HELP! Cannot obtain credit

Katydid83

Hi, I am looking for some advice. I am an American who is permanently living in the UK and NO ONE will give me credit because I am not on the electoral roll. I have let all the credit agencies know that I exist and my current and previous addresses so I am listed on their databases but I have applied for several high rate credit cards and have not gotten excepted for any of them. I also have a letter from my local council explaining to give this to anyone whom I wish to obtain credit from and it may help, it hasnt! I have just been into my bank (who I have been with for 4 1/2 years) and they wont give me any credit until I become a British Citizen! It is all so frustrating, does anyone have any advice for me? Thanks

skyrider007

Do you have an existing US-based AMEX card? If so, you can do a global transfer. Call AMEX and tell them you would like to transfer your US card to the UK. AMEX will then establish a credit record for you here in the UK and you will receive a card (same status as your US one, i.e. if you had a Gold card in the US you will receive a UK Gold card) based on £ sterling.

more info > http://www10.americanexpress.com/sif/cda/page/0,1641,21780,00.asp

You may also want to try Capital One Classic card, https://www.capitalone.co.uk:443/creditcards/secure/application.jsf

and Vanquis Card, http://www.vanquis.co.uk/

Katydid83

Unfortunately I do not have an American Express card. I have been living here for 4 1/2 years. I have applied for both those cards as well!! Thanks for your suggestions

Night-owl_6

You need to open a bank account with TSB and for a Classic account with a Visa debit card, by doing this and running the account correctly each month they will report the information to all three CRAs and you will build you credit rating.
Failing this, you need to start a mobile phone contract and set it up to your bank account via direct debit, you dont have to use it and get the lowest month fee, I think its around £8 amonth and that will help build you a credit rating.
If you dont like either of these ideals, your last is getting a prepaid debit card, I in no way support these types of cards as they charges fees that are high and a rip off credit but if you get a prepaid card with credit builder (£5 a month) that will build your credit up.
Hope this helps!

Night-owl_6

If you are turned down for credit, lenders should give you the main reason why your application was rejected.

You should contact all three agencies to obtain a copy of your file because they are each likely to hold different information about you. If you do find any mistakes on your file, ask the agency to contact the lender to amend the information.

Credit reference agencies are powerless to alter data on a credit file if the lender insists that the information is correct. If you and the lender disagree, contact the Information Commissioner (https://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk), a body responsible for enforcing data protection laws.

Your rating can be adversely affected by too many credit searches. If you are applying for a loan or credit card at a bank or building society branch, ask it to carry out a “quotation” search rather than a full credit check.

If you need help to understand the data on your credit file, you can find guidance on the internet at https://www.checkmyfile.com.

Katydid83

I have now been into Lloyds who have been more than happy to help me. I have set up a classic account with them which should help to build up my credit. This was after I approached my bank (the one which starts with Nat and ends with West) who told me they would not help me credit wise unless I became a British Citizen! I was livid. So to all those who are in the same position as me, try Lloyds. I really appreciate everyones help! I hope this will sort me out. Thanks again

PROLIANT

Katy, also try CITI Bank, they seem to cater for overseas folk as well.

skyrider007

PROLIANT wrote: »

Katy, also try CITI Bank, they seem to cater for overseas folk as well.

PROLIANT is right. And I am very sure that they won't turn down American customers

This is a link to their exclusive services for US nationals living in the UK:

http://www.citibank.co.uk/personal/banking/international/usnationals.htm

Justy

Can't believe the Lloyds Classic account reports to the CRA's! I've got a LTSB Graduate Gold account with a healthy overdraft and they don't report anything.

Anyone know of any other Current Accounts that report to the Credit Reference Agencies?

skyrider007

Justy wrote: »

Anyone know of any other Current Accounts that report to the Credit Reference Agencies?

HSBC & NatWest

cifpower

and Halifax reports to all 3