Huggy75 10 Posted June 12, 2015 Been back a week now and started making enquiries re mortgages/credit cards etc., going around in circles as have been told they need to see a UK address on credit file for past three years - have been in Oz for six years - was told to get a credit card and spend to show credit on file but then can't get credit card without a credit history! Does anyone know of anywhere that gives mortgages/credit cards in these circumstances? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie22 92 Posted June 12, 2015 Just a shot in the dark here but do the pre-paid credit cards give you a credit history? Obviously as you load them with money they can't refuse giving you one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest241083 10,769 Posted June 12, 2015 Just a shot in the dark here but do the pre-paid credit cards give you a credit history? Obviously as you load them with money they can't refuse giving you one. ........I don't think so as they are more a debit card...!...(It won't help you build credit, since your prepaid card activities aren't tracked by credit bureaus, ) Read more: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-prepaid-cards-6000.php#ixzz3ct9u55Lj Follow us: @CreditCardsCom on Twitter | CreditCards.com on Facebook Compare credit cards here - CreditCards.com .......hope this helps...http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-prepaid-cards-6000.php Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chortlepuss 426 Posted June 12, 2015 What bank are you with? Can't you get a credit card with a small limit and pay it off each month? I'm sure the bank will be understanding. When I went home for 5 months 2 years ago my bank (TSB) issued me with a credit card with a 3K limit - I had substantially more than this in a savings account with them, but I had to meet with branch mgr and explain that i needed a credit card for certain transactions.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Katie22 92 Posted June 12, 2015 ........I don't think so as they are more a debit card...!...(It won't help you build credit, since your prepaid card activities aren't tracked by credit bureaus, ) Read more: http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-prepaid-cards-6000.php#ixzz3ct9u55Lj Follow us: @CreditCardsCom on Twitter | CreditCards.com on Facebook Compare credit cards here - CreditCards.com .......hope this helps...http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/9-things-you-need-to-know-about-prepaid-cards-6000.php Yep sure, did say it was just a shot in the dark. Just coincidence that I was talking to a friend yesterday about returning and setting up a credit history again and after googling, that was something I came across as a last resort but obviously not accurate. Also, getting yourself on the electoral roll is evidently a good start too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huggy75 10 Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) What bank are you with? Can't you get a credit card with a small limit and pay it off each month? I'm sure the bank will be understanding. When I went home for 5 months 2 years ago my bank (TSB) issued me with a credit card with a 3K limit - I had substantially more than this in a savings account with them, but I had to meet with branch mgr and explain that i needed a credit card for certain transactions.... I bank with Nationwide and have spoken with two different people who both said no (with a smug smile!). I don't even want/need a credit card - just keep being told it will help with the credit scoring. I've already got on the electoral role so that's a start. Have also tried the Halifax too so far. If you went home two years ago you would have had a UK address on file for at least one of the last three years, right? This is the issue, I put all my accounts in my Aus address as we never thought we would be coming back! With hindsight I should have kept one credit card in my Mum's address with a zero balance - but that's the thing about hindsight isn't it. It also looks like they do credit checks for car insurance too so that could be a problem too!! Story of my life!! Edited June 13, 2015 by Huggy75 Forgot to add Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolman 1,654 Posted June 13, 2015 (edited) When we got back after close to 12 years in Australia my wife got a credit card pretty easily from Tesco. It isn't that difficult to get your credit rating going once you are working. Check out the comparison sites and apply online. We also had no issue at all getting car insurance and Admiral accepted most of my Australian no claims discount. Edited June 13, 2015 by bristolman Loving life in Gods Country. Woohoo, look at me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Guest109139 Posted June 13, 2015 Have you tried getting a store card or a mobile phone contract? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Que Sera Sera 6,268 Posted June 13, 2015 Well going the other way, the first thing we got was a mobile phone/Internet/Foxtel package. Is a Sky package etc an option? