UK credit cards?

Is it possible to get a UK credit card with your bank if you aren't a UK citizen? Any one know anything on this? I could always check with my bank, but if you have had success let me know! Cheers

Yes, it's very possible. You don't have to be a citizen to get a credit card! But it's not easy, particularly if you've not lived in the UK for very long.  It would be best to try your bank first, or failing that, apply for some store cards to start building credit.

Hi

As per Geeta's response above, it is possible but it most likely won't be a simple process. With the current economic gloom with lending etc it's likely to be tougher still.
I'd still think that a 'full' credit card would be very difficult to get initially as a newcomer to the UK and little or no credit history. However, I think the best bet would be to see if you can get some sort of secured limit credit card with the bank you are with. It may be for a small nominal amount like £250 or so but if you can get it, do indeed take it up. Use it carefully and pay the amount into it, spend and then top it back up again.

The exact same thing I'm hoping to be doing with the newly opened Wells Fargo account I opened a couple months ago in the US. They will put me forward very soon for a secured $300 limit credit card - I'm not a US citizen, nor do I have an independent US credit history yet - but this will help in starting that ball rolling.

I'm sure this kind of thing has been discussed and is available here in the UK, I just haven't looked at it recently here and it may well be harder now due to the much less lending thats going on.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Check out the section of Moneysavingexpert.com that details
Credit cards for people with no credit history:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/bad-credit-credit-cards

If you had an AMEX in the US for a couple of years and paid on time etc., they can help set you up with one in the UK.

I was able to get the Barclaycard Initial this month. I have been in the UK only for 11months on a settlement visa, but I have two open current accounts and I made sure to place a notice of correction on my credit report as to why I can't be on the electoral roll.

The interest rate is ridiculously high, but they extended an initial credit line of 1,200gbp so I am hoping it will go a long way in letting me build credit by using the card and paying it off in full.

Hi Dennis,

I know I've been MIA for a while so forgive my question.  Are you moving to the US?

Hi

As per Geeta's response above, it is possible but it most likely won't be a simple process. With the current economic gloom with lending etc it's likely to be tougher still.
I'd still think that a 'full' credit card would be very difficult to get initially as a newcomer to the UK and little or no credit history. However, I think the best bet would be to see if you can get some sort of secured limit credit card with the bank you are with. It may be for a small nominal amount like £250 or so but if you can get it, do indeed take it up. Use it carefully and pay the amount into it, spend and then top it back up again.

The exact same thing I'm hoping to be doing with the newly opened Wells Fargo account I opened a couple months ago in the US. They will put me forward very soon for a secured $300 limit credit card - I'm not a US citizen, nor do I have an independent US credit history yet - but this will help in starting that ball rolling.

I'm sure this kind of thing has been discussed and is available here in the UK, I just haven't looked at it recently here and it may well be harder now due to the much less lending thats going on.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi Brigette,

I wish I was !

As yet, no I'm not moving there, or Canada, but long term plans are to do that. I thought I'd get the ball rolling early for the bank accounts thing, so as to help build some sort of history with US institutions.

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi Dennis the Menace,

Oh I see Sounds like a good plan to me

The link provided supplied this advice: "Get on the electoral roll. If you're not on the roll, it's unlikely you'll get any credit. Immediately check if you are by calling your council. If you aren't eligible to vote (mainly foreign nationals), send all the credit reference agencies proof of residency and ask them to add a note to your file."

Is that good advice? Cannot hurt, right?

So, should I send all the credit reference agencies proof of residency, and ask them to add a note to my file? Would "proof of residency" be a copy of my spouse visa?

I am about to go through this process too. Before I left the states, I paid off all my cards (I had not used them in years and had low balances) and then I just closed all of them. I had perfectly good credit in NYC.

But, I hear that the credit here is not connected to the credit here... Is that correct?

I applied for one store card, shortly after moving here, and they denied me. But, oddly, when we rented our flat, the letting agent told me I had perfect credit?

Many thanks to all of you who are so helpful on here!
L.

As some people have pointed out, sending your information in and asking for a note to be placed on your credit file can sometimes have the opposite effect, since the note sends up a flag that has to be investigated before any credit decisions can be made.

Lara, you're correct that UK and US credit history are unconnected.   Unfortunately you have to start from scratch with your UK credit history.   

The reason the agent said your credit was perfect was because your UK credit file was blank!   That's good for letting agents when they just want to see that you don't have any defaults or late payments, but bad for credit card companies who will also want to see some positive history of a long streak of on-time payments.

Gwen666, the whole point of the note on the credit file is that it ensures that the application is reviewed by a human and not automatically rejected by the computer for the applicant not being on the electoral roll.   Yes it does slow down credit applications, but it's worth it.   When Leisa first moved here she had the same problem of not being able to get credit.  So we put a note on her Experian credit file and she never got turned down after that.

There's certainly no risk of the note adversely affecting any credit application.

Lara, you need to contact the credit agencies (Experian, Equifax, CallCredit/Noddle) asking for a "Notice of Correction" to be put on your credit file.   If time is limited, Experian is the most important.  Not all of the staff who work at the credit agencies know about these, so you may have to be tenacious.

The note on Leisa's file said (sorry for the caps) "I AM A US CITIZEN WHO IS LEGALLY RESIDENT IN THE UK BUT AM UNABLE TO BE ON THE ELECTORAL REGISTER DUE TO NOT BEING FROM THE EU OR A COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY.  MY ADDRESS CAN BE VERIFIED THROUGH OTHER MEANS.   I ASK LENDERS TO TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN MAKING A LENDING DECISION.  SIGNED, MRS xxxxxx."

Thank you all... I am in no "Rush" to have credit... But, I might start this little process now... That way, if and when I do want credit, I will have that note there!

Hey Dennis,

I am intrigued that you got a US card.  Just wondering if I could get a UK card before I leave.  Anyone try that?