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Aleksandr the meerkat holding a credit card
The Meerkat apartment Aleksandr the meerkat holding a credit card

Credit card eligibility checker

Protect your credit score

  • Enter a few details and compare credit cards from trusted providers
  • Check your eligibility and see pre-approved options that suit your needs
  • Search for the right credit card before you apply

What is a credit card eligibility checker and why should I use one?

A credit card eligibility check shows you which credit cards you’re most likely to be accepted for, based on your credit information and the provider’s lending criteria.

Checking your eligibility for a credit card before you apply involves a soft search of your credit history. It can’t be seen by other lenders and won’t affect your credit score.

Once you formally apply for a credit card, the provider will carry out a hard credit search. This will be added to your credit history and can be seen by other lenders.

Too many hard searches over a short period of time may make it harder for you to borrow money in the future. That’s because providers see this as a sign that you’re having financial problems.

Why use Compare the Market?

Check your eligibility without impacting your credit score

Rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot[2]

[1] Correct as of September 2024.

[2] As of October 1st 2024, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 52,401 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’.

Compare the Market Limited acts as a credit broker, not a lender. To apply you must be a UK resident and aged 18 or over. Credit is subject to status and eligibility. 

How does the credit card eligibility checker work? 

Our credit card checker finds your credit file and matches it against the lending criteria of a panel of credit card providers. To access your credit file, we need some personal details, including your date of birth and UK address history.

Credit card providers also want assurance that you can afford the card before they approve you. We’ll use the information you give us about your employment status, income and expenses to check if you fit their affordability requirements.

Find a credit card

What information is needed to check if I am eligible for a credit card?

To use our credit card checker service, you’ll need to be over 18 with three years of UK address history.

When you use our credit card checker, we’ll ask for your: 

  • Personal details 
  • Date of birth 
  • Address and when you moved there 
  • Financial dependents, if you have any 
  • Employment status and annual salary, plus information about any other income and expenditure.

With that information, we’ll be able to tell you whether you could be eligible for a credit card before you apply.  

Which types of credit cards are included in the eligibility check?

We carry out eligibility checks across a range of different credit cards, including:

Whichever credit card you’re considering, make sure you read the full terms and conditions before applying. Fees, interest rates and minimum repayments will vary depending on the provider.

What are the minimum requirements for applying for a credit card? 

To apply for a credit card, you must be:

  • 18 or over, although some credit cards require you to be at least 21
  • A UK resident with full rights to live in the UK.

Other criteria could apply, depending on the credit card provider. For example, you’ll probably need to have a regular annual income above a certain amount.

What credit score do I need for a credit card?

There’s no one credit score threshold you need to cross to be approved for a credit card. It depends on the credit card provider’s own eligibility criteria and other assessments of your financial stability.

Lenders use your credit score to decide whether you’re a high or low risk – in other words, whether you’ll be able to pay back what you borrow.

In general, the higher your credit score, the greater the chance of you being accepted for a credit card. That’s because a good credit score shows the lender that you’ve handled debt responsibly in the past.

Your credit score also plays a key role in what interest rates you’ll be offered by a card provider. So it’s important to understand how to build your credit score and what can affect it.

The three main UK credit reference agencies each have different calculations for what they consider a ‘good’ credit score:

  • Experian – 881 +
  • Equifax – 531 +
  • TransUnion – 604 +

Will using the credit card eligibility check impact my credit score?

No, using the eligibility checker will not impact your credit score. It’s based on a credit card soft search and isn’t connected to a card application. You can use the eligibility checker as many times as you like, without affecting your credit score.

You’ll be able to see the eligibility check on your credit history, but card providers won’t.

How can I improve my eligibility for a credit card?

If the results of your eligibility check aren’t what you were hoping for, here’s how to improve your chances of being accepted in the future:

Check your credit score and report

You have a legal right to access your credit report for free from credit reference agencies (CRAs) like Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Correcting any mistakes may improve your score and your chances of being accepted for a credit card. If you think there’s an error on your report, you’ll need to raise a dispute by contacting the CRA directly.

Prove you’re financially responsible

Even simple actions, like setting up monthly direct debits and paying bills on time, can prove you’re able to manage your financial responsibilities.

Reduce your debt

Outstanding debt can signal to potential credit card providers that you’re not a suitable applicant. Reduce your debt and you’ll prove you can be trusted to borrow money responsibly.

Affordability improvements

Credit providers will assess your general affordability, based on your incomings and outgoings. Improve this and you’re more likely to be accepted for a card.

Start with a credit builder card

This could be a good option if you can’t get a standard credit card or you’ve never had credit before. Show your provider that you can consistently borrow and repay credit against your credit builder card, and you can improve your credit score.

Author image The Editorial Team

What our expert says...

"It’s a good idea to check your credit report every now and then, in case there are any errors or missed payments that you’ve overlooked. You can check your credit report as often as you like, it won’t impact your credit score."

- The Editorial Team, Experts in personal finance, insurance and utilities

Frequently asked questions

Why am I not eligible for a credit card?

The reasons you might not be eligible for a credit card usually involve:

  • Your credit history – missed payments, late payments, or no credit history at all
  • Your current financial situation – if you have a low or unstable income
  • Too many applications – multiple applications over a short period can suggest you’re desperate for money
  • Admin errors – if your personal details don’t tally, lenders can’t confirm your identity.

However, building your credit score isn’t difficult, and it can improve your likelihood of eligibility in the future.

Why do you need my personal details?

The personal information you give us will be used to access your credit file which we need to check for your eligibility to get a credit card.
  
You’ll find all the details about how we use your data, along with important information about your rights, in our Privacy Policy. You’ll need to read this before you can see your eligibility results.  
 
If you’re completing a credit card check on someone else’s behalf, please make sure they’re aware of our Privacy Policy too. 

How are the credit card eligibility checker results shown?

Once you’ve completed the credit card check, your results will be shown using a scale of 0-100%. The higher the score, the more likely you are to be accepted for that particular credit card. 
 
The score is based on the assumption that the details you’ve given are correct. They may be subject to fraud checks by the provider. 
  
Your results will also show you any cards you’re not eligible for. If you apply for them, you’re likely to be turned down. 
 
And remember – although our credit card checker gives you an indication of whether your application is likely to be accepted – it’s the provider who makes the final decision.

How long are my credit card checker results valid for?

You should assume that your results are valid only at the time of your search, as credit card providers can adjust their eligibility criteria whenever they like.

Does a good credit score mean I’m guaranteed to be accepted?

The higher your credit score, the more likely you are to be successful in your credit card application. However, the final decision is always down to the individual card provider.

Does the eligibility credit card checker include cards for bad credit?

Yes, our eligibility checker includes credit cards for fair credit, good credit and bad credit.

Cards for bad credit are also known as credit-building credit cards. These cards can help improve your credit rating – as can all credit cards – provided you use them responsibly and keep up with the monthly repayments.

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Page last reviewed on 23 OCTOBER 2024
by The Editorial Team