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bronyaur 10 Posted June 13, 2015 Been back a week now and started making enquiries re mortgages/credit cards etc., going around in circles as have been told they need to see a UK address on credit file for past three years - have been in Oz for six years - was told to get a credit card and spend to show credit on file but then can't get credit card without a credit history! Does anyone know of anywhere that gives mortgages/credit cards in these circumstances? Hi, Youll be hard pushed to get any type of credit for a long while. I know from experience. My partner came back to UK in 2006 after being in Aus 6 years. Basically he had to start from scratch. Since the reccesion and the influx of European migrants all lenders have tightened up. 3 years residency seems to be the norm. Offshore partner visa 309/100 applied 31/12/14 online. Co appointed (CF) 6/1/15.( no further info requested). Meds done 24/04/15, police check uploaded 24/5/15. Flights booked for 14/10/15. 309 Granted 6/10/15 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huggy75 10 Posted June 17, 2015 When we got back after close to 12 years in Australia my wife got a credit card pretty easily from Tesco. It isn't that difficult to get your credit rating going once you are working. Check out the comparison sites and apply online.We also had no issue at all getting car insurance and Admiral accepted most of my Australian no claims discount. Hi Bristolman - can I ask what you put on the credit card application when it asked for your previous UK address for the past three years? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolman 1,654 Posted June 17, 2015 Hi Bristolman - can I ask what you put on the credit card application when it asked for your previous UK address for the past three years? From memory it asked if you have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years and we ticked no and it asked for previous address. It just didn't cause any problems at all. 3 years residence most certainly is not required. We have only just been back 3 years now and have had 4 different credit cards now. Loving life in Gods Country. Woohoo, look at me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolman 1,654 Posted June 17, 2015 Hi, Youll be hard pushed to get any type of credit for a long while. I know from experience. My partner came back to UK in 2006 after being in Aus 6 years. Basically he had to start from scratch. Since the reccesion and the influx of European migrants all lenders have tightened up. 3 years residency seems to be the norm. I can also speak from experience and have not found this to be the case at all, we got our first credit card within the first 6 months, I can't remember exactly but it was no longer than that and we hadn't tried to get one before that 6 months. Loving life in Gods Country. Woohoo, look at me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BacktoDemocracy 6,211 Posted June 17, 2015 I bank with Nationwide and have spoken with two different people who both said no (with a smug smile!). I don't even want/need a credit card - just keep being told it will help with the credit scoring. I've already got on the electoral role so that's a start. Have also tried the Halifax too so far. If you went home two years ago you would have had a UK address on file for at least one of the last three years, right? This is the issue, I put all my accounts in my Aus address as we never thought we would be coming back! With hindsight I should have kept one credit card in my Mum's address with a zero balance - but that's the thing about hindsight isn't it. It also looks like they do credit checks for car infsurance too so that could be a problem too!! Story of my life!! For car insurance try Arriva, they will accept oz NCD's and i think Halifax do, get written proof from your oz insurance. Try Barclaycard for a credit card. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolman 1,654 Posted June 17, 2015 For car insurance try Arriva, they will accept oz NCD's and i think Halifax do, get written proof from your oz insurance.Try Barclaycard for a credit card. When my wife looked for insurance first time the company wouldn't accept the Oz no claims but they gave her almost the equivalent reduction as a bonus. Loving life in Gods Country. Woohoo, look at me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell123321 728 Posted June 17, 2015 Just a shot in the dark here but do the pre-paid credit cards give you a credit history? Obviously as you load them with money they can't refuse giving you one. Cash plus do! You can get one of these cards and if your prepared to you can pay £5 a month and they will submit to the credit agencies you have been paying a loan back and give you a positive score on your record. You do this for a year and you should have a better credit score. