How do you get a credit rating?

BuckingFrill wrote: »

Hello all!
So. I'm pretty young, only 19, and I recently got my own house for my daughter and I. Only one problem. I keep getting refused credit for everything. I have no idea how to get a credit rating, let alone improve mine! I know theres websites like Experian that are for that... but they charge and it's not something I can afford. Any tips or help would be much appreciated!

You run your bank account very well, keep it in the plus 24/7 or do your best to try. Never cancel a DD for say your mobile phone without speaking to them first (and cancel in writing).

Get on the Electoral Roll for where you are now. None of this will have an instant effect though.

Maybe a credit card for those in your position would be a good idea but it might depend how many refusals/declines you have had.

Have you had any credit products at all before?
E.g. a mobile phone contract? a bank account with an overdraft? a catalogue account or anything?

Have you registered to be on the electoral roll where you live?

What credit have you been trying to get and been declined for?

If you want to see a copy of your credit file you could look at your noddle one, which is free to access. Experian and Equifax both have a £2 option to see your credit file. But none of these will show you how to improve your ability to get credit, all they will show you is what is on your file at the moment, i.e. whether you have any credit accounts, if you have made payments on time, whether you are on the electoral roll etc.