Deciding on a first credit card.

amyt1

Hey, so basically I decided to get a credit card to build up my credit history for future payments such as car finance, mortgages etc.

Now, I've never had a credit card before so I did plenty of research of what type of credit card to get and I've narrowed it down to two. The Barclaycard Initial credit card or the Lloyds Bank Classic Card credit card. I'll be using the card for small purchases and for my netflix account so it's not completely inactive and I can definitely pay it all off every month to avoid interest charges so that won't be a problem.

If you had experiences with these cards before, please let me know. Are these good for a first credit card? (If you know of any others, please let me know!)

Amy

[Deleted User]

Sounds like you have a good plan there.

If you're paying it off in full, the interest rate is irrelevant. Other lenders can't see who you've got a card with, so the lender is irrelevant.

Personally, I'd probably go for the Barclaycard for two reasons - firstly, because the Initial is aimed at people in your position, so you're probably more likely to be accepted. Secondly, because they have a number of less "Initial"-ly cards that you might be able to move to after a while.

Then again, what has made you narrow it down to those two? Have you tried going through the Eligibility Checker on MSE to see which you'd be most likely to get?

amyt1

billbennett wrote: »

Sounds like you have a good plan there.

If you're paying it off in full, the interest rate is irrelevant. Other lenders can't see who you've got a card with, so the lender is irrelevant.

Personally, I'd probably go for the Barclaycard for two reasons - firstly, because the Initial is aimed at people in your position, so you're probably more likely to be accepted. Secondly, because they have a number of less "Initial"-ly cards that you might be able to move to after a while.

Then again, what has made you narrow it down to those two? Have you tried going through the Eligibility Checker on MSE to see which you'd be most likely to get?

Okay, I'll consider that then! And it's the fact that they're both catered for people with limited credit history/looking for a first credit card. And yes I did, these two cards came up.

darkidoe

You travel out of the country at all? If you do, i suggest considering the Aqua cards as well. as they have 0% foreign transactions fees, which makes they double up as an excellent travel credit card at the best rates. They are offered to people with poor/limited credit history as well. So they can have dual function of credit building + travel spending CC as well! Aqua Reward even has 0.5% cashback! Always one to consider I think!

Ben8282

I think I would go for the Barclaycard initial as well.

System

I'm guessing that you have a current account at the moment?

If they offer credit cards, then obvious choice is them for your first credit card as they already have a relationship with you.

planteria

agree that you have a good plan.. you won't go far wrong with either Barclays or Lloyds, as long as you can open accounts with them.

on balance i have found Barclaycard to be more flexible than Lloyds, so i would opt for them. but it's really just about the best deal available.

amyt1

Hey guys, thank you for your replies.

I've just applied for an Aqua Advance credit card and my application was successful so my card is coming in the post in a few days!
'Thank you for applying for the aqua Advance credit card. Your application was successful and you will receive your card and PIN separately within the next 5-10 working days.'

Over the moon that I can start to build my credit history!

amyt1

Hey I'm hoping some people will see this lol but I just received my Aqua card in the post and to activate it, it requires for me to call them up. Thing is, I'm deaf so I can't call up as I won't understand what they're saying, so would it be a problem if my father called them up for me on my behalf?

Thanks

msallen

Get your father to call.

I've never had an Aqua, but in general the "call to activate" calls for most cards don't involve speaking to anyone, just pressing keys to confirm DOB etc. In this case then your father could obviously do it for you. If a human being answered then he could explain that you're deaf and ask them what to do - you can't be their first ever deaf customer!

Dobbibill

This is on the Aqua website

To activate your aqua card call us on:

0800 028 7777*

*This is an automated phone service and does not go through to a customer service representative