Unsuccessfull application for the Halifax Clarity

bigadaj

May be worth getting a credit builde card as noted above, these have high interest rates so just use them for normal uk spending and pay off in full every month, easiest by setting up a direct debit.

As well as the account from N&P there are others with no load on overseas cash, metro bank is an option as is nationwides flex plus account though the latter has a fee you do get interest and car, travel and phone isurname so may be worthwhile for you.

lexia

Gigabit wrote: »

You'll probably need three years of address history in the UK before you'll be accepted for a card.

I got a credit card about 6 months after moving to the UK, and a mortgage after 1 year in the UK (with 15% deposit) - even though many on these forums have said I needed to wait for X amount of years for both CC and mortgages I'm a EU citizen as well.

The first credit card was Barclaycard with a very low limit, it was a credit card for people with poor credit, can't remember the name of it I think Barclaycard Initial or something like that. (Mine wasn't poor, it was absent). Not sure if things have changed since then, this was early 2012.

soultil: Halifax Clarity isn't that easy to get... try to find info about CC companies friendlier to newcomers (hint: try credit cards for those with poor credit history http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bad-credit-credit-cards). Now that you have applied for a CC though, wait for a while until you apply again...

Also, do you have an overdraft limit with your bank account? If not, I would apply for that first, but not online. Make an appointment with Halifax, take salary slips with you and tell them you'd like a small overdraft (like £300 or so). That will start 'building credit history'.

Oh, and a mobile phone contract (not pay as you go) will help build some credit history, if you don't already have one.

Good luck!

fifeken

soultil wrote: »

. . . my new job involves quite some traveling and that's where halifax clarity card comes into place.

If you're travelling for work then your employer should cover any expenses, including exchange costs.

nasca07

I got my first credit card after only 3 months in the UK. It was an Aqua credit card with an initial limit of £150 and after 6 months was around £1000.
You should probably apply for this card, they also offer a card without non-sterling fee transaction.

I got my first mainstream card with lloyds after 1 year and 7 months and a month later I was finally accepted for the Halifax Clarity.

The 3 years requirement is not always valid, I have been in the country for less than 3 years but I already have a MBNA, an AMEX, a Clarity and a LLoyds CC. Around 3500-4000 limit on each card.

You could also consider the Revolut prepaid card that has no fees at all even for cash withdrawals.

Superscrooge

I'm assuming you have a debit card linked to your bank account?

I suggest just using this for purchases initially and try the credit card eligibility checker every few months.

System

The Aqua card would probably be your best bet as it's designed for people with limited credit history.

I'd suggest the one with cashback and 0% forex loading. There are links floating about for a £20 cashback or Amazon voucher for applying.

Metro Bank are an option but I'd advise against N&P as they are fairly picky and their basic account no longer has free use abroad.

Maelwys

soultil wrote: »

I will definitely need the card for spending abroad sooner or later, so I will re-apply at some point, but I don't know what to do to improve my scores and chances to get the card.

As others have already mentioned, the Aqua card would appear to be your best bet because of the low barrier to entry... note that it ALSO has a perfect Mastercard exchange rate (just like the Halifax Clarity) on foreign currency transactions, so you can use it to pay for stuff in Euros just fine. Just don't use it for ATM withdrawls, you can get prepaid cards for that like Revolut.

Once you bump up your credit score a bit by paying off the card balance in full and on time every month, you can start applying for other cards

Pincher

I had a job where they gave me a Corporate Amex.


I could use it for personal purchases, just have to keep proper receipts for expenses I need to claim back.


If your job involves travel, ask them if they can get you one.


I knew this reporter who used hers so much, that she was invited to get the Centurion (Black) Amex. The annual fee is outrageous, so I assume she didn't.

marathonic

pupgrum wrote: »

I think 'probably' should be removed. No bank will give out a credit card to someone who lived less than 3 years in UK. I would keep using the current account, have salary paid into the same account, set up 1 or 2 direct debits like a mobile phone contract or paying your rent with. Just having a salary isn't enough. You need a direct debit for over a year to show you can make payments.

I suppose it depends on the country. Coming from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland, I got a mortgage immediately and a credit card after a few months.

focusonskill

I come to UK from non-EU in Dec 2014 and opened an bank account Jan 2015. I got accepted for my application to aqua rewards card in July after checking for eligibility at this site (95%). The card is decent for daily use with 0.5% cashback and no FX fee. The limit was first 250 and subsequently raised to 900 in Sep 2015 and 2200 last week. I also got accepted for the AE gold charge card in Dec 2015 (80% chance by the calculator) and a Tesco credit card with 2,400 credit limit. So it is not impossible to have credit card without 3 years address history. You just have to build your credit history correctly.