Applying for a credit card with a foreign address history

cosmnw1

Hi

I have only been in the UK for 12 months, I am a EU national.

Every time I try to fill up an application online I am required to specify at least 3 years history, if not more. There is no provision to input a non-UK address as my previous address.

I resort to entering my addressfor the full length of time required (3+ years) just to get to the next screen.

Now I am wondering whether this is impacting my applications negatively as of course my credit file wouldn't show any entry prior to my opening of a bank account in 06/2013.

Any idea on what the correct course of action should be for newcomers?

C

forgotmyname

Yes it will likely be a negative on your side. When they check your history they will see you have only lived there 1 year and not 3. And will wonder why your telling lies.

Possibly trying to defraud them.

Phone them and explain instead of putting false information.

They may say sorry you have no chance or complete the application for you.

When you give them false information its never going to look good.

chattychappy

forgotmyname wrote: »

Yes it will likely be a negative on your side. When they check your history they will see you have only lived there 1 year and not 3.

How will they know that? All they will see is that the OP has only been on the electoral roll for 1 year (if that). People often live somewhere before going onto the roll. It might raise a concern in that they can't verify the information, but it doesn't necessarily mean the OP is giving false info.

Where there could be a problem is if the OP has given different information over different applications. This kind of thing does get tracked (NHunter).

I WOULDN'T phone them to explain why "false" info has been given. This could just make more trouble.

I think it's lack of UK credit history that is causing the problem - the address is only a way of accessing this. Even if the OP could put a previous EU address, I don't think it would help.

OP - there may be no simple solution. Did you try the bank with whom you have your current account? Have you tried the "sub-prime" cards such as Vanquis? Also best not to make more than 2 or 3 applications within 3 months.

Aquamania

chattychappy wrote: »

How will they know that? All they will see is that the OP has only been on the electoral roll for 1 year (if that). People often live somewhere before going onto the roll. It might raise a concern in that they can't verify the information, but it doesn't necessarily mean the OP is giving false info...

It's looks suspicious, and as there is no verification, then such suspicious activity may well be considered bogus.
(and in this instance they would be correct)

There will presumably be no credit history at all of this person more than 12 months.

cosmnw1

chattychappy wrote: »

How will they know that? All they will see is that the OP has only been on the electoral roll for 1 year (if that). People often live somewhere before going onto the roll. It might raise a concern in that they can't verify the information, but it doesn't necessarily mean the OP is giving false info.

Where there could be a problem is if the OP has given different information over different applications. This kind of thing does get tracked (NHunter).

I WOULDN'T phone them to explain why "false" info has been given. This could just make more trouble.

I think it's lack of UK credit history that is causing the problem - the address is only a way of accessing this. Even if the OP could put a previous EU address, I don't think it would help.

OP - there may be no simple solution. Did you try the bank with whom you have your current account? Have you tried the "sub-prime" cards such as Vanquis? Also best not to make more than 2 or 3 applications within 3 months.

I can't find ANY application online - current accounts or credit cards - that allows you to put a foreign address when completing the address history.
It's not not a variable in the lender "propensity to accept you" formula - rather it looks to me like a limitation of the user interface of this systems that doesn't allow you to put a foreign address, or simply to specify an "arrival in the UK" date.

Believe me my only motivation for putting more years is/was to avoid endless phone calls and/or branch visits - the online system is convenient and I very much want to use it like everybody else. I have tried talking with a couple of customer service representatives - one told me to put 3 years, the other was a "sorry computer says no".

I wonder what everybody else is doing - I must not be the only one in this situation. Thousands of European citizen coming here would be in the same situation.
C

bengal-stripe

cosmnw1 wrote: »

I can't find ANY application online - current accounts or credit cards - that allows you to put a foreign address when completing the address history.

On-line application is no good to you, just go into a branch, preferably of your own bank. It's possible that your application needs to be approved by the underwriters, but you should not get an automatic denial.

Bring documentation of your former address and the account (and CC, if you had one) you had (or still have) in your homeland.

Aquamania

cosmnw1 wrote: »

I wonder what everybody else is doing - I must not be the only one in this situation. Thousands of European citizen coming here would be in the same situation.
C

When I went to live overseas, I just carried on using my UK credit cards.

Presumably the thousands of overseas citizens you refer to are doing a similar thing.

cosmnw1

Aquamania wrote: »

When I went to live overseas, I just carried on using my UK credit cards.

Presumably the thousands of overseas citizens you refer to are doing a similar thing.

Not sure your presumption holds.

For a start there are not so many English people going to live in Europe, as opposed to coming to live in London.

Second, this is a problem I am experiencing even to open a bank account, i.e. for other form of lending decisions, not related to credit cards only.

Third, if you go abroad with the intention of staying there to live it would be a rather poor "moneysavingexpert" decision to continue to use banking/financial/other credit facilities from your homeland.

I doubt that they all go to branch for the specific application, I guess most must be doing what I do, just specifying more years at the same address to get past the form. As long as it is done consistently, I still believe that is the least time/effort consuming alternative.

C

zerog

cosmnw1 wrote: »

that is the least time/effort consuming alternative.

You mean the fraudulent alternative.

forgotmyname

But when you say you lived there for 3 years and they check and find you have not your not going to get anything. And it may ruin future chances of applying for anything.

Lies on a legal document... Get your free fraud markers here..

Aquamania

cosmnw1 wrote: »

Not sure your presumption holds.

For a start there are not so many English people going to live in Europe, as opposed to coming to live in London.

Second, this is a problem I am experiencing even to open a bank account, i.e. for other form of lending decisions, not related to credit cards only.

Third, if you go abroad with the intention of staying there to live it would be a rather poor "moneysavingexpert" decision to continue to use banking/financial/other credit facilities from your homeland.

I doubt that they all go to branch for the specific application, I guess most must be doing what I do, just specifying more years at the same address to get past the form. As long as it is done consistently, I still believe that is the least time/effort consuming alternative.

C

I don't know why you think my presumption does not hold.

Firstly, what difference does it make to the numbers of people going to live outside the UK compared to the the number of people coming to live in London? :huh:

Secondly, I didn't mention anything about a current account, because your OP referred only to opening a credit card account, but for the record I kept my UK one too.

Thirdly, whilst it was not my or any of my colleagues original intention to remain abroad long term, some did change their mind once there (and I admit I was sorely tempted)
Those who did decide to stay aboard opened bank accounts etc in that country at the time of that decision ... which was at least 3 years after arrival.