Bank advised that I have NO credit score, rather than a bad one?

J_Wainwright

I bank with Santander, recently I entered branch to discuss my account and the possibility of a future mortgage with them. I am looking at houses with my partner at the moment and we are looking to become first-time buyers later this year...

Whilst in branch, we were discussing my credit score. To my knowledge I have never experienced any situations where I might have damaged my credit score, but due to the fact that I've never had any direct debits or contracts set up, the clerk asked me if I wanted to apply for a credit card, since it should only improve my score.

The credit check came back negative, and whilst she could not provide the reason for my rejection, she said it's more to do with the fact that I don't have a record of credit, rather than a downright bad credit score... is this possible? She seemed surprised that I had been rejected but said that it wouldn't go against me in any way?

I have a host of questions, but the main two are:

1) I have been advised that I should apply for a credit building card online and use that, which i plan to do ASAP, though this website says not to re-apply straight away? What's the advice? I need to improve my score soon since my partner and I are planning to buy a house this year?

2) how much of a negative impact will the credit check make on my credit profile? Do the checks scale with how bad your credit is? Or will the fact that I have no score be overlooked to some extent?

Thanks for reading, any advice would be appreciated

[Deleted User]

A lack of credit history can be as bad as a poor one. Either way, you're a high risk.

Try one of the sub prime cards.

Ignore your score - that doesn't measure anything useful, and no one sees it. You're looking to build up a history of good credit management - spend regularly and clear in full after each statement.

Marchitiello

Are you on the electoral registers and do you have any utility bills in your name? If not, can you get some?

Have you registered with Clearscore and the Experian trial to check your credit report?

john2054

Clearscore, money supermarkets credit report, and noddle. The op should probably open up a basic credit card, such as with vanquis or capital one or marbles, all of which offer prior credit elibility checks, and build his or her credit history up from there. They review the limits periodically you know?

John

trailingspouse

We spent 5 years out of the country, and came back to find out credit score had evaporated. Like you, it wasn't that we had a bad one, we just didn't have one at all.

We had £20,000 in the bank, and couldn't even muster enough of a credit score to get a mobile phone contract! Ridiculous.

worried_jim

The mobile operator doesn't know that you've got £20k in the bank (should have no problem buying a £80 4g phone with a Giff Gaff sim @£10pm- how MSE is that?), all it knows is that you have no evidence of paying a bill on time in the last 5 years- if it were your business you would probably say no also.