Hi, everyone, I am French (25) and I have been leaving in London for the last 4 years. I have got a permanent job, a bank account at Barclays and a credit card with them. ( I have been leaving at the same address for the last 2 years) Recently I have applied for a Nationwide Credit card and a Morgan Stanley but I have been declined. I am on electoral list,(since august) I don’t have debts, pay my bills on time…. I have even requested my credit file with Equifax, but I don’t understand what is in it. Do you have any idea/tips of what shall I do next? In order to get the card I really want? Thanks in advance for your help.
Sometime the refuse a credit card because you do not have a credit record - i.e. you have neither been with debts in the UK. It seems crazy but that's the way it works sometime. You should be able to speak to a manager at the bank that gives you an explanation and help to sort out the situation.
Why do you want a credit card? They can cause all sorts of problems! If you need short term cash perhaps you could ask your bank for a overdraft, it should help build your credit rating and the rates are often better anyway. Otherwise, you could try a card like Capital One as they usually take on "higher risk" clients. The interest rate will be terrible but it will allow you to build up your credit rating, which will also be useful in future if you want a mortgage etc. Try websites like motleyfool.co.uk or Money Supermarket - they have card comparison tools. Assume you have a low credit rating and see what they suggest. Beware of applying for too many cards as credit companies look badly on this. Pretty much the way it works is that everyone gets a rating based on what type of customer they are - as you are foreign, you will start pretty low - the better customer you show yourself to be, the more likely they are to give you credit. Perversely, it is not always best to pay off all your balance every month because then they don't make any money from you, you need to always pay at least the minimum amount, without fail but not always the total balance as then they make some interest from you. Be very warey though as it is very easy to get carried away with credit cards and if you don't pay them all off every month you may soon find you can no longer afford to as the interest is so high.
Post subject: UK: I have been declined to a credit card agai Credit card companies operate different risk policies: after 3 years in London, I applied and received an Halifax, M&S, HSBC, Barclaycard and even American Express but had some issues getting through MBNA and egg: Similarly they asked for credit records and I could not be bothered to contact Equifax. Equifax is a financial service company, they processe and resell your credit card records. For 10 pounds, you can get your reccord. https://www.econsumer.equifax.co.uk/con ... d_cd=UKCPO and send it to every card company you want. Good luck.
Hello there I'm not sure but it's worth trying to check with Experian (check if address is still valid: Consumer Help Service, PO Box 8000, Nottingham NG1 5GX) and ask for your credit file giving all your UK addresses. Too many in UK have been victim of ID theft without their knowing it. I know as my name has been fraudulantly used for the past five years. It's so easy for people to use your personal details to get bank loans. The Police doesn't seem to care much. Even banks don't seem to care much either. I have enough proof to show who actually has been using my name fraudulantly but noone seems to bother. KV