Nationwide FlexDirect - 3 years requirement

gionnetto · 18 July 2019 at 7:30PM

Hello,
I moved to the UK in May 2017. I have a current account already (and don't want to switch), a sub-prime credit card, and just got a 0% purchases one.
I want to open a FlexDirect account with Nationwide, but I've read on their site it requires 3 years of UK history which obviously I don't have yet.
Do you know if it's possible to get a FlexDirect even with a little more than 2 years of history?
Thanks!

jonesMUFCforever · 18 July 2019 at 7:46PM

Nationwide will tell you.
You may pass their credit scoring - you may not - we can't say one way or the other on here.

gionnetto · 18 July 2019 at 7:50PM

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Nationwide will tell you.
You may pass their credit scoring - you may not - we can't say one way or the other on here.

The point of my question was, how hard of a requirement it is.
Meaning, if I might pass their checks because it's not an absolute requirement, then I might do it and hope for the best. If the requirement is written in stone, I won't even try it. I don't like to chance it unless i know for sure it could be possible, albeit not guaranteed.

18cc · 18 July 2019 at 7:52PM

as jonesmufc has already said there is nobody on here that can tell you that information the best you can do is try - or alternatively contact Nationwide beforehand and see what they say

Ngozi · 18 July 2019 at 8:03PM

You know someone who already has one?

Like everyone has said, only Nationwide will know the answer but getting a recommendation link might help.

[Deleted User] · 18 July 2019 at 8:39PM

They’re lending criteria is commercially sensitive and confidential.

They’ll either accept you or not

colsten · 18 July 2019 at 10:14PM

gionnetto wrote: »

I've read on their site it requires 3 years of UK history which obviously I don't have yet.

Have you got a link to what exactly they are saying?

Emily_Joy · 19 July 2019 at 2:36AM

I imagine the OP refers to 3 years address history. This is a standard requirement for any credit type application. OP - you can try to make an appointment at a local branch.

PRAISETHESUN · 19 July 2019 at 8:06AM

I can confirm that having 3 years of UK address history is not a strict requirement, as I managed to open one without it. Usually you will have the option to either enter your overseas addresses, or select a "my previous address is overseas" box. They may factor it, along with the rest of your credit history into their decision however, so you still may not be guaranteed to get one - but you won't know until you try.

SlovakianGuy · 20 July 2019 at 3:15PM

Isn't the same 3 years history required for any credit card? If you already have 2 credit cards, I guess it shouldn't be so hard to open a current account even if they require 3 years of history. I personally would pop in to their branch and ask them.

SlovakianGuy · 20 July 2019 at 3:17PM

Btw, why you don't want to switch? You can earn £100 for free. If you want to keep your old current account, just open another one and then switch it to Nationwide. You just need 2 active direct debits on the account that is being switched to Nationwide. Since you already have 2 credit cards, you can set up a direct debit for each.