Experts have warned that lenders are increasingly rejecting applications based not on missed payments, but on subtle warning signs buried deep within credit files. With mortgage rates still under scrutiny and lenders tightening affordability checks, these "hidden credit red flags" could prove costly in 2026. Maxine McCreadie, personal finance expert at UK Debt Expert, says: “We’re seeing more people turned down for credit, not because they’ve missed payments, but because their credit file is flashing warning signs they didn’t even know existed. 10 Hidden Credit File Red Flags That Could Trigger Rejection1. Paying car insurance monthlyMonthly insurance payments are technically credit agreements and usually involve a hard credit check.

Source: The Times February 16, 2026 15:08 UTC