We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Building Credit from Abroad

Quick (but potentially daft question):

Currently live/work in the Middle East but looking to get my first UK BTL this year but aware that I need to improve my credit score in the next 9 months.

Will using my foreign credit card not improve my credit score? If not, would you recommend buying big online purchases using my UK card?

Please advise.

Comments

  • Socajam
    Socajam Posts: 1,238 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I don't think a foreign CC will do what you are asking, you need a UK credit card
  • boo_star
    boo_star Posts: 3,202 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    wba92 wrote: »
    Quick (but potentially daft question):

    Currently live/work in the Middle East but looking to get my first UK BTL this year but aware that I need to improve my credit score in the next 9 months.

    Will using my foreign credit card not improve my credit score? If not, would you recommend buying big online purchases using my UK card?

    Please advise.

    No, in short.

    I'd recommend you be honest with your provider and close the account, but honesty went out the window years ago so who cares?
  • Ben8282
    Ben8282 Posts: 4,821 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Newshound!
    As is said on these threads several times a day, you don't need to improve your credit score as it is a meaningless number provided for marketing purposes by organisations who will attempt to get you to improve it by recommending products to you for their own financial gain. Your credit score is seen by nobody but yourself and plays no part whatsoever in lending decisions.

    Using a non-UK issued credit card will have no effect on anything as obviously it is not reported on your UK credit files.

    If you have a UK issued credit card then I guess using it and repaying will do no harm so as to put some recent payment history on your UK credit files.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.3K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.