No credit history BUT a responsiable money handler...

DanielaNOVIS

Hello there,

I want to apply for a credit card. I never had one before because I never really wanted one and now I do. I have been living in the uk for more then 7 years, which is how long I have my Barclays bank account. I was never ever overdrawn, I always manage me money very well and my income is now 25,000 pounds per year. I lived in my previous address for two years and in my current one only 5 months. I registered on the electoral roll in my previous address and I just did so now in my current address. I don’t think I have any credit rating because I don’t have any history.

I want a credit card that will give me good perks like free travel insurance, purchase protections and preferably cash back. I don’t really care about the %APR because I know that I will not use credit and I will always pay on time.

I went into a Barclays branch and told them I want to get a credit card, and they suggested me to take the Barclaycard Initial, I really don’t want to go for it, because I feel its unfair to take a card with so little bonuses, bad rates and not even travel insurance, just because it’s the first credit card I have. The clerk agreed with me that I have a very good history with the bank and maybe I should apply for a better credit card, however I am slightly scared to apply for a card and be refused.

I decided to use Martin’s tip and check my Credit rating with the free trial with Experian loophole but they straight away told me that they ‘have been unable to confirm your identity from the information you provided” and they asked me to send them a copy of my passport and 2 proof of address.

This is where my questions and advice seeking comes (sorry about this length…)
1. I am not sure now if to send Experian the proof of address and identity, and If it will benefit me at all to do so, or shall I just cancel my registration with them…
2. What shall I do re credit card, shall I apply for a good credit card? (which one???),
3. will it help that I just registered on the electoral pole? Do I need to wait to get the benefit from that?


Any advice you guys can give me will be highly appreciated as I really don’t know what to do. It really do annoy me to take the credit card initial because I have money, I manage my money well and its reasonable…

Please advice me what shall I do…

Thanks, Daniela

samat2001

Hi

I was in a similar position to you - I tried to get an online report but I was told to send in information to confirm my identity - I didn't bother. Instead, I just paid £2.00 for a paper version of it...but like you, I didn't have any credit cards before, and it was pretty much useless as it had nothing on there!

I would advise you to take the Barclaycard - I know it's not the best card out there, but the only way really to get the best cards is to start off low...use it for a while, be a good payer etc...to build up your credit rating.

blue_haddock

I would like a lot of things but not all of them i can have right now.

Take the card they are offering you, use it wisely and pay it off every month then in maybe 6 months to a years time apply for one of the cards with the perks that you want.

jbbonce

I agree. When i first left home, the only card i could get was a barclaycard initial, which had (and still does have) disgusting rates of 29.9%
but because i was able to prove myself credit worthy by having this card, i now get much better cards including a platinum card even though i am a student and i only earn £30 per week.
one good thing about barclaycard is that they do have good balance transfer rates for existing customers, which is not a lot of use to you now but might be a real help in the future

thesaint

You may as well send Experian the information they require as you may not be able to get the free 30 day trial again.
The electoral role is not updated instantly, so this may not be on your report yet.

motch

regarding the electoral roll information on Experian - How often is it updated ?as my details state living at.... address 10/04 to 10/06 I'm still living at the same address - haven't moved)
shouldn't it be more up to date??

samat2001

It can be up to 6 months I think

DanielaNOVIS

Many thanks EVERYONE for replying- it is much appreciated!
So do you think it will actually benefir me to send the information for experian, would they update my details and enahnce my credit history or is it uselss for what i want to get?

DanielaNOVIS

So no one thinks it is worthy to even TRY to apply for a better credit card?
You all think I should just go to the Barclaycard Initial straight away? without trying to apply for a better one?

Even the bank clark was telling me, after looking at my bank transactions that he think i should try to apply for the better cards... I also understood from Martin's last credit card mail out that there is hope, but maybe it was just me.

DanielaNOVIS

Many thanks EVERYONE for replying- it is much appreciated!

The Saint, do you think it will actually benefit me to send the information to experian, would they update my details and enahnce my credit history or is it uselss for what i want to get?

(sorry for the duplicate, i dont know how to get rid of it... a proper newbe...)

M_Thomson

Hi,

You mentioned that you want a card with travel insurance. There aren't really any cards that provide actual travel insurance. I think MBNA does one, but you have to pay an annual fee for it. Most cards provide other things like travel delay insurance and insurance for if you have an accident while you are travelling to your destination on the mode of transport you use to get you there. Neither of these are a substitute for proper travel insurance.