Difficulty Getting Travel Credit Cards

creditagenciesareajoke

Has anyone else had difficulty getting approved for a travel credit card?


I have 1 really old card that I spend a small amount on each month and clear, am on the electoral roll, have a number of other well managed credit accounts with energy providers, phone companies etc that are all showing on my files with the 3 agencies, everything is accurate and up to date.


Creation - Not eligible
Halifax clarity - 5/10
Santander - Not eligible
Barclaycard Travel - 9.5/10 eligibility for all other cards they offer, 7/10 for the travel one, rejected.


Has anyone else had any similar issues trying to get a travel card?

Candyapple

Why are you not eligible for Creation and Santander - are you employed/retired etc?

Did you try for the Halifax Clarity?

Have you looked at any of the others here: https://www.lovemoney.com/bestbuys/785/the-best-credit-cards-to-use-abroad

eDicky

Use a prepaid card (or two) instead, no credit checks, no interest payable:

REVOLUT - smartphone app, interbank exchange rate (slightly off on weekends), no fees except 2% after £500equ. withdrawals per month.
https://revolut.com/

MONZO - smartphone app, MasterCard exchange rate, no fees, but may be waiting list after sign-up.
https://monzo.com/

SOLDO - MasterCard exchange rate, no fees on purchases, £1 per withdrawal, but £2 monthly fee after first three months free, £1/£2 fee for load by debit card (free by bank transfer).
https://www.soldo.com/en-uk/c/family/

Cisco001

try aqua reward?
interest rate is high, but no fee for spending aboard.

However, you may better off to prepaid instead.

creditagenciesareajoke

Creation and Santander didn't give a reason, Creation just said "Not eligible" and Santander gave me a 0/10 I think. I didn't go for the Clarity as thought 5/10 wasn't good enough odds particularly after the 7/10 Barclaycard got rejected. Thanks for the link to the other cards, I'd given up and decided to go for the Travelex supercard instead and got an Amex cashback card as well, high credit limit with no bother.


I might give Nationwide a go although I have the Barclaycard and Amex searches on my file so it's probably unlikely at this stage.


I'm in full time employment, good salary, low spending so was a bit confused at the results.

williamgz

I do not want to give you false hope but I had a 9/10 for a Barclaycard and got rejected, also had a 5/10 for the Clarity and got accepted. This with 2 applications within the same month. Didn't look for an explanation and was just grateful.

On the other hand I can vouch for the Monzo card. Mastercard rates without fees for purchases or withdrawals abroad. Only issues is you are not getting the S75 protection and prepaid cards might not always work on some offline transactions.

creditagenciesareajoke

I ended up going for a Travelex supercard


I didn't go for prepaid cards as I tend to travel to lots of places outside Europe and the US and the ones I'd found were specific cards in EUR or USD, many thanks for the links, they look like great options.


I didn't go for Aqua as I felt that it was a bad name to have on your file and have heard people getting into difficulty for mortgage applications with sub prime lenders accounts open.

[Deleted User]

creditagenciesareajoke wrote: »

I didn't go for Aqua as I felt that it was a bad name to have on your file and have heard people getting into difficulty for mortgage applications with sub prime lenders accounts open.

Someone has been fibbing to you, as other lenders don't see who provides your accounts.

eDicky

creditagenciesareajoke wrote: »

I ended up going for a Travelex supercard

Ok, but don't rely on only one source of funds, in case of problems/loss. Sign up for Revolut and/or Monza, as backup and for cash withdrawals, they cost nothing and can be loaded by debit card as and when needed.

creditagenciesareajoke

Thanks for the tip, I've also signed up for the Revolut card and am on the waiting list.

System

You do realise that companies searching your credit file can't see the name of the actual lender?

creditagenciesareajoke wrote: »

Thanks for the tip, I've also signed up for the Revolut card and am on the waiting list.