Credit cards

I couldn't get any credit cards either when I was here but there was no credit for them to check.  Even mobile phone companies told me that if i wanted to take out a contract i had to be here 3 years. i have since managed to get this sorted out in the meantime.  One of the things I did was start buying clothes through Simply Be.  I tend to buy online a lot anyway. Well, when I started doing this they gave me a little amount of credit to buy with (£85) after a couple more purchases and payments as I went a long they have slowly increased my limit.  This has been a great way for me to build my own credit.  Another thing an american friend of mine told me about when she lived here for 5 years was to apply for a Harrod's card.  She said they seldom refused anyone as she knew a lot of other americans who did this as well. Then she applied for the Harrod's Mastercard.  So that was a way she built up her credit.

I am so upset reading all of this. I am very glad it was easy for all of you to get credit cards, but I moved the Liverpool about a year ago and have 3 different bank accounts-- HSBC, Halifax, RBS--, but no one will give me a credit card or a mortgage!!!!!!!!!! I have even talked to the credit agencies and had to obtain copies of my credit report to open an account with Halifax. I do not know what to do, I have a salaried job at a University, and I pay all my bills on time, but nothing helps! Any Advice?? PLEASE HELP!

Bank of America US card sucks with their 3% charge for international purchases!  BAH!  Im not using that card here anymore. 

And this chip and pin thing here, hubs and I agree its all about how the stores trained their employees on the new law.  If your card DOES NOT have a chip they have to swip it.  When I bought hair products at this snooty salon last weekend, the girl tried to tell me they wouldnt accept it.  Hubs told her to swip it and see if it went through, which it did.  I cant believe they would rather not make the money on a purchase, then to just swipe the damn thing!

rant over!

Regarding the Chip and PIN rule, some stores totally suck.  I tried paying twice with my US swipe credit card at a local grocery store.  I thought the cashier was just ill-informed when she told me that the store no longer accepts cards without Chip and PIN.  I tried explaining to her, she didn't understand, so I paid with my Chip and PIN card.  Next time, I got the same run-around when trying to pay with my US swipe card.  I talked to the store manager.  He said they're not taking swipe cards at all anymore.  I explained it's from the US, many international countries don't have Chip and PIN, yadda yadda.  He said he didn't care.  It was his decision.  @$$h0!e

What I dont understand is how are travellers going to pay for stuff?  It seems the smaller stores are the ones with the issue.  Larger chains seem to have no problem at all, they dont even give me a weird look when I hand over my card!

Exactly!  I explained that to him.  There's a Sainsbury's right down the road that will take my card with no problem.   If he thought he was struggling for business before, just wait until he stops taking foreign cards.  I live in an area of London with a high immigrant population.

I think I might have mentioned this earlier (or at least intended to). I work in a store and we still have to take cards that swipe.  We were sent training through the company's bank that international travellers might likely not have chip and pin yet and there are still some american express cards out there that don't.  What we have to do is still insert the card in the device.   It will then say it's not readable. We then have to swipe the card - so yes, it does still work but we have to first insert it.

Jennredd, I think your husband was right on there. I went into House of Fraser and they told me the same thing. I said to them I work in a shop a few feet a way and we can certainly take it.  Try this. And whoa and behold, it worked. So it must depend on what company's are telling their staff!

My understanding of the Chip & Pin regulations is that:

Any card transaction with a Chip & Pin card where the Chip & Pin is NOT used will not be covered for fraud.  In other words, if a merchant accepts a signature instead of the Chip & Pin on a transaction and fraud was involved (i.e., stolen card) then the store will lose the money collected on the transaction.  Usng the Chip & Pin guarantees that the merchant receives the money even if the card was stolen.

However, the rules clearly state that a signature can still be accepted on cards without Chip & Pin (like US cards), and that the traditional rules regarding fraud (a valid signature) will still apply. 

This is the part that so many merchants are screwing up.  They hear "no signatures" and don't do their homework to find out what the rules really are.

If anyone can find a government-based link that clearly states the rules of Chip & Pin, then please post it on this site.  I have only had my card rejected by a few uneducated w*nkers and it would be nice to refer to something specific when I send their company CEO's a letter stating that I will NEVER EVER do business with them again.

this  should help it contains all the info we were sent to our store.

http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/

I am so upset reading all of this. I am very glad it was easy for all of you to get credit cards, but I moved the Liverpool about a year ago and have 3 different bank accounts-- HSBC, Halifax, RBS--, but no one will give me a credit card or a mortgage!!!!!!!!!! I have even talked to the credit agencies and had to obtain copies of my credit report to open an account with Halifax. I do not know what to do, I have a salaried job at a University, and I pay all my bills on time, but nothing helps! Any Advice?? PLEASE HELP!

This can be very annoying i agree with you. I use to bank with Barclays and each time i go for any transaction in the Bank they market their Barclaycard to me. I was refuse Barclays Credit Card twice and my overdraft limit was just £10

I got angry and went to open an Account with Lloyds TSB, I was shocked when i was given a platinum debit card and to top it all i was also given a classic credit card. My platinum Account comes with £250 overdraft and £1,250 credit limit.

I don't know if this is usual with Lloyds TSB or just mother providence smiling on me.

so my credit is the U.S. is bad at the moment.  when i get to london i'll have no credit history though, which means they won't check into my bad U.S. credit?

so my credit is the U.S. is bad at the moment.  when i get to london i'll have no credit history though, which means they won't check into my bad U.S. credit?

Correct.  Although building credit can be tough as well.

It gave me a great comeback to the woman who wanted to sign me up for a card in the middle of the mall today!  So there are some advantages.