Can an American get a Uk credit card?

twopenny

Asking for someone who was asking me.

They are coming to work in London for 6 months and have to isolate for 2 weeks. Trying to order online food shopping the sites wouldn't accept American credit or debit cards

While they can use Applepay or Paypal possibily they may not have these accounts.

So looking for a soloution. This must have been done before by foreign nationals isolating. Searches internet or here keep trying to sell me credit cards rather than giving an answer so I wondered if anyone here knows.

Would be really grateful for some help.

[Deleted User]

If they have a US Amex they might be able to get a UK one but otherwise I can't see any UK bank offering a US national an account or credit card without permanent residency for a decent period of time. 

fwor

twopenny said:

Trying to order online food shopping the sites wouldn't accept American credit or debit cards

Are you certain about this? Or is it just that they won't accept ~some~ American credit or debit cards? The thing is that if I go to the US, I just use my Visa credit card to buy stuff. Why would it not work in reverse? Are they trying to use a US issued Visa or Mastercard, or something else?

I'm sure it should be possible to open a basic bank account here (with no credit facilities) once they have a UK address, and then use a Debit card - but I think it will be easier to find a US issued card that will work in the UK.

twopenny

Good point as to which one they're using - there are problems with the National Rail booking and not accepting cards from abroad.

I wonder if that could be the same reason.

jsmith9

I also have also used my UK Visa card in various countries with out problem. However, I have never tried to buy something online whilst in another country - maybe this is the problem the OP is experiencing?

twopenny

True smith, but it can't be the first time someones arriving in this country, isolating and ordering from a major supermarket. You need stuff delivered for your arrival,

Yahoo_Mail

fwor said:

twopenny said:

Trying to order online food shopping the sites wouldn't accept American credit or debit cards

Are you certain about this? Or is it just that they won't accept ~some~ American credit or debit cards? The thing is that if I go to the US, I just use my Visa credit card to buy stuff. Why would it not work in reverse? Are they trying to use a US issued Visa or Mastercard, or something else?

I'm sure it should be possible to open a basic bank account here (with no credit facilities) once they have a UK address, and then use a Debit card - but I think it will be easier to find a US issued card that will work in the UK.

I suspect the issue is that there is no facility to enter a non-UK billing address for the card.

Dr_Crypto

It probably isn’t a very common situation. How often would an overseas resident place an order with a UK supermarket? 

PayPal might be a option if the supermarket takes it or else it will be a case of friends ordering and getting repaid later. 

They could ask Amex UK but is it worth it for 6 months? 

GrumpyDil

Could they not get a pre-paid card and use that? 

twopenny

Not an Amex

Looking into Gift Vouchers Grumpydil.

I suggested it might be that the card address and delivery address being different countries might mess up the system but it shouldn't.

When you think about it DrCrypto there are loads of foreign holidaymakers who rent an apartment or cottage and get an online grocery shop to be delivered on day of arrival.

We;re working through a few to the bitter end and see at the moment. Option to email the stores but takes a few days to reply. Probably quicker if I go into a local one and ask lol.

Dr_Crypto

I guess there aren’t so many. Obviously it’s anecdotal but have you ever placed an order with a foreign supermarket when renting a villa for holiday? I don’t know of anyone doing that but I can see why it would be useful.
Couldn’t you just order and they pay you after? At least while they’re in isolation?