How to start with credit?

jennyjelly

I'm hoping someone can suggest a way out of my son's catch 22 situation.

He is in an almost full time job but on quite a low wage, started there last August. He has a current account with Nationwide which he has never been in any trouble with and which gives him a debit card and a cheque book.

A couple of weeks ago he applied to Currys Infinity scheme, which is basically a computer lease, and was turned down because he has no credit history. So he went into his Nationwide branch and applied for a credit card, the staff member who dealt with him said she thought it would be approved as his account record was good, but it was declined as he had no credit history. He went back the branch to ask for advice and they suggested getting a mobile phone contract then trying again in 6 months. So he applied to O2 for a contract but they turned him down because he had no credit history. You get the picture I'm sure. It's like wading through treacle. In desperation he's even applied to Vanquis but only got a reply saying they would let him know in 10-14 days so we don't know about that yet, but on present evidence I'm not hopeful.

So, can anyone suggest a way of getting him off this cycle of refusals? How do you get your first credit if you need credit to get it? I don't remember it being this complicated years ago when I started out!

Thanks

JJ

YorkshireBoy

Is he on the Electoral Roll?

Has he ordered his credit file to see what the lenders see when they search his credit file?

Derivative

Vanquis will probably accept him.
If not, get a prepaid card. To be honest, a "computer lease" sounds like a daft idea anyway, laptops are £250?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

jennyjelly wrote: »

I don't remember it being this complicated years ago when I started out!

It probably wasn't! Things have tightened up in the past few years. Why not encourage your son to join the Forum? You know it makes sense.