I had the same run around from Tesco Loans. Applied on-line, had to ring their call-centre in Belfast on 1850520520 to see whether I was provisionally accepted, I was told yes. All this took about 4 weeks. Then I had to wait for their documentation to arrive, another week or two.
But, in the mean-time the dealership I was buying the car from introduced a 3-year interest-free loan incentive, from PTSB, no doc fees, up-front payments, balloon payments, just a straight deal over three years. I jumped at this, rang Tesco/Ulster on 1850520520, and told them I would not be proceeding with the original loan, as I had jsut got interest-free finance.
I hadn't sent in any documentation or anything, just withdrew the application.
The PTSB loan came through in about three days, not weeks.
Guess what arrived in the post from Tesco the other day. A letter telling me they could not facilitate me, after "careful consideration" as I did not meet their "assessment criteria" There was also a bit on it stating possible reasons, including ICB records, etc.
I was livid, so I have written to the person who signed the letter, looking for an absolute reassurance that nothing has been recorded on my ICB record. I will make a complaint to the Financial Regulator, north or south, if they have in any way compromised my credit rating, which is pristine.
Avoid Tesco Loans like the plague, is my advice.