Applying for a credit card without 3 years address history

Cartoonhead

Hi All,
My wife is currently here on a spouse visa and arrived July 1st 2019.  She's working full time now and we're sharing a bank account to which her wages gets paid into, but wants to start building her credit score with a credit card where she can make a small purchase each month and pay off the balance.

I've looked at a number of cards but all seem to need 3 years address history.  I'm wondering if there are any she can apply to where they are more lenient with this? Is it a matter of phoning for an application and explaining the situation rather than using online forms? She has opened her own bank account with Natwest as well as having our joint account, but they wouldn't give her a credit card.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[Deleted User]

You won't get any where with phoning for an application.

Even rhe subprime providers have moved to longer residency periods, so if you don't have any joy with the likes of Vanquis, you'll just need to wait it out.  She maybe able to get something like a phone contract sooner.

afis1904

I've not been here for three years and I got two credit cards (Capital one and Aqua) without any issues

Cartoonhead

afis1904 said:

I've not been here for three years and I got two credit cards (Capital one and Aqua) without any issues

So how did you apply for them without having the address history if you don't mind me asking?

Capital one is one of the cards I tried but they insisted on a previous address

born_again

Have you tried who you bank with as given they hold some info may allow a credit card.

Cartoonhead

born_again said:

Have you tried who you bank with as given they hold some info may allow a credit card.

Yes, but unfortunately they would not give her one due to her having no credit history.

Speedbird676

My partner has had two American Express cards and has not been in the UK for three years.

Cartoonhead

Speedbird676 said:

My partner has had two American Express cards and has not been in the UK for three years.

Yes, people keep telling me they have cards but how do you get them without the address history is my question?

born_again

Cartoonhead said:

Speedbird676 said:

My partner has had two American Express cards and has not been in the UK for three years.

Yes, people keep telling me they have cards but how do you get them without the address history is my question?

Have you tried adding the previous address? As clearly they have been living somewhere.
It could well be that they are all being a lot more careful with people with no address history now. Which you can understand. They get credit and disappear back home.

Cartoonhead

born_again said:

Cartoonhead said:

Speedbird676 said:

My partner has had two American Express cards and has not been in the UK for three years.

Yes, people keep telling me they have cards but how do you get them without the address history is my question?

Have you tried adding the previous address? As clearly they have been living somewhere.
It could well be that they are all being a lot more careful with people with no address history now. Which you can understand. They get credit and disappear back home.

The trouble is that she is from Uganda, so they don't really have postal address as such and certainly no postcode which is what the companies are insisting on.  Would it cause much of an issue if I entered that she had lived in this address for 3 years, do you think?

born_again

DO NOT LIE.....
It will come back and bite you. Worst case a CIFAS marker and a totally wrecked credit status.