{"id":152554,"date":"2018-11-30T12:27:55","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T12:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=152554"},"modified":"2026-01-29T04:55:56","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T04:55:56","slug":"guaranteed-approval-credit-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/credit-cards\/guaranteed-approval-credit-cards","title":{"rendered":"“Guaranteed approval” credit cards explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re nervous about your credit score, then the idea of “guaranteed approval” is bound to appeal. Across the pond in the US, the term “guaranteed card” typically means a secured credit card<\/a>, where you put down a deposit equivalent to (or greater than) your credit limit to guarantee approval. But secured cards aren\u2019t really a “thing” over here, so what does guaranteed approval look like in the UK?<\/p>

What does “guaranteed approval” mean?<\/h3>

When you\u2019re told that you\u2019re guaranteed or pre-approved, it\u2019s based on what the card issuer knows about your circumstances. This could be from an existing relationship you have with it \u2013 perhaps it\u2019s the bank you have your current account with \u2013 or perhaps you\u2019ve used an eligibility checking service, which runs a “soft search” of your credit file (that\u2019s a search that doesn\u2019t affect your credit score and isn\u2019t visible to others).<\/p>

If you\u2019ve used an eligibility checking service, the personalised results returned are a great indication of whether it\u2019s worth applying for specific cards. The chances of approval given to you might not be 100% accurate every time, but they do offer a very sensible and informed assessment.<\/p>

What does a pre-approved credit card offer in the post mean?<\/h4>

Receiving an actual physical “guaranteed credit card” or “pre-approved” offer in the post (and completely unsolicited) used to be shockingly normal. But now, it\u2019s really only your own bank that might contact you to invite you to apply for an offer that it\u2019s confident you\u2019d be approved for. It\u2019s likely to have selected your details from its database, perhaps from a previous application or an old credit card you had. Alternatively, it may have bought your customer details from a third party. Under GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), companies that store your data must obtain your consent before selling your details to a third party (you may have \u201copted-in\u201d at an earlier date).<\/p>

Ultimately, these credit card providers use the words “guaranteed approval” or “pre-approved” to attract new customers. After all, nobody likes getting rejected. These terms can give you a strong indication of your likelihood of getting that final green light, but there are always final checks required \u2013 and a minority of applications will fall at this final hurdle.<\/p>

How do providers decide who gets those “pre-approved” offers?<\/h4>

The providers will base their “guaranteed credit card” offers on the limited information they have about you, so they may not have your current, full financial picture. This information might also be out-of-date, and your credit score could have worsened since then. This means that while you may have been eligible for a credit card in the past, you might not be now. <\/p>

If you do have bad credit, all\u2019s not lost. A growing number of cards are specifically designed for lower credit scores, but you should run an up-to-date eligibility check before you hit “apply”.<\/p>

How can you really<\/em> be approved for a credit card?<\/h3>

You can only be approved for a credit card if you go through the application process and meet the provider’s criteria. This cannot be done on your behalf without your consent.<\/p>

Before you apply for a credit card, it’s good practice to perform an eligibility check. This is classed as a “soft search<\/strong>” on your credit report<\/a>, which doesn\u2019t affect your score and gives you a pretty good idea of how likely you are to be accepted, (and perhaps even your likely credit limit and interest rate, too). When you make a full application for credit (e.g., credit card, mortgage or personal loan), the lender then performs what is called a “hard search”, which does show up on your credit file.<\/p>

Lenders can’t perform a search on your credit history without your consent. If you see searches on your credit record that you don’t recognise, you can query these with the credit reference agency.<\/p>

What criteria do I need to be approved for a credit card?<\/h3>

Card issuers generally state the minimum criteria you\u2019ll need to meet to apply \u2013 UK resident, over 18 and so on. Card issuers that specialise in bad credit will have a fairly short list, while the most premium cards might have high minimum income requirements or require you to be an existing customer.<\/p>

Minimum credit card requirements usually include:<\/p>