First credit card

fireice

I was wondering what the best credit card would be for a 19 year old.

Looking around, a lot of credit cards say 0% for 15 months but I don't really need that. I've heard that a credit card can help build your credit rating so I'm just looking to use a credit card for normal day to day spending instead of my debit card.

I have had a mobile phone contract for the last 9 months which I have always paid on time (by direct debit)

The interest rate doesn't bother me because I will just pay it off from my debit card so would the best card be a cashback or no fees abroad card?

kadiea

Hi Fireice,

Ask your bank if you are pre-approved for any of their credit cards or if you are with barclays check your online banking section for pre approval. If you are not with barclays then go to barclaycard.co.uk and check the "am I eligible" section, also make sure you are on the electoral roll, it's also good to have been in a stable address and make sure that any financial commitments are all at the same address. If nothing comes back from barclays that you are eligible for then get a capital one classic visa card and pay your bill in full every month, never go over your limit and then after six months - 1 year get a barclaycard / mbna with a lower rate of interest and a higher credit limit.

Do not apply for many cards at once, it damages your credit score.

Just out of interest who do you bank with?

fireice

Thanks for you reply

I bank with nationwide and lloyds, recently I mostly use nationwide.

I'm on the electoral roll and have lived at the same address since I was born. I haven't applied for any credit cards yet. The lower rate of interest doesn't really bother me because I hope to never have to borrow on a credit card permanently but a higher credit limit could obviously help.

Would you suggest that I apply to nationwide first?

How long do you think it would be before I could get a cashback or no fees abroad card? (I know everyones different, just a rough guess, I'm willing to wait though)

YorkshireBoy

fireice wrote: »

I bank with nationwide and lloyds, recently I mostly use nationwide.

Go with the one that receives your salary/income.

chris91_2

Try and Airmiles Duo LTSB card. Can set low(ish) limit. Means you can get airmiles as well.

Obviously_the_best

One that's good for building a credit rating is the aqua card and they won't charge any interest if you pay it off in full every month

Jib111

I bank with Nationwide and they don't have the best choice of Credit Cards, rather strict too if you ask me.

I've not long turned 18 and applied for a Capital One Classic, applied two weeks ago and they have asked me to send them ID so it looks rather good.

If you have no look at Nationwide then it might be an idea to consider the Capital One Classic.

Then there's Vanquis, try to say away if possible, that should be your last resort.

As others have said, don't apply for too many in one go as it will make you look desperate for credit.

Good luck. :j

kadiea

Ok. Try Lloyds tsb first their lending to internals is good. Airmiles duo or Platinum Mastercard, My brother just turned 18 and we got him the airmiles duo through Lloyds and he also banks with nationwide so he got the classic visa credit card. His Lloyds card had a limit of £2k and his nationwide £500.

If you don't get the lloyds ask nationwide and see what they say without doing a credit search. If they can't help go on the barclaycard website if barclaycard say you may be elligeable go for the 70-90% cards. if barclaycard can't help dont bother with aqua or vanuis try capital one but dont keep it longer than 18 months.

Good luck!

fireice

kadiea wrote: »

Ok. Try Lloyds tsb first their lending to internals is good. Airmiles duo or Platinum Mastercard, My brother just turned 18 and we got him the airmiles duo through Lloyds and he also banks with nationwide so he got the classic visa credit card. His Lloyds card had a limit of £2k and his nationwide £500.

If you don't get the lloyds ask nationwide and see what they say without doing a credit search. If they can't help go on the barclaycard website if barclaycard say you may be elligeable go for the 70-90% cards. if barclaycard can't help dont bother with aqua or vanuis try capital one but dont keep it longer than 18 months.

Good luck!

I've found out that I've been pre approved for one the lloyds cards.

Would it be possible to apply for the airmiles duo card first and then the pre approved one if I get rejected?

Saints2011

fireice wrote: »

I've found out that I've been pre approved for one the lloyds cards.

Would it be possible to apply for the airmiles duo card first and then the pre approved one if I get rejected?

Can always get for example Advance (Classic) / Plat and trade account to Airmiles at a later date.

fireice

I was pre approved for the airmiles duo card which seems to be the best card I could have got. How long would it be before I could get a cashback card/no foreign currency fee card?