Why can't I get a credit card?

izools

There's nothing you can do to "force" your bank to report your credit card on your credit report.

Get a copy of your credit file, and if your credit card doesn't appear on it, no 3rd party creditor will know you have one and use it responsibly.

In this instance you'd need to get one elsewhere - but one that is easier to get - like a Capital One Progress card or Barclaycard Initial - once you've run one of these for a year or two you'll be in a much better position to get the likes of a BMI Amex as you'll actually have some credit history to tell MBNA why to lend to you

sheslookinhot

If you have done without one upto now, then continue without one. Be thankful you have never needed to use one.

As for airmiles, forget it, You would need to spend thousands to get to the end of the runway. You can get flights cheaper without them.

chexum

izools wrote: »

There's nothing you can do to "force" your bank to report your credit card on your credit report.

Get a copy of your credit file, and if your credit card doesn't appear on it, no 3rd party creditor will know you have one and use it responsibly.

If the only credit card doesn't show up on the credit file, but the OP held it for more than a year or so, then it may be worth to appeal and sending statements to prove it.

If all credit do show up, but MBNA didn't consider those enough, then a Sygma card (searching Equifax, so not even seeing the application for the Amex) could be useful build a stronger credit file until MBNA gives in (or it could lead to a slippery slope )

book12

Be on the voters roll, it will make some sort of difference.

Since you have a credit card, use that to continue to build your credit history. No need to apply for another card since you have one. One credit is enough to continue to build your credit history, then apply for AMEX.

What bank are you applying for the credit card?

Venusflytrap

izools wrote: »

and pay it off in full each month - when the statement is produced not the second you spend.

Does it cast a 'negative' light if a credit account is maintained this way?

DazedConfused_2

sheslookinhot wrote: »

If you have done without one upto now, then continue without one. Be thankful you have never needed to use one.

As for airmiles, forget it, You would need to spend thousands to get to the end of the runway. You can get flights cheaper without them.

I'm not the type of person to spend something I haven't got, and I'll use it for work expenses that I claim back as well. Surely some air-miles are better than no air-miles? And how do I get flights cheaper than free - as that's what they cost with air-miles?

izools wrote: »

...pay it off in full each month - when the statement is produced not the second you spend.

I currently have a single transaction coming out of my current account once a month to pay whatever is on my credit card. I never even see a credit card statement unless I go online - is that okay?

DazedConfused_2

book12 wrote: »

What bank are you applying for the credit card?

I want the BMI Amex card from MBNA/MNBA/MBAN (I can't remember exactly). If I pay £250 in the first 90 days I get 20,000 BMI Diamond club miles, of which I'm already a member so this will add to my points.

After that I just want any Amex card that gives pure air-miles, as with air-miles you get completely free flights - you don't get stung for the taxes and fuel surcharge.

sheslookinhot

DazedConfused wrote: »

I'm not the type of person to spend something I haven't got, and I'll use it for work expenses that I claim back as well. Surely some air-miles are better than no air-miles? And how do I get flights cheaper than free - as that's what they cost with air-miles?

Air miles flights are not free, I have over 200,000 Flying Blue Miles (KLM/Air France) Enough to get to Osaka for me and OH in World Business Class. However, the price was over £600 when I had to pay for airport taxes etc. I could get economy flights for that amount. So they are great for upgrades etc, but not essential and it will be some amount of spending to even make it worthwhile.

izools

DazedConfused wrote: »

I currently have a single transaction coming out of my current account once a month to pay whatever is on my credit card. I never even see a credit card statement unless I go online - is that okay?

Yep - that's perfect.

If you repay what you've spent the second you do it chances are it won't register on your credit file as actually having been used - or used much - as your statement balance will always be at, or close to, NIL, meaning you might as well not be using the account.

Letting the Direct Debit take care of all your monthly spend is perfect, just remember to use the card every month.

May I ask who the card is with? And have you had it since the 90's or more recently than that?

DazedConfused_2

sheslookinhot wrote: »

Air miles flights are not free, I have over 200,000 Flying Blue Miles (KLM/Air France) Enough to get to Osaka for me and OH in World Business Class. However, the price was over £600 when I had to pay for airport taxes etc. I could get economy flights for that amount. So they are great for upgrades etc, but not essential and it will be some amount of spending to even make it worthwhile.

Airmiles flights are free. You have "Flying Blue Miles", which aren't actual Airmiles. Its really easy to mistake airline loyalty points such as yours, where you get charged for tax and fuel surcharge, with true Airmiles, where you do not. It's all very confusing and fragmented - just how the airlines like it.

Airmiles are also are more sensible in number - you get less, but you get somewhere for 10,000 miles. (Instead of needing 200,000 - that's the distance from the earth to the moon!) They take a lot longer to get, but anything you do get is absolutely free.