US/Canadian credit card rejected

I've been in the UK for 2 weeks and now setting up phone line, utilities etc. I understood the problem of obtaining credit in the UK, so came with my US and Canadian credit cards fully paid off.

However, when setting up my BT landline today, I was asked for a 25GBP deposit due to lack of credit history. When I tried to pay this with my North American credit cards, they were refused and the agent explained that international cards were not accepted.

Now, I'm worried! I had planned to make purchases for my new home online using these cards. Is this just a BT thing or will I run into problems making online purchases with my North American credit cards?

Thanks in advance!

You shouldn't have a problem using your non-UK cards. I wonder why BT wouldn't take one.

You shouldn't have a problem, but call them to make sure they know you are in the UK.  Sometimes they put a stop on them even when you tell them. 

Thank you. I've contacted the credit card companies.

BT says they do not take international credit cards. I'm so frustrated!

BT says they do not take international credit cards. I'm so frustrated!

It was the same for us last summer.  We had to wait until our UK bank cards showed up to then call BT again and put in the deposit.  BT didn't care that the card billed to a UK address, to them it was still a US card.  Really annoying.   

For making online payments (in general) in the UK using an international credit card you have to ensure that the company / website accepts international credit cards.  Its to do with the coding and payment authorisations as to whether the cards will go through (and fraud risks) that make a lot of companies shy away from it as well as many other reasons that I won't go into.

However, don't be put off using your North American credit cards over here in general: any store that accepts Visa, Mastercard or American Express will allow you to use your cards in store even if their website couterpart won't allow international purchases.   

If you've not already gone to a bank to sign up for an account I'd strongly recommend you do so.  It *should* take about a week or two from signing up to receive your bank card.  In the meantime if you get yourself signed up for a current account you should have your direct debit details then and there with BT should accept to make the £25 deposit they're asking you for.

Good luck!

You shouldn't have a problem, but call them to make sure they know you are in the UK.  Sometimes they put a stop on them even when you tell them. 

And make sure they have a valid phone number for you, too.  I gave my bank my US-based Skype number just in case and I got called my first week visiting to verify that I was using my card in the UK.

Ironically, I also got called three weeks after I came home because my card was being used in Georgia, and the bank thought I was still in the UK! (it was fraud, and I got it cleared up, but I was glad the note about being in the UK was on my account to trigger their system!)