I can't even get a Barclaycard Initial!

DazedConfused_2

How do I get a credit card? My CreditExpert score is 'poor', due to it having zero records for me apart from being on the electoral role. It has a facility to check for cards that I can supposedly get with my credit score, and recommended the Initial.

But when I applied I got turned down?

How can I build up my score if I can't even get a credit card?!?!?

Help!

MorrisonsEmployee

Maybe try for a Vanquis card - Its aimed at people with no/bad credit - http://www.vanquis.co.uk/

Failing that perhaps get a contract mobile or sim only deal so that you are getting green 0s on your credit report which will start building your credit history or try for an overdraft and/or credit card with your bank.

Trajal

Yup vanquis isn't a bad shout.

Also littlewoods and very catalogues, order some socks pay interest free for a year, plenty of greens there.

Mobile sim only contracts from orange are handed out with candy wrappers, so if you already own a phone and just get a sim for it, it's a simple way to get a bit of credit history. Also after like 6 months of paying all bills on time you will be able to upgrade to a proper contract with a provided-brand-new phone and everything...

CRH71

The other thing to try, if you don't want to purposely put yourself in debt, just to get further debt, is a cashplus pre-paid mastercard. You can either pay a £5 monthly fee, or "borrow" the £60 annual fee of the card from them and then pay it back in instalments which they then mark on your credit file each month and help to build up your credit rating that way.

DazedConfused_2

Thanks. I had a contract mobile for years (1998-2005) - that doesn't seem to be on there. Since 2010 I have a 1 month rolling contract with TalkMobile that isn't on there either - but it's only for £5 a month, so it's not going to do much!

DazedConfused_2

The reason I want a card is that I'm now travelling for work, and want to put my expenses on the card to get reward points, etc., so there's no danger of me actually going into debt.

MorrisonsEmployee

DazedConfused wrote: »

Thanks. I had a contract mobile for years (1998-2005) - that doesn't seem to be on there. Since 2010 I have a 1 month rolling contract with TalkMobile that isn't on there either - but it's only for £5 a month, so it's not going to do much!

I would call them and ask why it is not being reported on your credit file regardless of the value it should be reported as a green 0 if you are paying on time as they would be quick enough to place a default on your file if you missed payments!

DazedConfused_2

MorrisonsEmployee wrote: »

I would call them and ask why it is not being reported on your credit file regardless of the value it should be reported as a green 0 if you are paying on time as they would be quick enough to place a default on your file if you missed payments!

Call who, sorry?

MorrisonsEmployee

DazedConfused wrote: »

Call who, sorry?

Yor mobile phone network provider.

vixtay_2

DazedConfused wrote: »

Call who, sorry?

Credit Expert Experian or Equifax i guess they mean...you can register free for 30 days i thnk check your files then cancel....:T

Dr_Cuckoo3

Do you have a bank account (current account) ?

Have you approached your bank ? :idea: