Tips on which Credit Card to apply for.

curl_girl_2

Hi,
I am planning a holiday to Australia in March and want to apply for a Crdit card to use whilst I am away. I am petrified of credit card's and am so unsure about which one to apply for. Can any one recommend one with low conversion rates, and little or no fees at all. Many Thanks.

izools

Making an assumption here based on what you said about being petrified of cards that you've never held a credit card before?

If this is the case you may wish to think about not which card is cheapest, but which you stand the best chance of being approved for.

If you've never had a credit card you will have no proof on your credit file that you are capable of handling one, ergo many of the mainstream lenders will be weary of giving you a card.

If you could let us know a bit more about your circumstances that will help advise you -

Have you changed bank / job / moved recently?
Have you got anything that might appear on your credit file showing good history, i.e. a british gas account? Mobile phone contract? Previous loans / credit cards? Mortgage? Bank account with an Overdraft?

If you could fill us in we'll be better able to point you in the right direction.

May very well be worth you obtaining a copy of your credit file before you apply, too

anna42hmr

curl_girl wrote: »

Hi,
I am planning a holiday to Australia in March and want to apply for a Crdit card to use whilst I am away. I am petrified of credit card's and am so unsure about which one to apply for. Can any one recommend one with low conversion rates, and little or no fees at all. Many Thanks.

The no foreign usage fees cards are:
abbey zero
the post office (run by bank of ireland)
santander zero
halifax clarity.

Nationwide charge 1% for usage out of europe.

The halifax clarity card is fairly new, so am not sure if many people have tested this yet as to see what exchange rate they use.

Before you apply for any i would check you are on the electoral roll, and whilst you may not have had loans/credit cards before, some bank account overdrafts are reported and contract phones are reported as well, so you may have some credit history.

As the advisor above has advised may have an issue being accepted if first card for those, but its worth the try, and if not, would your parents consider opening a card and having you as an additional card holder?