Newcomer to UK, how to get a normal credit card

DarkFallout

Fergie76 wrote: »

Why do I get the feeling, you just want to run up as much in debt in your two years here and the foxtrot oscar?

As other people have said, get a company card or get them to foot the bill on currency exchange on your cards from home.

This particular question has been already clarified above and there is no need to repeat it.

Paul_the_Painter

You don't need a card with a great interest rate or 0% balance transfer - you just need a credit card with a decent limit as you pay it off each month.

Why not ask your bank for one of their own credit cards? They know you the best, they can see what you do each month, so if things are as you say, they should approve you for a decent limit.

Stop applying for other stuff though, you don't need any more rejections on your file. Try perhaps doing it in branch, explain what happened, and what your needs are.

In hindsight, you should have kept the Lloyds account open, converted it to a standard/"added value" account, and opened a Nationwide account in addition, funding it from your lloyds one as required.

If you plan on returning in the future (even for holidays etc.) keep at least one account open, so when you come back next time you are not a recent arrival, but a valued long-term customer returning to the UK.

DarkFallout

Paul_the_Painter wrote: »

You don't need a card with a great interest rate or 0% balance transfer - you just need a credit card with a decent limit as you pay it off each month.

Why not ask your bank for one of their own credit cards? They know you the best, they can see what you do each month, so if things are as you say, they should approve you for a decent limit.

Stop applying for other stuff though, you don't need any more rejections on your file. Try perhaps doing it in branch, explain what happened, and what your needs are.

In hindsight, you should have kept the Lloyds account open, converted it to a standard/"added value" account, and opened a Nationwide account in addition, funding it from your lloyds one as required.

If you plan on returning in the future (even for holidays etc.) keep at least one account open, so when you come back next time you are not a recent arrival, but a valued long-term customer returning to the UK.

Nationwide account is constantly operational with 2000 pound a month running through it on average since December.

I don't think that the offshore Lloyds account could be 'converted'.

As I explained multiple times I have my accounts open and the only account that I settled was the offshore account as it is on separate offshore branch and not convinient to use on the mainland.

Regarding speaking with my bank, my advisor from Halifax told me not to apply in the fisrt 12 months and NationWide today advised me to apply for CC (although I asked 'are you sure') and then declined me.

noah271007

Listen here DarkFallout, i don't mean to be rude here but you should remember that getting a CC is not a right!!

The very fact is you are new here in UK with very limited credit history, it is no brainer that most CC companies will not consider you until you have established yourself in UK. It is to be said that any newcomer to the UK as legal resident will struggle to get a decent CC for 3 years.

DarkFallout

noah271007 wrote: »

Listen here DarkFallout, i don't mean to be rude here but you should remember that getting a CC is not a right!!

The very fact is you are new here in UK with very limited credit history, it is no brainer that most CC companies will not consider you until you have established yourself in UK. It is to be said that any newcomer to the UK as legal resident will struggle to get a decent CC for 3 years.

I don't want to be rude either but few years ago the same banks gave to a lot of people tens of thousands of pounds, then they abused the system and escaped from the country. Some of them are even still here, because they were using different identities.

I now 2 guys that got about 70K pounds of these very strict banks. One of them is still living happilly in UK and no one touches him.

Then I come here and I have 5K after tax paid in my account every month and wage slips with over 2K income tax and the same banks are very very strict towards me.

I have a neighbour living on benefits, who has not worked in the last 5 years even an hour and he has Mastercard and Visa with 10K limit in total.

And then you tell me that it is not ridiculous for a high rate tax payer to have to wait for 3 years to get decent credit card.

Open your eyes.

noah271007

DarkFallout wrote: »

I don't want to be rude either but few years ago the same banks gave to a lot of people tens of thousands of pounds, then they abused the system and escaped from the country. Some of them are even still here, because they were using different identities.

BUT that was few years ago. It is FRAUD if they are using different identities isn't it? Now banks are more stringent on who to lend. Thats how it should be anyway.


I now 2 guys that got about 70K pounds of these very strict banks. One of them is still living happily in UK and no one touches him.

Fraud again isn't it? if you know this is wrong, why don't you report to the relevant authorities? Or are you perverting the court of justice?

Then I come here and I have 5K after tax paid in my account every month and wage slips with over 2K income tax and the same banks are very very strict towards me.

TOUGH! You just have to be patient mate, or even ask your own bank if they can issue you a card. HSBC would be a good bank for you. It is not only UK where newcomers find difficulities getting decent CCs, countries like USA and Australia are just the same. I don't see what the problem here mate.

I have a neighbhour living on benefits, who has not worked in the last 5 years even an hour and he has Mastercard and Visa with 10K limit in total.

Chances are that your neighbour might have committed fraud for lying on credit applications. What is this got to do with it? It happens everywhere mate, not just UK!!



And then you tell me that it is not ridiculous for a high rate tax payer to have to wait for 3 years to get decent credit card.

Im sorry mate if you don't like my answers but it is a fact newcomers will struggle to get any 0% balance transfers for a couple of years at the very least. If you got AMEX cc then you could ask them to open one for you in UK....

Open your eyes.

You need to wise up mate and just accept the restrictions for now. Who knows you might get lucky but it is unlikely.:D

DarkFallout

sorry mate if you don't like my answers but it is a fact newcomers will struggle to get any 0% balance transfers for a couple of years at the very least. If you got AMEX cc then you could ask them to open one for you in UK

mate, I don't care about 0% or balance transfers as I pay in full ...

I just want a simple 1000 pound credit card ... is it so hard ... I can pay 2000 limit in full every month without any difficulty ...

you just don't get it, you are so used to the ridiculous system here and so inert that I don't see any point in discussing it anymore ...

anyone I tell about this situation in Europe being with 200 pounds CC limit either laughs or does not beleive me ...

there is no point of being patient mate, as hopefully in one year and half I will be home again ...

and there is no need to write in red ...

regarding all the fraud, do you think the same banks did not realise that there was a lot of fraud? yeah ... but they had targets to meet ... they met them and then the meltdown came ...

P.S. If you have any productive advice, but not allegations how I will defraud the banks or that I have to wait for 3 years to build a credit history I will be happy to hear from you. Otherwise the discussion is constantly diluted. Eventually I will pay in full for 4-5-6-7 months on stupid Capital One, Vanquis and Barclays Initial cards and I will get it. If you know any faster way just tell me.

FB13

DarkFallout wrote: »

I don't want to be rude either but few years ago the same banks gave to a lot of people tens of thousands of pounds, then they abused the system and escaped from the country. Some of them are even still here, because they were using different identities.

I now 2 guys that got about 70K pounds of these very strict banks. One of them is still living happily in UK and no one touches him.

You seriously thought posting this was a good idea with people accusing you of trying to do the same thing? Not exactly playing the sympathy card are we.

What country are you from? You should apply for an American Express card there. In a month or two you can transfer it for a UK Amex card.

DarkFallout

FB13 wrote: »

You seriously thought posting this was a good idea with people accusing you of trying to do the same thing? Not exactly playing the sympathy card are we.

What country are you from? You should apply for an American Express card there. In a month or two you can transfer it for a UK Amex card.

Doing the same thing is first impossible in current circumstances and secondly impossible due to the nature of my job. I don't seek sympathy, I was trying to explain that the 'great' UK banks moved from one extreme to another extreme.

I will not be in my country until Christmas so I don't consider the option above.

From what I have read until now I consider 2 opitions:

1) Appeal the last decision providing them statements, wage slips and P60 and additional evidence regarding my income and the stabilty of my job (I indirectly work for the government, let's say on behalf of the government, probation period has already ended).

2) Delay further applications until December/January, trying to build credit history meanwhile on bad credit stupid cards like the Capital One that I've already got.

I may combine both options as well starting with the 1) and if unsucessful moving to 2)

Any other ideas or advice?

Enfieldian

Great.

Another arrogant and pushy Johnny Foreigner.