Credit card for EU individual living in the UK

ColinFGS

Hello everybody

I am an EU individual living in the UK. I arrived in the UK in October 2019 and since then I am full time employed. I have an UK bank account and a mobile phone contract. I am also on the electoral roll since Aug 2020.

I am trying to get a credit card to improve my credit score & history.

The problem is I am hitting a brick wall because I don't have at least 2 years of address history in the UK.

Most of the credit card issuers require at least 3 years of address history in the UK but I found some that ask for 2 years like BarclayCard for the Forward credit card.

Any suggestions for a credit card that will accept me with only 1 year of address history in the UK.

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[Deleted User]

Your own bank is probably your only chance. Even sub prime cards have tightened up on criteria.

ColinFGS

Deleted_User said:

Your own bank is probably your only chance. Even sub prime cards have tightened up on criteria.

Thank you very much for the reply.

My bank requires 3 years of address history in the UK.

I'm in a vicious circle, I'm trying to build credit history but unable to do that because of the address history requirement.

The credit card I need it only for building credit history.

[Deleted User]

A credit card is certainly useful for history, but in the meantime, consider phone contracts or even a catalogue account, where acceptance is easier.

You don't need to buy much, just a few essentials from time to time.

eDicky

With a mobile phone contract and a bank current account, and if you have water and power supplies in your name, you are already building a credit history (ignore any 'score').

Avoid frequent attempts to actually apply for a credit card, which tend to have a negative impact on your history.

As mentioned, ask your bank whether they could offer you one at this time.

ColinFGS

Deleted_User said:

A credit card is certainly useful for history, but in the meantime, consider phone contracts or even a catalogue account, where acceptance is easier.

You don't need to buy much, just a few essentials from time to time.

Can you please give me an example of catalogue account?

[Deleted User]

Very or Next. 

ColinFGS

eDicky said:

With a mobile phone contract and a bank current account, and if you have water and power supplies in your name, you are already building a credit history (ignore any 'score').

Avoid frequent attempts to actually apply for a credit card, which tend to have a negative impact on your history.

As mentioned, ask your bank whether they could offer you one at this time.

Thank you very much for the reply.

Unfortunately the water and electricity bills are not in my name, they are in my sister's in law name and she doesn't want to change them.

PlatinumChaos

I'm in a similar situation to you, ColinFGS. I'm a returning UK expat and only returned last December. It's such a frustrating situation to be in. The only credit cards that I've found that might accept one year of residency here seem to be Amazon and Luma. Maybe it's worth trying an eligibility check directly with them. I bank with Starling, who haven't yet introduced credit cards, so I'm kind of stuck for the time being. Thanks to zx81 for the tip about catalogue accounts though. 

ColinFGS

Luma seems a litlle shady and is issued by CapitalOne. CapitalOne has a lot of cards but usually they require 3 years of address. On the luma website they don't say explicitly they will accept you if you don't have 3 years of UK adddress history.

[Deleted User]

ColinFGS said:

Luma seems a litlle shady and is issued by CapitalOne. =

  Luma is fine. Certain credit cards get bad reviews because of the sort of customer they attract.  But they're certainly not shady.