Recommend a credit card for a non-UK citizen

FlorayG

My friend on a work visa ( two years initially with possibility to extend) has found herself a little flat she can afford and she is so happy but she then realised she has NO furniture or white goods and will need to buy everything to furnish it
She is VERY good with budgeting and a 0% credit card would be fine for her, she absolutely would have it paid off before the 12 months was up
Will there be any problem with her applying as she is not technically a UK resident? And which card would you recommend if it is possible?
thank you

DullGreyGuy

How long have they been in the UK already? 

Unless they've already been here for a substantial time then it's unlikely any lender based here will entertain them. If they have then some subprime etc cards may consider them but they aren't going to have high limits nor 0% promotions but very high interest instead. 

Do 0% cards exist in their former country of residence? Could they get a card from there instead? Alternatively do any of their banks from there operate in the UK? If so then some will transfer a customer between countries, though this tends to be limited to higher tier customers. 

Nasqueron

Go to charity shops / freecycle / FB market place etc and get them. I wouldn't be buying new goods on a limited visa as they might all have to be junked in 2 years depending on what could be carried back home.

Someone new to the UK on a 2 year visa (which could equally be revoked) has little to no chance of getting a CC as they could easily leave at the end with the debt left unpaid and they have no credit/residency history.

FlorayG

DullGreyGuy said:

How long have they been in the UK already? 

Unless they've already been here for a substantial time then it's unlikely any lender based here will entertain them. If they have then some subprime etc cards may consider them but they aren't going to have high limits nor 0% promotions but very high interest instead. 

Do 0% cards exist in their former country of residence? Could they get a card from there instead? Alternatively do any of their banks from there operate in the UK? If so then some will transfer a customer between countries, though this tends to be limited to higher tier customers. 

She's been here one year. I'll ask her to look into a CC from 'home'

FlorayG

Nasqueron said:

Go to charity shops / freecycle / FB market place etc and get them. I wouldn't be buying new goods on a limited visa as they might all have to be junked in 2 years depending on what could be carried back home.

Someone new to the UK on a 2 year visa (which could equally be revoked) has little to no chance of getting a CC as they could easily leave at the end with the debt left unpaid and they have no credit/residency history.

Of course she will for lots of furniture but there are some things you really want new - decent washing machine and 'fridge rare on FB,, mattress, bedding etc. lots of stuff you really want new, even things that are not expensive in themselves add up quickly

Mark_d

It sounds like your friend has ZERO credit history in the UK and so would have a ZERO chance of getting a 0% credit card to buy ALL her furniture/white goods.

Furnished flats are generally available to rent at the same price point as unfurnished flats.  So it might have been wiser for your friend to choose a furnished property to rent.

FlorayG

Mark_d said:

It sounds like your friend has ZERO credit history in the UK and so would have a ZERO chance of getting a 0% credit card to buy ALL her furniture/white goods.

Furnished flats are generally available to rent at the same price point as unfurnished flats.  So it might have been wiser for your friend to choose a furnished property to rent.

OK that idea is out of the window then - I guess she's going to have to cope while she saves up enough to buy stuff
Flats round here are very rarely available - she was really lucky to be the first person to view this one - and furnished ones non-existent

CliveOfIndia

FlorayG said:

decent washing machine and 'fridge rare on FB,,

The British Heart Foundation have several large stores dotted around the country.  If there happens to be one near you it's well worth a look.  They often have lots of furniture and white goods available (well, my local one certainly does).

eskbanker

FlorayG said:

My friend on a work visa ( two years initially with possibility to extend) has found herself a little flat she can afford and she is so happy but she then realised she has NO furniture or white goods and will need to buy everything to furnish it
She is VERY good with budgeting...

I'd suggest that someone securing a flat and then realising they didn't have anything to furnish it with (or funds available to do so) isn't really particularly good at budgeting....

retiredbanker1

In my day anybody with less than 3 years in UK was an automatic decline.

Nowadays I suppose with digital banking worldwide perhaps someone like Chase or a FINTECH would consider her.

FlorayG

eskbanker said:

FlorayG said:

My friend on a work visa ( two years initially with possibility to extend) has found herself a little flat she can afford and she is so happy but she then realised she has NO furniture or white goods and will need to buy everything to furnish it
She is VERY good with budgeting...

I'd suggest that someone securing a flat and then realising they didn't have anything to furnish it with (or funds available to do so) isn't really particularly good at budgeting....

That was just my way of putting it, of course she knew beforehand