New to Credit

GregM_2

Hi there - was wondering if anyone could tell me where a good place is to get your first credit card? I just turned 19 and want to start building my history.

CLAPTON

your own bank

barclaycard initial
vanquis
capital one.

except for your bank, the other three charge enormous interest rates but as you are going to pay in FULL every month that won't matter. Set up a DD for the full amount so you don't forget.

after a year or so you will be able to get better cards

However, remember never to draw cash from a credit card and always to pay in full each month and you will have a long and happy relationship with CCs.

Tori_Bellatrix

The new Halifax Classic Card ... designed for newbies ... http://www.halifax.co.uk/creditcards/classic.asp

Zebedee69

Your normal everyday bank is probably the best deal your going to get. Make sure your on electoral role too at your address and that you make the payments every month.

Sorry for sounding like your mum ha ha!

GregM_2

Thanks for all the advice - I'm not a big capitol one fan - they always spam my house with junk lol Makes them kinda look disparate to me.

I bank with my local credit union, so I think I'll check them out.

Anything in particular I should watch out for that I might get screwed on being a first timer ?

CannyJock

Might be worth taking them up on one of their junkmail offers, if they've been to all that effort to specially pre-select you *cough*.

If you're 100% about clearing the balance each month then I say use them to build your credit report.

Make sure you buy something cheap each month and set up a direct debit from your normal bank account to clear the balance in full - the credit card customer services people will be able to set this up for you no problem.

Might sound a bit manipulative, but that way you're working the system to show a clean credit bill of health.

Take all their other junk mail, remove anything that would identify your address and post it back to them in their pre-paid envelopes just to cost them more money if you really want to

CannyJock

GregM wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice - I'm not a big capitol one fan - they always spam my house with junk lol Makes them kinda look disparate to me.

I bank with my local credit union, so I think I'll check them out.

Anything in particular I should watch out for that I might get screwed on being a first timer ?

Annual fees. No need to pay annual fees when they make money by charging the retailer every single time you use their card.