Electorial roll non Brittish/EU?

snuffilin · 21 October 2005 at 4:02PM

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me out,

Me and my BF are on the road to getting dept free after really struggling for the last 3 years (we, like most people here have this site to thank for that:)). In the process of doing this my BF has tried to upgrade his current account to one that has a normal visa debit card (he only has electron) but he keeps getting rejected for no obviouse reason, so before he tries to apply for a credit card I would like some advice.

He has never had any of the debt in his name only a mobile contract and never had any late payments. He has lived with me the whole time and as my credit score seems ok it should not have anything to do with the address. He has had his bank account for 4 years and has had a salary £1000 - £1500 paid into this account for the last 14 months and no bank charges in the last 9 months. On the paper it's a given but the bank keeps saying no but don't give a reason. Now here is what I think is the problem: He is not on the electorial roll!!! He is not brittish or EU citizen so I have been told he is not allowed to register. He has permanent residency here and can apply for citizenship in 2 1/2 years time. Does anyone know if we can do anything about this before that?

Sorry if this post is messy, just trying to give you as much info as possible.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Snuffi

idiot_3 · 21 October 2005 at 4:14PM

what in particular is wrong with an electron card? surely if you want to be debt free, a credit card is the last thing you need.

newmum1 · 21 October 2005 at 4:30PM

im afraid i agree with "idiot" dont bother getting a credit card if you want to be debt free they are what got most of us in trouble in the first place.

snuffilin · 21 October 2005 at 4:39PM

Hi Idiot (can't believe I just wrote that, I don't mean it

) thanks for your reply!

Electron cards don't work everywhere espesially on the internet and BF is getting sick of having to ask me to pay for his things with my card (he does give me the money but I think it kind of limits his freedom and privacy).

Anyway, debts are firmly under control and should be cleared Feb 06 if not sooner

!!!! So credit card is purely to try and get credit score up as we are planning to buy a house next year.

Does anyone think it is possible he could get a credit/debit card anyway, without electorial roll? Current bank is Halifax maybe someone else would give him a card in return for his monthly salary earning them intrest?

snuffi

ffs · 22 October 2005 at 8:00AM

idiot wrote:

what in particular is wrong with an electron card? surely if you want to be debt free, a credit card is the last thing you need.

Electron is not the same as a Visa Debit card (not credit card), Electron is more restrictive and this can be frustrating at times.

Eager_Elephant · 23 October 2005 at 4:34PM

Hi snuffilin,

I don't think your boyfriend has any chance of upgrading his account with Halifax.

My husband and I have had a joint account(Electron) with Halifax for the past 3 years, we pay in excess of £2000 in each month and our credit files should be ok. We have recently moved but on numerous occasions last year we were invited by the banking clerk who served us in the branch to apply for an upgrade as we paid in so much but each time it got declined.
When they mentioned it again my husband explained that they wouldn't upgrade us and the clerk said she would look into it but we never heard anything back.

We meet all the criteria for the current account but I wonder if it might have something to do with us not owning our own home so they are never gonna make much money out of us.

On another site I go on I'm sure I read that a bankrupt had taken out an account with Nationwide (one of the only banks to offer accounts to bankrupts) and they were upgraded 6 months after their bankruptcy discharge.

I say go figure that one.

Obviously it would help with your mortgage application if your boyfriend was on the electoral role, I think you should ring Electoral Services at your local council and speak to them about having his name put on, if nothing else they will have first hand knowledge.

HTH

BoltonMinx · 23 October 2005 at 5:01PM

AFAIK, looking at my Bolton council electoral roll form, you must be resident not citezen, so he should be eligible to be on the electoral roll.

empfun · 23 October 2005 at 5:27PM

Hi snuffilin! I have been recently doing 'interviews' for the electoral registration office for Haringey Council. Nationalities that are eligible to vote beside British and Irish also includes Commowealth and the EU. I believe this should apply to all if not most boroughs. Hope this helps.

snuffilin · 24 October 2005 at 9:40AM

Thanks for all your replies!

I think we will have to try to get BF an account with a different bank and I will call the borough and ask about the electorial registration but as BF is Brazilian I don't think there is much chance. He has alot of family here and they have all managed to buy houses before they got british citizenship so hopefully the eletorial roll won't make too much of a difference am more worried about the credit score.

I will go and speak to a mortgage advicor in the next couple of weeks, I'll let you know how I get on.

I was thinking that a solution might be that we take out a joint account as my good credit score might help him but have read on here before that it is better to have 1 person with alot of available credit, what do you think?

Thanks again everyone for helping me out!

Snuffi

grumbler · 24 October 2005 at 10:26AM

snuffilin wrote:

...I think we will have to try to get BF an account with a different bank ...

Try Lloyds TSB. My colleague (non-EU) just arrived to UK and after being refused by some bank applied to Lloyds (in branch). She was instantly accepted for normal debit card and - as she was recommended by somebody - both got £40 incentive. Good letter from employer stating term of contract and salary always helps too.

BTW from my experience being on the electoral roll is not very important for current account applications (and even for credit cards).

P.S. PM me if you don't have anybody to recommend her ...

Electorial roll non Brittish/EU?

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