Denied Credit Card

ManyWays

I am not sure why you want to improve your credit score, but the answer for you is easy, get that Cap One credit card (provided the limit is over 250), buy something using less than 30% of the limit every month, and set the card to be repaid in full by direct debit every month. This will start to help your score after 3 or 4 months. 

If you never pay interest, it doesnt matter how high the interest rate is (although I would draw the line at the ultra high rates like 118 and Zable). Other lenders can't see who the card is from, just that its a credit card.

And millions of people have a good credit score without having a mortgage. Its best to pay little attention to the advice from credit card reports, they are mainly interested in getting you to use their links to borrow more as thats where they make money. 

Nasqueron

Steve123456789 said:

Brie said:

There needs to be something happening to update the credit agencies.  It's possible that you may have signed up for your bank to NOT report to the credit agencies.   But you can go online and add a note to the credit file to correct incorrect/out of date info.  

And it's a dumb situation - you can only get credit if you already have credit.  

So apply for the worst of the credit cards.  Aqua, Vanquis.  Eye watering interest charged on balances but you just make sure it's paid off every month.  And do use it - maybe just to fill the car or to buy a coffee once a week.  Set the DD to "pay in full".  Use it for 6 months and then try a more mainstream card.  I wouldn't suggest Barclaycard as they seem to be very strict with their credit limits these days which makes them useless for a lot of people.  Cap1 is fine, MBNA is easy to get along with and their online system is dead simple.  M&S can be good - go in an buy something and get their card to pay for it.  

Having a card is a good thing if you are booking holidays or renting a car somewhere.  And they have a certain amount of purchase protection built in which is handy if something goes wrong with something you buy with it.  

Was your mortgage at the same bank you currently use that refused you a card?  If it was a different one then maybe wait a couple of months and apply to the mortgage bank for their simplest card.  They will know about your mortgage and that might help you.

Alternative thought - does your other half work?  Could they apply for a card if one is needed for the family??

I don't NEED a CC.  It's just to build up my credit score.

My wife has one and her score is over 900.

She also hasher phone, our closed mortgage and loads of old current accounts listed on there (we have switched accounts about 5 times in the last year to get the sign up bonus) whereas I have literally none of these listed under accounts.  Nothing.

Just to reiterate, the score is a gimmick, no lender ever sees it, let alone uses it

Build up a credit history with a basic credit card, pay a bit on it, have a direct debit setup to take the full balance, leave it for a couple of years and go from there

Brie

ManyWays said:

If you never pay interest, it doesnt matter how high the interest rate is (although I would draw the line at the ultra high rates like 118 and Zable). Other lenders can't see who the card is from, just that its a credit card.

Really?  When I look at credit reports I've always been able to see what cards people have had when, their limit, their payment history.  What I never have seen is that a card has been used to withdraw cash but that might be due to the type of person I've been dealing with at the time. 

surreysaver

Brie said:

ManyWays said:

If you never pay interest, it doesnt matter how high the interest rate is (although I would draw the line at the ultra high rates like 118 and Zable). Other lenders can't see who the card is from, just that its a credit card.

Really?  When I look at credit reports I've always been able to see what cards people have had when, their limit, their payment history.  What I never have seen is that a card has been used to withdraw cash but that might be due to the type of person I've been dealing with at the time. 

You can see. Other people cannot. There's this thing called the Data Protection Act 2018 (commonly known as GDPR).
This means you have the legal right to know who holds what information about you, and other people don't. They just get to see what debts you have, not who you have them with.

Ch1ll1Phlakes

The wrong address on your file is a big flashing light for me. A lender is not going to give you a credit card if it can't even get your address to match the one they have on file.

1. Are you registered on the electoral roll as it's a big tick for the address box? If not do it now.
2. Contact the provider of the credit report you can see and get them to update your address.
3. Check your address with Santander and any other financial institution is correct as you may have forgotten to update one after you moved house.

Also MSE provides info to guide you with building your credit score so use the list at the following link to check everything is ok before you apply for a credit card.
What is a good credit score? UK - MSE

dumpster_fire2025

Steve123456789 said:

Brie said:

There needs to be something happening to update the credit agencies.  It's possible that you may have signed up for your bank to NOT report to the credit agencies.   But you can go online and add a note to the credit file to correct incorrect/out of date info.  

And it's a dumb situation - you can only get credit if you already have credit.  

So apply for the worst of the credit cards.  Aqua, Vanquis.  Eye watering interest charged on balances but you just make sure it's paid off every month.  And do use it - maybe just to fill the car or to buy a coffee once a week.  Set the DD to "pay in full".  Use it for 6 months and then try a more mainstream card.  I wouldn't suggest Barclaycard as they seem to be very strict with their credit limits these days which makes them useless for a lot of people.  Cap1 is fine, MBNA is easy to get along with and their online system is dead simple.  M&S can be good - go in an buy something and get their card to pay for it.  

Having a card is a good thing if you are booking holidays or renting a car somewhere.  And they have a certain amount of purchase protection built in which is handy if something goes wrong with something you buy with it.  

Was your mortgage at the same bank you currently use that refused you a card?  If it was a different one then maybe wait a couple of months and apply to the mortgage bank for their simplest card.  They will know about your mortgage and that might help you.

Alternative thought - does your other half work?  Could they apply for a card if one is needed for the family??

I don't NEED a CC.  It's just to build up my credit score.

My wife has one and her score is over 900.

She also hasher phone, our closed mortgage and loads of old current accounts listed on there (we have switched accounts about 5 times in the last year to get the sign up bonus) whereas I have literally none of these listed under accounts.  Nothing.

You have virtually no credit history.

Get a subprime card (Cap One, Vanquis etc) and build up a history. It's not like anyone sees you card anymore anyway.