 TITLE: Do Rejected Credit Applications Affect Your Credit Scores? CONTENT: What to Do After Being Rejected for Credit\n------------------------------------------\nGetting rejected is never fun, but you can take steps to avoid denials and improve your chances next time.\nFirst, try to find out why your application was denied. It could have been due to many factors, including your credit score, credit history, income or employment status. Or, some creditors may have unique rules that lead to the denial.\nWhen you are denied credit, the lender is required by law to send you an adverse action letter explaining why. It must also provide instructions on how you can receive a free copy of the credit report it used to make its decision. If the lender used your Experian credit report, you can request a free report at Experian's Report Access page.\nDepending on the reason, you may want to try applying for a loan or credit card from a different issuer. Or, if you continue to hit roadblocks, you may want to take a step back and focus on improving your credit and paying off debt first. While some creditors offer loans for people with bad credit, the loans tend to have high interest rates and fees, and may be best left as an emergency option. END