It’s enough to make you growl. You apply for a credit card or loan, get accepted but they inform you the rate’s far higher than advertised.

Worse still, the application hits your credit score, making other cheap credit harder to obtain.

This is the vicious circle of credit application, yet a few new techniques may help you square it. Here are my top ten must-knows.

1. Only 51% must get the advertised rate

Almost every card and loan's now 'representative APR', meaning only 51% of accepted applicants must get the advertised rate. The rest get costlier deals. How do you find out? By applying, but each one hits your credit score.

2. No-fingerprints 'can I get credit?' tests

A few lenders have launched 'soft' searches that indicate likely acceptance without marking your file. I applaud this – more lenders should follow suit. Here are some of the top ones.

3. No-fingerprints 15mths 0% debt shift

The Fluid credit card lets accepted customers shift existing card debts to it at 15mths 0% for a low 1.5% fee. Clear the debt before the 0% ends or the rate jumps to 18.9% representative APR.

However, its killer feature is it lets you pre-apply, so you'll know your chances of getting the 0% - without leaving tell-tale marking your credit file. And not a bad way to work out if other cards are likely to accept you too.

However, it's worth noting while this is a good shorter term 0% deal, as there’s a low fee, much longer is possible – you can shift debts for up to 23 months 0%. Full info and best buys at moneysavingexpert.com/balancetransfers

4. Lock-in debts at 5.9% for life if you're accepted

Here, applications will go on your file, but if you're accepted for MBNA Rate for Life, all debts shifted to it within 60 days are at a guaranteed 5.9% APR (1.5% fee) until repaid, in other words, it's NOT a representative rate.

Don't miss your monthly minimum repayments though, or you'll lose the deal, and beware spending as it's at a much higher rate.

5. No fingerprints cheap loan check

For loans over £7,500, Nationwide is 6.8% representative APR or 6.3% for existing customers. It gets costlier for very large amounts but it does a soft search, so you'll get a strong indication of the rate without it hitting your credit file.

6. Compare cards and find which will accept you

I’m not a fan of credit card comparisons, as it's just as much about how you use cards as the rate. Yet MoneySupermarket's Smartsearch can predict likely acceptance from the 30 providers it compares – and it does this without any fingerprints on your credit file.

Though do be very careful to ensure you know exactly what you’re doing and the best way to work a card once you get it.

7. What lenders really know about you

There are lots of myths about what information credit files actually contain.

What’s on your credit file: Your addresses, County Court Judgement and Bankruptcy record, 6 years' credit history of credit applications and loose repayment history, and some utility history.

What's not on it? Criminal records, parking or speeding fines, your race/religion, savings, salary, CSA info, student loans, credit rejections, PPI or bank charge reclaims.

8. Earn £100 cashback and (re)build your credit score

A key to (re)building credit worthiness is proving you can behave well, by getting a credit card and never missing a repayment. Of course, the difficulty is getting the card.

The Aqua Reward is aimed at poor credit scorers, even some with CCJs/defaults over a year old pass its credit score. Applications will go on your file, but, uniquely, it pays a big 3% cashback on all spending up to a maximum of £100 a year.

However, it's a horrid 34.9% representative APR, so do your normal spending on it, which will help build your file. But ALWAYS fully repay each month to avoid interest and never withdraw cash – so there’s only gain, no cost to you.

9. Checking your credit files doesn't go on your credit file

It's important to regularly check to spot any errors. When you do, you'll often see how many times you've checked in the past. Many worry this hurts them, but only you see this information, lenders don't. There are three credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and CallCredit. You can check them all online for £2 each – for what to check and a loophole to get them free, see moneysavingexpert.com/creditrating.

10. Don't worry, insurance comparisons are no fingerprints

Many people worry that when they’re using comparison site to find cheap insurance deals these involve getting quotes for credit (if you want to pay monthly). Yet credit reference agency Experian confirms comparisons only use soft searches, so while they may appear on your file, lenders won't see them.