Help regarding credit card and improving credit score!

shankar.utt · 3 February 2014 at 1:22PM

Hi people,
I have moved to the UK on 26/04/2013(10 months) and started working full time from 02/12/2013 with annual income of £15500.
I have a Current account with Barclays and a joint account with my partner in Nationwide.

List of Direct Debits i had even before I started to work:
I have a mobile contract since 01/05/2013.
Cineworld Unlimited card 30/04/2013.
Had Mobile insurance from 27/04/2013 till 31/12/2013.

I was not much interested much in owning a credit card until one day when I wanted to have a Barclay contactless DEBIT card I was rejected due to credit check, which i clearly did not understand because I had a mobile contract which was given to me after the credit check and had 3 direct debits setup like i have specified above.

Then me and my partner wanted to start a joint account in HSBC, where they advised me to shift my current account to their bank and got rejected there also because of credit check.

From then I understood how much credit history is important and now decided to get a credit card to improve my credit History.

Now I have few questions if any 1 can help me with :

1) Am I eligible for a credit card?if yes, which credit card?? Im working full time(£15500)
2) Im not registered in the electoral. Not sure if im eligible to register in the electoral because I'm on a dependent Spouse visa.

Thanks in advance!!

Cycrow · 3 February 2014 at 1:33PM

if you struggle getting current accounts, then you may find it more difficult to get a credit card.

based on what u've said, i would guess the thing holding you back for credit would be the limited time you have been in the country.

They like to see stability.

you could always try to apply for one of the sub-prime cards, but you may just have to give it some time before getting accepted.

The electoral roll is often quite important for credit checks, but im not sure if you would be eligible or not