Getting UK Credit Card while not living in UK

cougar_dr

Hi,

I applied for a credit card at my old address in the UK because I wanted to have a CC to use abroad. I haven't lived in the UK for over 4 years and I have no plan to ever return. I was accepted and the person living there now forwarded the card to me (as I happen to know the person who lives there)

I used the card and took out around 2500 (half of the limit) GBP, However, the bank have worked out that I do not live in the UK and cancelled it after calling me (on a UK number I have).

They have demanded that I pay it back but am I under law to do so? Would it not be considered irresponsible lending on their part?

grumbler

This sounds like a windup, but I'll give you benefit of doubt.

cougar_dr wrote: »

...They have demanded that I pay it back but am I under law to do so?

Start with reading the T&C that you agreed to.
What law? - You've obtained credit by deception. It's fraud.

Would it not be considered irresponsible lending on their part?

Irresponsible? How come?
In fact they were very responsible, detected the fraud and stopped it as soon as they could. What would be irresponsible is to allow you spending all £5K.

cougar_dr

Not a wind up, Just trying to make sure I have it all correct.

They stopped it AFTER they could. I haven't been registered as living in the UK in over 4 years and they clearly haven't checked this.

grumbler

I don't think that we have any "registration" system here in UK that is compulsory for everyone. Electoral roll is voluntary, and have you unregistered if you used to be on it?

cougar_dr

But I haven't been on the electoral list at the address I got credit at any point in my life. I have never worked in UK and I have no payment history in UK. I have no problem not paying it as long as I can return to the UK every year for 2 weeks over christmas.

grumbler

cougar_dr wrote: »

...I have no problem not paying it

Try getting yet another credit then.

as long as I can return to the UK every year for 2 weeks over christmas.

I don't think that Police will be waiting for you at the border.

cougar_dr

I do not want another credit card in the UK, I am just wondering what to do with the debt of the one I currently have.

Running_On_Empty

Er, try paying off your debt. That is the usual thing with a credit card.

cougar_dr

I would pay it, But they want the full amount by the end of this month which is unreasonable. They also only accept payments from a UK bank (which I dont have)

grumbler

cougar_dr wrote: »

I would pay it, But they want the full amount by the end of this month which is unreasonable.

Well, offer them your plan then and let them decide whether to take it or to leave it. It wouldn't be unreasonable to add the interest on the top of the amount you currently owe.

They also only accept payments from a UK bank

Most likely this is untrue.
It's just a bank account that has to accept international payments*. Regardless, they have to accept cart payments.

* EDIT: on a second thought, what they say is possibly true as when paying by a bank transfer you must use the card number as a reference, that, possibly, is impossible for international transfers.

CKhalvashi

grumbler wrote: »

* EDIT: on a second thought, what they say is possibly true as when paying by a bank transfer you must use the card number as a reference, that, possibly, is impossible for international transfers.

We use the company account number as a reference when paying internationally.

I've never had problems to/from Germany, Romania, Bulgaria or Moldova, or to Russia, Georgia, Armenia or Ukraine.

Technically, Direct Debit is possible from anywhere in the EU. We're not starting to make DD payments from EU until next month, so I have absolutely no idea how well it works, or if it's possible with all DD suppliers (ours is GoCardless).