Barclaycard has launched a new online service that lets customers establish how likely they are to be eligible for a credit card before they apply.
The pre-application check lets users fill in a short online form on the Barlaycard Web site. It leaves a search 'footprint' on the customer's credit file, to show their information has been accessed, but it isn't a formal credit application and it will not affect their ability to get credit in the future.
Amer Sajed, chief executive, Barclaycard UK, says: "Consumers currently need to apply in full for a credit card in the UK, without knowing whether they are likely to be accepted or not, leaving a search on their credit file which can potentially have a negative impact on their credit rating. This unique pre-application check solves this problem."
Earlier this month Barclaycard unveiled an online account servicing system designed to make it simpler for customers to monitor and manage their account.