Credit rating

[Gorman]

How do you get a credit rating? I have never had any credit and as such can not get any to start a decent credit history. Can anybody suggest an easy way of getting on the credit ladder?

[juicyjamie18]

It's really difficult. It's like a vicious circle, you need good credit to get credit. I applied everywhere when I turned 18 and couldn't get anything. In the end I managed to get a mobile phone from 02, paid it on time every month until the contract was finished and after that I was accepted for 2 credit cards. So you could try getting a mobile. Also, www.universa.co.uk have a really high acceptance rate, my best friend got one when she was that situation. Hope this helps.

[WoWo]

If you have a bank account, then try applying for a credit card from that bank. Once you have that this should open up more credit opportunities. I would use the credit card whenever you would normally pay cash, but pay it back in full every month.

[AllYourBase]

Make sure that you are on the electoral register. This adds weight to your application, as does having a bank account. If you don't have a bank account that gives access to a credit card, see if you can upgrade any accounts you may have had as a child (even if unused for years) into an adult account, then you have banking history too.