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How to establish credit in the UK?

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:46 am
by creditech
Hello,

What a gold mine of information I've just discovered here.

I am likely going to be approved for the HSMP program.

When I immigrate, I would like to establish a high credit rating as fast as possible in the U.K.

Can anyone recommend a good place to look for information about how to establish credit, positive credit history, positive credit ratings etc in the U.K.?

Thanks!

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:10 pm
by netacct
Get a credit card and buy EVERYTHING on credit card.
i.e. use it wherever you can...
if you buy something expensive e.g. TV take it on installments ...
It usually takes around two years to build good credit history.

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:31 pm
by Wanderer
And three months to ruin it!

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:53 pm
by asys
get the TV and pay licenses ..

Credit rating is more debt you create and more money you pay as interest.

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:39 pm
by SKUK
Getting a credit card right away is difficult. In fact you may struggle to open a bank account. Opening a bank account in UK is the first step.

Register in the council electoral list as well.

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:47 pm
by SYH
SKUK wrote:Getting a credit card right away is difficult. In fact you may struggle to open a bank account. Opening a bank account in UK is the first step.

Register in the council electoral list as well.
you cant register until ILR or naturalization

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:10 pm
by asys
Hi,

You can register on electrol list as we are part of comman wealth .. if you have not done it do it now .

Thats normally what most of the banks /financial inst check

Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:15 pm
by creditech
Hi,

Thank you for all the replies. It appears as if the general strategy for building credit in the U.K. is principally the same as in the U.S. From what I hear, Experian is the Credit Reporting Agency most widely used in the U.K. I'll have to see to what extent, if any at all, my file from the U.S. would be trasferred to the file in the U.K.

Those that replied about registering with the council electoral list, THANKS for your help.