Building Credit Profile - Next Step

aldredd

Hello, I'm helping my partner build her credit profile up, with a view to buying a house together in a few years.
She had next to no credit history what so ever about 18 months ago, so we've had a nice clean slate to work with.

We started by getting her a proper current account. Done - which later got 'upgraded' from a cash-card only account to one with a full Visa Debit card.

We then got her a rolling 1 month mobile contract. Done - We have however recently switched to a different company (again, rolling 1 month) as it was such a better deal.

In the autumn, she went ahead and applied for a Cap1 card, and got accepted with a £200 limit. (maintaining the balance around £50-£100 so looks like it's being well used yet well managed)

We've both on Electoral Register where we live.

Are there any others things we can do / try to continue to work she's done? We considered adding her to the Britsh Gas accounts (currently in my name), but we decided not to - as I think that would 'financially link' us, and we don't want to do that until we're both in a good place with our profiles - so we're not impacting each other.

How long would her bank want her to be with her before considering her for one of their CCs? (Nationwide)
She works, but only Part-time as we have a daughter - so I'm the main income bearer (ironic really, as she ends up with more disposable income than me!)

Thanks for any suggestions

Any

British gas bill - pointless excercise.

Bank for c/card consideration - usually 3 mths, but credit rating and earnings have much bigger impact on the decision.. Check what are the minimum earnings required to apply for Nationwide. How long has she been with them for?

aldredd

Any wrote: »

British gas bill - pointless excercise.

Bank for c/card consideration - usually 3 mths, but credit rating and earnings have much bigger impact on the decision.. Check what are the minimum earnings required to apply for Nationwide. How long has she been with them for?

She's been with them for about 18 months now.
Looked on the website, they only seem to offer 1 card - their Gold card, which I don't think she'd have much luck with (esp as the earnings requirement is £25k!)

CLAPTON

presumably the cc is paid in full each month?

aldredd

CLAPTON wrote: »

presumably the cc is paid in full each month?

She intentionally doesn't quite pay in full every month, so it looks like it's being well used (I know cap 1 record every last detail to credit agencies, and didn't want a load of 0,0,0,0 showing as the balance).
Some months it's been 0, others (most) there is still a balance on it - but always pays well above the min payment

CLAPTON

aldredd wrote: »

She intentionally doesn't quite pay in full every month, so it looks like it's being well used (I know cap 1 record every last detail to credit agencies, and didn't want a load of 0,0,0,0 showing as the balance).
Some months it's been 0, others (most) there is still a balance on it - but always pays well above the min payment

not a good idea
pay in full
otherwise you pay interest for no good reason and it looks as if you can't afford to pay

Any

aldredd wrote: »

She intentionally doesn't quite pay in full every month, so it looks like it's being well used (I know cap 1 record every last detail to credit agencies, and didn't want a load of 0,0,0,0 showing as the balance).
Some months it's been 0, others (most) there is still a balance on it - but always pays well above the min payment

Who told you this nonsense?
Listen to Clapton.

Nationwide have 2 cards - Classic and Gold. She can apply for the Classic in branch, or on the phone. I have no idea why they don't advertise the Classic online, I've been on the phone with them last week and they did tell me about the Classic then.

CpdButWhy

aldredd wrote: »

She's been with them for about 18 months now.
Looked on the website, they only seem to offer 1 card - their Gold card, which I don't think she'd have much luck with (esp as the earnings requirement is £25k!)

They have another card as well, which differs in APR (it is 19.9 vs. 16.9). That probably has lower requirement. On their website they claim that application is for either, they decide which one they give you if either.

kev.s

the mobile rolling 1 month contract are deemed as payg and not a contact phone.

aldredd

kev.s wrote: »

the mobile rolling 1 month contract are deemed as payg and not a contact phone.

By who?

It shows up on her (and mine, as I have the same) credit report.
And there is nothing on there to indicate it's a rolling 1 month contract.

System

kev.s wrote: »

the mobile rolling 1 month contract are deemed as payg and not a contact phone.

Yes indeed, by who?

This is nonsense. Rolling one month contracts are reported to credit reference agencies in the same way as any other mobile phone contract. Pay as you go, of course, is not reported.

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