Credit card after just 10 months in the UK?

PlatinumChaos

Thanks, Praisethesun. Looks like I might just have to hang on a couple more months and then look into the Luma card.

PRAISETHESUN

PlatinumChaos said:

Thanks, Praisethesun. Looks like I might just have to hang on a couple more months and then look into the Luma card.

I'd at least check your eligibility using their website now - the 12 months isn't a hard and fast rule, it was just when I happened to apply and was successful. If the chances are decent I'd take a punt. If you get rejected, wait a few months and then try again.

PlatinumChaos

I just tried a few times and it crashed each time I entered "0" as the time spent at my current address (which is not entirely true, but they don't allow you to enter the number of months). Just for fun, I entered "1" instead and it displayed the button to go ahead with an eligibility check. I didn't do it as the info's not really accurate. I'll just wait another two months and try again with legitimate info. Thanks though.

MaryNB

I got a credit card about 18 months after I moved to the UK (in 2013). I had a current account with Halifax but they wouldn't give me a credit card. Barclays did a credit card for people with no credit history. My limit was only £400 and the interest rate was high but it allowed me to build up a credit history and I got a much better card with Halifax about a year later.

You just need to have a look at cards for people without credit history. The terms will be pretty rubbish but it's a starting point.

PlatinumChaos

MaryNB said:

I got a credit card about 18 months after I moved to the UK (in 2013). I had a current account with Halifax but they wouldn't give me a credit card. Barclays did a credit card for people with no credit history. My limit was only £400 and the interest rate was high but it allowed me to build up a credit history and I got a much better card with Halifax about a year later.

You just need to have a look at cards for people without credit history. The terms will be pretty rubbish but it's a starting point.

So you initially got a card from Barclays after about 18 months in the UK, and then you got a better one from Halifax, which was your own bank? I've been focusing on cards for people with little/poor credit history and the main stumbling block seems to be the residency issue. I think I'm just going to have to be patient. The terms don't bother me too much as I'll be paying off immediately and in full. Thanks, MaryNB.

yksi

In answer to your question asking whom I got cards from, it was Capital One, then BarclayCard and American Express. I have only kept the Barclaycard one of those three, but was able to go onto both Sainsbury's and Tesco Bank within the three years (still have the Tesco one). I would still say that subprime are your best bet and after that you are looking at American Express and possibly your own bank. The others seem to be more stringent for me - but your mileage may vary.

guesswho2000

Do you have an Amex card from wherever you lived overseas? If so, Amex will usually allow you to use your history in that country to issue a card in the new one.