How are credit files created?

Smiffy3

My brother has just moved over here full time from overseas (he is british citizen just been living abroad since 15) - he is now renting a flat, has a basic natwest account but wants to get a credit card. from yesterday he appears on the electrol roll and also he applied and received a Next online shopping account (assume they do credit cheques?) and got a bt phone line.
He has a pretty good job but he has only been back here since Jan 07 and before he had no uk credit history.
After reading on here i said he may have to try capital one or the barclaycard initial.
Are credit files created automatically as he wants to phone up a credit card company to apply for one - didnt know if he has to apply to create a credit file or something
cheers

Tori_Bellatrix

As far as I am aware, credit files are made up of electoral roll and credit account information.

Some bank accounts show up on credit files, however, the Natwest do not report their account conduct as a rule (I think they only do if account conduct is bad).

His Next shopping account is a credit account and that should appear on his credit file about a month after application as will his electoral roll information.

It may be worth allowing a few months of up to date payments to show on the credit files before applying for a CC

marcellep

re Next they update my credit file each and every month when I pay my bill, so that will help him get a good credit score