Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Identity provider / credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines the application when identity verification fails to meet the specified point threshold.

Example:

The applicant scored 20 out 35 on the ID check

Configurable variables:

Point threshold.

Things to be mindful of:

Decline results may occur due to data quality issues (such as incomplete address history), name changes, or limited credit history rather than fraud.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Identity provider / credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application when identity checks return slight discrepancies.

Example:

The applicant scored 30 out 35 on the ID check

Configurable variables:

Point threshold.

Things to be mindful of:

A Refer result does not imply identity risk and requires manual assessment.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines the application if the applicant’s credit score falls below a defined threshold

Example:

The applicants credit score is less than 500

Configurable variables:

Credit score threshold (by strategy)

Things to be mindful of:

Credit scores are backward-looking and may not reflect recent improvements in financial behaviour.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application when the applicant’s credit score is below a defined refer threshold but above the decline threshold.

Example:

The applicants credit score is less than 540

Configurable variables:

Minimum acceptable credit score (by strategy)

Things to be mindful of:

Applicants close to the threshold may be materially similar despite different outcomes.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application if the number of recent credit searches exceeds a set threshold within a short time period (typically 3 months).

Example:

The applicant has a record of two credit searches in the last two months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Multiple searches may reflect rate shopping rather than financial distress.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application if the number of credit searches exceeds a defined threshold over a longer time period (typically 12 months).

Example:

The applicant has a record of four credit searches in the last twelve months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Search data does not indicate whether credit was actually taken.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application if the applicant is not recorded on the electoral roll at the given current address.

Configurable variables:

None.

Things to be mindful of:

Applicants may be eligible but not registered, particularly recent movers or younger borrowers.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau + declared income

What the rule does:

Refers the application if monthly debt repayments exceed a set percentage of income monthly. (monthly repayments ÷ monthly income)

Example:

The monthly debt ratio is 26% or more

Configurable variables:

Debt-to-income percentage threshold

Things to be mindful of:

The calculation relies upon the monthly income value that the application declares during their application. Which may be overstated or understated, affecting the ratio.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau + declared income

What the rule does:

Refers the application if total outstanding debt exceeds a defined proportion of annual income.

Example:

The annual debt ratio is 80% or more

Configurable variables:

Debt-to-income percentage threshold

Things to be mindful of:

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application if the total of all credit card balances exceeds a defined percentage of available total credit limits.

Example:

The total sum of credit card balances is 80% of the total sum of credit card limits

Configurable variables:

Utilisation percentage threshold

Things to be mindful of:

Utilisation is calculated by comparing reported balances to reported credit limits for each credit card account.

High utilisation may be temporary or part of a long term pattern.

Defaulted credit card balances are included in the calculation, even where the associated credit limit is reported as zero.

Outcome:

Decline (DEC14) or Refer (REF12)

Data source:

Credit bureau + declared income

What the rule does:

Triggers when two or more of REF13, REF14, or REF15 are met, indicating compounded indebtedness.

Configurable variables:

None (dependent rules only).

Things to be mindful of:

Does not consider discretionary spending reductions or short-term debt consolidation plans.

Outcome:

Refer (REF30) or Decline (DEC20)

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Assess long-term credit card utilisation across a defined number of accounts.

Example:

Balance has been 75% or higher for more than 2 consecutive months on 2 accounts

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Does not assess whether high utilisation is temporary or part of a longer-term pattern beyond the configured period.

Utilisation is calculated by comparing reported balances to reported credit limits for each account within the configured time frame.

Cards with £0 limit are ignored from the evaluation, but Defaulted credit cards with a reported limit above zero, will be included.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines applicants who have previously taken credit and made no repayments at all.

Configurable variables:

None.

Things to be mindful of:

Rare but severe indicator; does not reflect time since occurrence.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines applicants who have had a configurable number of defaults, at or above a specified amount, within a set period of time prior to the application date.

Example:

3 Defaults, each for £100 or more, registered in the last 12 months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Settled defaults are still considered as a default in the calculation and will thus still trigger the policy rule.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers an applicant where they have a set number of defaults within a period of time, short (REF09) or long (REF20), prior to the date or application

Example:

Refer if there have been 1 or more defaults in the past 12 months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Settled defaults are still considered defaults.

Outcome:

Refer (REF08) and Decline (Dec19)

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers (REF08) or Declines (DEC19) the application if a specified number of accounts has reached status 2 (e.g. 2 months in arrears) or higher within a defined period.

