Improving your credit rating whilst unemployed and on benefits?

terryw

krato wrote: »

Still not recieved call/letter or anything so shall wait it out, will let you know what my outcome is! Thanks for the help =]

As for the 'don't get one because you already have debt' I have no self inflicted debt other than my university loan, which I got because I was.. well at university, couldn't be helped and I thought it would be a decent thing at the time, I've already saved up about half to pay off my loan and the interest on it is tiny so I don't see it as a worry. I have no other debt at all, whenever I borrow money I pay it off as soon as I can, and wouldn't use a credit card for anything else other than small purchases to help my credit rating. I'm not silly enough, nor independant enough to *NEED* to borrow money, I can't go out so I don't spend as much on food/alcohol/clothes as most other people and I don't have important bills that I could get behind on, It's primerily for buying then paying off instantly via online banking. I'm supported by lots of people so if I did need to borrow some huge ammount for any reason I would never get it on a credit card. I'm prety sensible when it comes to money so It wouldn't get me in debt, but thanks for the thought.

Well done....you have a very sensible attitude. Credit cards can be the "devil in disguise", just peruse the many sad stories on MSE from people who have ended up in enormous amounts of debt via credit cards. To me, it does not appear to be wise to take on the tempting offer of credit until such time as you the means to pay it back in case you are tempted to overspend or buy things which are not really necessary.
I have bought things on a whim just because I have the dreaded cards but if I had had to pay cash, then the items would not have been bought and then paid back together with the huge interest fees. I am sure 99 per cent of MSE posters would agree that they have wasted money in the same manner. Go for your idea if you are really strong willed.

If you have spare cash, it is probably a good idea to reduce your student loan even if just to save money on the interest fees charged, however small.

seeya23

krato wrote: »

Thanks seeya, I'll contact them in 7 days if I don't receieve a reply, I doubt they could tell me anything if they haven't done the further checks etc.

you dont have to wait 7 days i call them the next day after i apply

krato

terryw wrote: »

Well done....you have a very sensible attitude. Credit cards can be the "devil in disguise", just peruse the many sad stories on MSE from people who have ended up in enormous amounts of debt via credit cards. To me, it does not appear to be wise to take on the tempting offer of credit until such time as you the means to pay it back in case you are tempted to overspend or buy things which are not really necessary.
I have bought things on a whim just because I have the dreaded cards but if I had had to pay cash, then the items would not have been bought and then paid back together with the huge interest fees. I am sure 99 per cent of MSE posters would agree that they have wasted money in the same manner. Go for your idea if you are really strong willed.

If you have spare cash, it is probably a good idea to reduce your student loan even if just to save money on the interest fees charged, however small.

Thanks =]
I already keep a log of how much I spend, what on and where, so I'd adapt that to my credit card and make sure i already have the money in my bank before purchasing something on it! I'd be too anxious about buying something and not being able to pay it off, if I couldn't afford to buy something using my debit card then I wouldn't buy it on my credit card. I understand that so many people rely on credit cards for the wrong reasons and due to temptation, in fact if I had a 0% on purchase card It would be a lot worse for me than a 35% apr as that figure would keep my spending low lol

I guess I should repay some of my student loan, I just haven't got around to it yet =/

krato

seeya23 wrote: »

you dont have to wait 7 days i call them the next day after i apply

Really? Can you email or do you have to call?

seeya23

no you have to call them on 0800 952 5452

krato

Wahey I've been declined *sigh* credit ratings a bit doomed now, I don't see how they can decline it if its for low credit rating, as theres nothing on my score that's negative =/ think I'll give up.

seeya23

i was declined by capone for about 10 years untill now
well i would try
/www.vanquis.co.uk/home/home.aspx
they will call you

krato

seeya23 wrote: »

i was declined by capone for about 10 years untill now
well i would try
/www.vanquis.co.uk/home/home.aspx
they will call you

