have a point. I'm only 24 (although I know plenty of people my age and younger who have been approved), I live in a reasonable area of Dublin (the address wouldn't be an issue), but I'm working in an area (law) that could be perceived as a little vulnerable at the moment, even though I'm very lucky that my job is secure.

It's just a little exasperating. If there was someone I could speak to about it, rather than having to write a letter, post it, and probably wait weeks for a generic response, I'd be a lot happier.

A little disappointing from Three, in my opinion.

smallbrowncat

Player - the EXACT same thing happened to me. I was absolutely furious as it seemed to be a rather arbitrary decision. I too called up various departments of 3, but they refused to give a reason for declining me. They didn't even give me the option of sending them a letter!

Was absolutely gobsmacked by their poor handling of customers in this area of finance - as a former debt/consumer affairs lawyer I was quite disgusted.

RnR

tallpaul wrote: »

Surely this is more appropriate to the 3 forum rather than Apple Devices???

Where is the 3 forum, I can't find it!

Fresh Pots

You will find it here! Link

RnR

TheTechGuy wrote: »

You will find it here! Link

Ooops. Silly me, thanks

UnknownSpecies

The Three iPhone process is an absolute shambles to be quite honest. I have had many customers in trying to sign up only to be declined. One guy who was declined went and got two independent credit checks done but it didn't matter to them. It does seem to be a lottery and just a case of them only letting a limited number of people onto the network. Sounds surprising, but students who live at home seem to have a reasonable level of success, it's just about what kind of social bracket you fall into, they don't actually check your credit history.