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bell123321 728 Posted June 17, 2015 Though maybe first get a mobile phone contact even if its one of those 30 day rolling contracts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CaptainC 1,109 Posted June 17, 2015 First of all, make sure you register on the Electoral roll, then give it a week or so to update on your credit file then try someone like Capital One who specialise in credit for people with bad credit. Not saying you've got bad credit, but the principle is the same if you don't have a credit history to speak of. The APR will be extortionate but if you spend a little on it and pay it back before the month end then you won't receive any interest charges, that way you start to build up a credit history. Have a look at Moneysaving expert online to see some more details on this. I had a poor credit history because I was always away at sea, had no real address and not on the electoral roll but still I got a Capital One CC with a small (£500) limit. Used that to build up credit, and after a few months I was eligible for a lot more credit facilities. Ship's Master - Permanent Resident - PomsInOz Forum Moderator Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huggy75 10 Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks everybody for your responses. We did the Electoral Roll straight away so that should be sorted. I've managed to get evidence of NCD's from NRMA so that should help with the car insurance. We're starting work in July so are going to wait a few months to settle on this and then start to apply for a credit card etc. We've spoken with the Halifax re mortgage and they said to wait until we have one month's wageslip then we can apply and if it doesn't go through they will appeal it as we had a mortgage with them for 12 years before and we are going to work for reputable companies (NHS & Nestle). Not sure whether we're comfortable with going through an appeal process but we'll see. In the meantime, we'll save, save, save so that we don't have to borrow as much, hopefully. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quinkla 2,653 Posted June 18, 2015 I am no expert, but I would imagine you would need a permanent UK address (even if rented) and an employment contract as a minimum - and with that, you should be able to get some form of credit. Australian financial history will not count for anything. Feb 2010 Prospective Marriage Visa | Nov 2010 Temporary Partner Visa | Nov 2012 Permanent Partner Visa | Jan 2015 Australian Citizenship Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bqjt 11 Posted June 18, 2015 If you had American express whilst in OZ, you can go on the Amex website and use the option of migrating to another country. Amex will be happy to issue you a card in the UK. The below link has more info. https://www.americanexpress.com/global-card-transfers/?inav=au_menu_myacct_global I came to UK in 2008 and my employer opened my first account with Natwest. I contacted the account manager and they issued me with a credit card straightaway with no liability to my employer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huggy75 10 Posted June 24, 2015 Good News!! Today we managed to open a Current Account to have our future wages paid into. It still had to do a credit check but it went through fine - it even offered us an overdraft instantly which apparently shows that our credit score is good (but we didn't take it). Anyway, it finally feels like we're getting somewhere and we've now been advised to settle into our jobs for a few months and then go back to discuss mortgage requirements :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marisawright 10,054 Posted June 25, 2015 Been back a week now and started making enquiries re mortgages/credit cards etc., going around in circles as have been told they need to see a UK address on credit file for past three years - have been in Oz for six years - was told to get a credit card and spend to show credit on file but then can't get credit card without a credit history! Does anyone know of anywhere that gives mortgages/credit cards in these circumstances? We've been going through the same thing! First thing is to get on the electoral roll to prove you've got an address now. The only other thing you can do is get a credit card from one of those bad-credit companies and use it for a few months. Obviously you need to be sure to pay it off on time every month because they charge such horrendous interest rates. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bad-credit-credit-cards Scot by birth, emigrated 1985 | Aussie husband granted UK spouse visa, moved to UK May 2015 | Returned to Oz June 2016 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bristolman 1,654 Posted June 25, 2015 (edited) We've been going through the same thing! First thing is to get on the electoral roll to prove you've got an address now. The only other thing you can do is get a credit card from one of those bad-credit companies and use it for a few months. Obviously you need to be sure to pay it off on time every month because they charge such horrendous interest rates. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/bad-credit-credit-cards It really isnt the only thing you can do, our first credit card was a normal mainstream card with normal interest rate. Edited June 25, 2015 by bristolman Loving life in Gods Country. Woohoo, look at me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marisawright 10,054 Posted June 25, 2015 Well going the other way, the first thing we got was a mobile phone/Internet/Foxtel package. Is a Sky package etc an option? To get a mobile phone/broadband package, all you need is a basic bank account. No idea why it doesn't need a credit rating, it doesn't make sense! Scot by birth, emigrated 1985 | Aussie husband granted UK spouse visa, moved to UK May 2015 | Returned to Oz June 2016 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