Think I'll pass on it, if they decline I'll be hit twice as hard

pennyfrog

I'd just ignore the judgmental comments, Krato- you'll never please everybody. Some people like to have a rather simplistic 'everything is this easy if you really want it' viewpoint.
When I graduated, I applied for so many jobs- even for jobs I didn't want- that it got ridiculous. I lived in a pretty big town, where employment oportunities weren't especially bad. I went to the job centre daily. I phoned people on spec- sent off countless CVs- and was told in almost every case that I was either overqualified- (and therefore not worth investing in, as they didn't believe I'd stick around for long- that I'd be off to something better!), or just didn't have the experience. (Because I'd spent the last 3 years at Uni instead of working!). In the end- just to make sure I had some money coming in and so that I wasn't 'sitting around' (fat chance- I was job hunting!!!) - I took the only job I was offered- as a waitress in a pub restaurant. I earnt £40 per week (this was the end of the 80s and it was crap pay then!!!)
Chatting with customers one day, someone mentioned that I was an Honours Degree graduate. Now, I went to uni in the days of grants- before the Student Loans, and I'd qualified for a full grant. The customer gave me a complete earful about the fact that his taxes had paid for me to go to University only for me to not even bother repaying society with my knowledge and expertise, gained at his expense, by 'bumming around' as a waitress because I was obviously too lazy to get a proper job. His answer to the reply that I'd tried was that the jobs are there if you really want them. Never felt more like tipping a dessert over someone's head!!!
If I'd been claiming JSA (Or Unemployment Benefit as it was then) he'd have no doubt been disgusted that I was sitting around freeloading.
You can't win.
On another brief point- a relative of mine is one the most hardworking people I know. She worked her fingers to the bone years ago to bring up my cousins (both when married and, for a while, as a single mother). Her health now means that she is disabled and unable to work. She hates it. She would rather be scrubbing toilets than not work- but she can't. Some disabled people- wheelchairs or not- are able to work. Some genuinely can't. Whilst I applaud those who have the determination to overcome adversity- and I truly admire those who do- I recognise that there are some who just can't. Not through lack of desire or trying. You can't judge another person's ability to work because some disabled people are able to. And mental health has the disadvantage of the person looking perfectly able to go and work. We're not in the dark ages, people, surely there are no neanderthals left who actually think the solution to mental health problems is to give yourself a stern talking to and get on with it?????
Anyhow- good luck, Krato. I hope that you find a way to get that credit rating sorted out.

krato

pennyfrog wrote: »

I'd just ignore the judgmental comments, Krato- you'll never please everybody. Some people like to have a rather simplistic 'everything is this easy if you really want it' viewpoint.
When I graduated, I applied for so many jobs- even for jobs I didn't want- that it got ridiculous. I lived in a pretty big town, where employment oportunities weren't especially bad. I went to the job centre daily. I phoned people on spec- sent off countless CVs- and was told in almost every case that I was either overqualified- (and therefore not worth investing in, as they didn't believe I'd stick around for long- that I'd be off to something better!), or just didn't have the experience. (Because I'd spent the last 3 years at Uni instead of working!). In the end- just to make sure I had some money coming in and so that I wasn't 'sitting around' (fat chance- I was job hunting!!!) - I took the only job I was offered- as a waitress in a pub restaurant. I earnt £40 per week (this was the end of the 80s and it was crap pay then!!!)
Chatting with customers one day, someone mentioned that I was an Honours Degree graduate. Now, I went to uni in the days of grants- before the Student Loans, and I'd qualified for a full grant. The customer gave me a complete earful about the fact that his taxes had paid for me to go to University only for me to not even bother repaying society with my knowledge and expertise, gained at his expense, by 'bumming around' as a waitress because I was obviously too lazy to get a proper job. His answer to the reply that I'd tried was that the jobs are there if you really want them. Never felt more like tipping a dessert over someone's head!!!
If I'd been claiming JSA (Or Unemployment Benefit as it was then) he'd have no doubt been disgusted that I was sitting around freeloading.
You can't win.
On another brief point- a relative of mine is one the most hardworking people I know. She worked her fingers to the bone years ago to bring up my cousins (both when married and, for a while, as a single mother). Her health now means that she is disabled and unable to work. She hates it. She would rather be scrubbing toilets than not work- but she can't. Some disabled people- wheelchairs or not- are able to work. Some genuinely can't. Whilst I applaud those who have the determination to overcome adversity- and I truly admire those who do- I recognise that there are some who just can't. Not through lack of desire or trying. You can't judge another person's ability to work because some disabled people are able to. And mental health has the disadvantage of the person looking perfectly able to go and work. We're not in the dark ages, people, surely there are no neanderthals left who actually think the solution to mental health problems is to give yourself a stern talking to and get on with it?????
Anyhow- good luck, Krato. I hope that you find a way to get that credit rating sorted out.

Thanks for your post pennyfrog, people like that don't really get to me, it's their own problems they should look at, god forbid if they had children ;]
I can't do things I like, never mind things I don't like, they just think its a free ride in the park and that every penny I get is taken from their own pocket, and that noone else in this country pays tax (even I do! and my whole family) lol If someones so peed off with the country then they should go into politics, or just go somewhere that suits them, instead of making stupid endless arguments on forums, gona get them far huh? Tends to be middle aged grumpy men too lol

Think I'll give up on my credit rating, I can't be bothered with it now, had one blow and there doesn't seem to be any other way to get it up, looks like I won't be getting a house any time soon! =[