There are quite a few things you can fail on.Things which can go against you are regular missed payments on credit cards and the like,being made bankrupt,CCJ's and also I think if you join one of those debt organisations which sort your finances out for you.Also they check your current bank details to make sure you're not overdrawn all the time.Your finances do have to be in order now and in the past.I'm not sure if every bank follows the same criteria but I think they would.