Refused contract because I lived in France

Philip_Baker

I want to get a simcard on monthly contract, but Vodafone, Tesco and Virgin have all refused me apparently on the grounds that until January this year I was working in France for three years. No matter that I have a good income, no credit reference problems, and that I lived in UK for 60 years before going to France! This seems incomprehensible - I could be a millionaire, and still be refused for the same reason. How do I get around this problem? I do not want a pay-as-you-go contract. I have a number of other arrangements, eg my BT phone and broadband, and all my other monthly bills, all more expensive than the simcard contract would be, where my stay in France was never mentioned. Where is the sense in this? What's different about mobile phone providers that they decide to have this restriction?

abc123456

I had the same problem when coming back from France a year or so ago. As soon as I registered on the voters roll, ie became permanent resident again and had a UK bank account, I got my contract.

Herongull

Why aren't you interested in PAYG? PAYG networks do bundles which can be as cheap if not cheaper than sim only contracts. PAYG is more flexible because you can leave any time or choose a different bundle each month depending on your likely requirements. They often have better customer services.

Why have all the stress of a contract if PAYG is much cheaper?

If the big networks don't want your business, just go elsewhere and save £ at the same time.

Lyca mobile has some very competitive bundles: http://www.lycamobile.co.uk/en/bundles

PS You probably failed the big networks credit check because you are not yet on the UK electoral role.

d123

Philip_Baker wrote: »

I want to get a simcard on monthly contract, but Vodafone, Tesco and Virgin have all refused me apparently on the grounds that until January this year I was working in France for three years. No matter that I have a good income, no credit reference problems, and that I lived in UK for 60 years before going to France! This seems incomprehensible - I could be a millionaire, and still be refused for the same reason. How do I get around this problem? I do not want a pay-as-you-go contract. I have a number of other arrangements, eg my BT phone and broadband, and all my other monthly bills, all more expensive than the simcard contract would be, where my stay in France was never mentioned. Where is the sense in this? What's different about mobile phone providers that they decide to have this restriction?

Three have a relaxed credit policy on sim only contracts as long as you have a UK credit / debit card. I'm surprised that you say Tesco refused you as they also have relaxed the requirements on the capped sim only contracts (there is no credit check, last time I checked).

Or do you mean you are going for a handset contract even though you mention wanting a sim on contract?

Without a recent credit file you will probably be failing the credit checks for the handset included contracts...