Electoral Roll

Hello, I have a question about the Electoral Roll. We are currently looking at mortgages and the Nationwide Building Society said it won't be a problem not being on the electoral roll because I have ILR but I got declined a phone contract yesterday because I am not on it (I suspect).  Can anyone shed some light on how to get on the electoral roll or get around not being on and still be able to get credit?

You aren't eligible to be on the Electoral Roll (assuming you are from the US) until you become a UK citizen. You can put a note on your credit file to state something to this effect - there are some threads in here that discuss this, will see if I can find one...

Here is one:

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=60575.msg870363#msg870363

There might be something more recent out there as well, but the info is still pretty much the same. HTH!

Right Ladies and Gents,

A few developments here.  I was declined a mobile phone contract on EE so I pulled my credit history on Equifax.  My score was 996 and they operate on a traffic light system.  Everything was GREEN apart from the fact that I am not on the electoral roll.

We have been dealing with Nationwide Building Society in regards to a Mortgage.  Very helpful people I must say.  So I went in to see the manager, and she told me alot.  I explained to her that I was not on the electoral roll and asked how to build credit.  She advised me to look at one of their credit cards.  Long story short, they approved me for a credit card with an £1800 limit and their lowest rate of 9.9% interest.  She said my credit history has over a 1000 rating and that we would not have trouble getting a mortgage with them due to not being on the electoral roll.  Good information - we will be switching our current account from HSBC to them because they have such good deals. 

Long story short (again) is if you are looking to get credit for something, try Nationwide Building Society and pay with whatever you want to buy with a credit card.

HI happened on this conversation as we are new to the UK and looking to get a mortgage. We are running into blocks because we haven't built up a credit history.

I'm curious how long have you been back in the UK? Do you think Nationwide Building Society would consider us for a mortgage even though we've only been back in the UK for a month? We are seeking a small mortgage becasue we have the proceeds from selling our house in the US to put down as a down payment.

I am a US citizen and the one with the UK salary at the moment, so of course I can't be on the electoral roll.

Curious from others how long you had to wait upon returning to the UK before you could get a mortgage. We're busy applying for credit cards, paying rent and council tax but how much credit history (months) is required?

Thanks,
Aimee

Hi Aimee,

Nationwide told me that in order to obtain the credit card, you need to have lived in the UK for more than 12 months and in order to obtain a mortgage through them, its 3 years.

I have been in the UK since November 2010 so by the time we are ready to buy, I will have been here 3 years.

It is very difficult to apply for credit without being on the electoral roll.  The ONLY way to get on it is to become a UK Citizen.

OMG! 3 years to get a mortgage? Seriously?
That's crazy.

Thats for Nationwide, can't speak for other banks/building societies.