Getting a Credit Card With No Credit History?

gh148

I've been thinking about getting my first credit card, however I'm somewhat confused as to how someone is supposed to get one if they have no previous credit history, as this would be there first credit card?

I used a multi-bank eligibility checker on this site to see what cards are available to me, only to get a whopping 0% chance on every card in the system. I tried on the sites of individual banks/lenders as well with similar results. On Barclaycard I also had no chances, Amex gave me a 3.5 out of 10 chance, and a solid No from CapitalOne. Even Aqua and Ocean also got me an instant rejection. So how exactly can am I supposed to  get a credit card then?

born_again

Try your own bank, as they have internal history of your accounts.

gh148

born_again said:

Try your own bank, as they have internal history of your accounts.

Also got denied.

CliveOfIndia

Do you have any form of credit history at all?  Not just credit cards, but maybe a mobile phone contract, utility bills, car insurance paid by monthly instalments?  Do you have a steady income, what living expenses do you have?

Check all three of your credit files to make sure all data is accurately recorded - address history and being registered on the Electoral Roll are two things in particular that most lenders will look at.

Also, whilst you're there, just make sure there are no negative markers on your history (perhaps unlikely if you say you've got no history, but it's as well to check).

born_again

Even Aqua and Ocean also got me an instant rejection.
Something odd there.

Age?
Low income?
Do you have a phone contract?
Are you registered on electoral roll?
Any debt's?

Brie

get a contract for a mobile phone (rec sim only)

check your credit history in case there's something lurking that you don't know about - a CCJ for parking that you've never been informed about or similar.

gh148

CliveOfIndia said:

Do you have any form of credit history at all?  Not just credit cards, but maybe a mobile phone contract, utility bills, car insurance paid by monthly instalments?  Do you have a steady income, what living expenses do you have?

Check all three of your credit files to make sure all data is accurately recorded - address history and being registered on the Electoral Roll are two things in particular that most lenders will look at.

Also, whilst you're there, just make sure there are no negative markers on your history (perhaps unlikely if you say you've got no history, but it's as well to check).

Nope, no phone contracts, bills, or insurance either. 

I have checked my credit files as well, and nothing odd there either, and I am on the electoral roll. I also have no living expenses which I hoped would help but nope.

gh148

Brie said:

get a contract for a mobile phone (rec sim only)

check your credit history in case there's something lurking that you don't know about - a CCJ for parking that you've never been informed about or similar.

Nope, no negative markers or anything like that in my credit files. 

lr1277

When you say your own bank denied you, how did you find out?

Was that from the mult-eligibility checker? Or did you use the eligbility checker on your own bank's website?

Can you ring your bank and ask them?

It has been mentioned many times on this board, don't use the multi-eligibility checkers but use the individual checker on each card provider's site. These will give you more accurate results.

gh148

lr1277 said:

When you say your own bank denied you, how did you find out?

Was that from the mult-eligibility checker? Or did you use the eligbility checker on your own bank's website?

Can you ring your bank and ask them?

It has been mentioned many times on this board, don't use the multi-eligibility checkers but use the individual checker on each card provider's site. These will give you more accurate results.

Went through the application process on my bank's website. It didn't submit a formal application, but as one of the final steps before sending off your final application, it does check all your details and let's you know if you will get accepted or not. At that step I got told I wouldn't be accepted.

cymruchris

So just to confirm:

- You're on the electoral roll (How long for?)

- You have no negative points on any of your THREE main credit reference agency reports

- You do have existing accounts in your name on the credit reference agency data? (how many? current account? - if so - how long's it been on there?)

- You have no 'credit' accounts on your files? (No buy now pay later, klarna, that kind of thing?)

How long have you been at your current address?

What income are you declaring? (Approx)

Are you self-employed or employed and earning a salary?

Do you have a mobile phone? If so - who pays the bill?

A good starting point is usually to get a low value sim-only contract that reports to your credit files - there's usually a good chance of getting one even with limited history, and will form a pattern of paying something to give lenders a feel for whether you'll pay back their credit card.