Configurable variables:

Fixed parameters:

Things to be mindful of:

Does not distinguish between isolated incidents and systemic issues.

Status codes reflect historical arrears and may lag behind repayment recovery.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application if the applicant has missed the configured number of mortgage payments within the specified time period.

Example:

The applicant has missed 1 or more payments on a mortgage account in the last 12 months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Applicants may 'catch up' on missed payments by repaying the arrears and bringing the account up to date.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines applications where the applicant is currently subject to insolvency proceedings. For example an IVA, DRO or Bankruptcy order.

Example:

The applicant is currently Bankrupt.

Configurable variables:

None.

Things to be mindful of:

Does not differentiate between insolvency types or stages.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines applications where insolvency occurred within a defined period.

Example:

The applicant entered into a DRO 24 months ago.

Configurable variables:

Time period (months)

Things to be mindful of:

Past insolvency may not reflect current financial stability.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers applications where insolvency occurred within a defined period.

Example:

The applicant has had a bankruptcy on file within the last 72 months.

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Past insolvency may not reflect current financial stability.

Outcome:

Decline

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Declines the application based on the number of CCJs, their value and the time since the application that they were granted against the applicant.

Example:

The applicant has 3 or more CCJs, each for a value of £500 or more, issued in the last 72 months.

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Satisfied CCJs will still be counted were their current value is within the parameters.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Credit bureau

What the rule does:

Refers the application based on the number of CCJs, their value and the time since the application that they were granted against the applicant.

Example:

The applicant has 2 or more CCJs, each for a value of £500 or more, issued in the last 36 months.

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Satisfied CCJs will still be counted were their current value is within the parameters.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Open Banking

What the rule does:

Refers the application when the average income identified from Open Banking data differs from declared income by more than a set percentage.

Example:

Average monthly income is 10% less than the income declared

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Average income depends on the length and completeness of the Open Banking connection.

Outcome:

Refer

Data source:

Open Banking + declared income

What the rule does:

Refers the application when the most recent month’s income differs materially from the average income over the connection period.

Example:

Most recent month's income is 10% less than the average income over connection period

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Seasonal or irregular income patterns may trigger false positives.

Outcome:

Decline (DEC15) or Refer (REF26)

Data source:

Open Banking

What the rule does:

Flags missed direct debits or standing orders within a defined period.

Example:

There have been 2 or more Bounced payments in the past 2 months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Does not distinguish between essential and non-essential payments, or the underlying reason a payment failed.

Each missed direct debit or standing order within the configured period is counted as a bounced payment.

Manual repayments or informal arrangements outside the banking system are not reflected in the data.

Outcome:

Decline (DEC16) or Refer (REF27)

Data source:

Open Banking

What the rule does:

Identifies high-frequency gambling activity within a defined period.

Example:

There have been 90 or more Gambling transactions in the last 3 month

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Does not assess the value of gambling activity or whether activity is affordable for the applicant.

Each identified gambling transaction within the configured period is counted equally, regardless of amount.

Some gambling activity may not be captured if transactions are not classified as gambling by the underlying merchant or data provider.

Outcome:

Decline (DEC17) or Refer (REF28)

Data source:

Open Banking

What the rule does:

Flags gambling spend that exceeds a defined percentage of income.

Example:

The applicant has spent 15% or more of their income on Gambling transactions in the last 3 month

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

It is not a Net position; winnings do not factor into the calculations.

Outcome:

Decline (DEC18) or Refer (REF29)

Data source:

Open Banking

What the rule does:

Flags high volumes of BNPL transactions within a defined period.

Example:

There have been 45 BNPL transactions in the last 2 months

Configurable variables:

Things to be mindful of:

Does not distinguish between one-off and payment plan payments.
Each individual transaction within the configured period is counted.

DEC01

The applicant is under 18

DEC02

Public information suggests the applicant may be deceased

REF01

An error at the Credit Reference Bureau has prevented processing. The applicant should be re-run manually in the assess page

REF02

There is a Notice of Correction / Notice of Dispute on the credit file

REF03

No match at bureau. Collect a more complete address history from the applicant and re-run a credit check using the previous address data in the Asses page

REF04

CIFAS Present (for CIFAS members only)

REF16

Pre-processing error

REF17

Missing Input Fields