Barclaycard Initial

tigerlily43

Hi guys

What's the score with this - is it an extremely expensive mainstream card or is it meant to be subprime?

Anyone got an inkling of the criteria they are looking at, from what I've read on this forum there are those who have adverse who can get it but others with none apart from no credit history who can't, I am confused :eek:

tigerlily

book12

Here's the criteria: http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/initial/#inpageContent02

The card is aimed at people who have no or limited credit history, who wish to build/improve credit history.

izools

There are two groups of "Low Credit Scorers":

Those that have plenty of credit history, but also history of arrears, defaults, CCJs, or the like

Those that have very limited credit history but nothing negative

Aqua, Vanquis, and Capital One Classic are aimed at the former (primarily)

Barclaycard Initial is aimed at the latter (primarily)

Of course that's not to say someone with a bit of bad history can't get an Initial, nor someone with limited positive history can't get a Vanquis / Cap One Classic etc.

The only card really suitable for someone with no credit history whatsoever, i.e. a totally blank credit file without even a bank account or mobile phone, is Vanquis, unless you get a card form your Bank.

tigerlily43

book12 wrote: »

Here's the criteria: http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/cards/initial/#inpageContent02

The card is aimed at people who have no or limited credit history, who wish to build/improve credit history.

I exactly fit that criteria so am more at a loss than ever, I have moved house in October and have just appeared on the electoral roll but have no adverse credit, just very little.

Oh well maybe in 6 months although I hope by then my bank will have come across

tigerlily

izools

Oh had you just applied and been declined then?

book12

tigerlily43 wrote: »

I exactly fit that criteria so am more at a loss than ever, I have moved house in October and have just appeared on the electoral roll but have no adverse credit, just very little.

Oh well maybe in 6 months although I hope by then my bank will have come across

tigerlily

You can try to apply for it, and see what happens. It's the only high street bank that offers credit cards for people with no/limited credit history.

You can use this tool if you are worried: https://letmechoose.barclaycard.co.uk/

If you have a bank account with Barclays, I guess you have some sort of advantage, as they will look at your account conduct. Not sure if they would use internal scoring or external scoring, or both.

Local councils publish the electoral roll details on 1 December when the annual canvass has finished. Credit reference agencies will upload it, and appear on the credit report this month (don't know the exact date).

izools wrote: »

There are two groups of "Low Credit Scorers":

Those that have plenty of credit history, but also history of arrears, defaults, CCJs, or the like

Those that have very limited credit history but nothing negative

Aqua, Vanquis, and Capital One Classic are aimed at the former (primarily)

Barclaycard Initial is aimed at the latter (primarily)

Of course that's not to say someone with a bit of bad history can't get an Initial, nor someone with limited positive history can't get a Vanquis / Cap One Classic etc.

The only card really suitable for someone with no credit history whatsoever, i.e. a totally blank credit file without even a bank account or mobile phone, is Vanquis, unless you get a card form your Bank.

Barclaycard Initial is also aimed at people with no credit history, as well as limited ones. I know it doesn't say so on the website, but people with no credit history can get one.