I am not sure if it is useful for Zacs to ask a question for a question.
You may have been declined as you dont have a credit card,
and therefore no (or little) computer 'foot print'
Oh and yes your suspicions are correct - being turned down for a loan is a further black mark
First of all get the reasons - being creditless rather than a bad credit risk is a very small part of the market and there are things you can do - bit I can'r remember since I only meet bad credit risk people