The best first time credit cards for UK beginners

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Here's more on credit building cards for beginners from my blog becleverwithyourcash.com/beginner-credit-cards-to-build-your-credit-score/

[@luizaivn7672]

Greetings ! I just wanted to start this by klarna, and gaved me 250£ credit limit , after i put My limit monthly payment of 150£ . I downloader klarna, search For product, add it in basket for shopping it, got email that I am accepted to proceed the buyng, it is a product of 249£, automatic they choosed for me delivery,and I can’t change it on click and collect or next day delivery, then when I have to proceed next step payment and delivery, it s blocked… because the delivery payment is 3.99£… what is happening next?…what can I do?

[@bock8513]

​@@MaGgzTv😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@1must723]

Hi there can i have 3 or 4 different New Day credit cards at one time as in Pulse - Aqua - marbles - Fluid ? many thanks

[@amanpreet1111]

credit cards 9:30 amazon - APR 29.9 11:15 Tesco - APR 27.5 13:44 Barclays - APR 33.9

[@ryanyao5]

legend, thanks!

[@josephhvhayes]

Apr isn't meant to matter

[@evilbee94]

​@@josephhvhayes"isn't meant to matter" wtf is that supposed to mean? It's not a payday loan 😂

[@charlottehunter2924]

Turning 18 in less than a week and have been trying to figure out what credit card to get. Thanks a lot this has really helped

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad I could help!

[@Mxdvimtz]

Finally someone talking about uk credit, Thank you

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad to help!

[@lllm2751]

Get in debt to prove you won’t get into debt, what is this world

[@SashaYanshin]

Nice video Andy! My one point would be that the 30% utilisation doesn't really apply in the UK - it does in the US because that is the sweet spot for the FICO score, but UK credit scoring works very differently and that sweet spot doesn't really exist :) Source: I designed, built and launched most of those credit cards 😂 Keep up the good work!

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Thanks for this Sasha. It does make a difference to your score (though admittedly, score and how lenders actually assess you aren't the same thing) according to Experian. Check out my podcast from last month with a Q&A with Experian's James Jones (Credit utilisation is discussed around the 20 minute mark) becleverwithyourcash.com/cash-chats-153-your-credit-report-questions-answered/ I've just checked out your channel properly... Looks good! You should join us and other creators in the UK Money Bloggers community on FB. Will email you

[@WiktorJurek]

@@SashaYanshin As someone that's about to get their first credit card, what's the best way to find out actual eligibility if the credit reference agencies are not to be paid attention to?

[@SashaYanshin]

@@Karlski420 Is this the best you can do?

[@Svaggykoupe]

Get me one bro pls

[@mdr092]

You're wrong it affects your score going over 25% on Transunion.

[@RoketGamers]

Thank you so much, i know this video is fairly older but this has been the best video I've stumbled upon for helping me understand all of this, I'm sure this will help many more in the future

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it helped!

[@HarryFryer25]

Why isn't this taught in school 🥲🤚

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

I'm not sure what is taught at schools now, but it definitely wasn't on the curriculum when I was younger!

[@nessyldnmanagement8574]

The government does not encourage financial freedom. That’s why

[@dontoni8041]

Real knowledge is only passed down by parents. They want the lower class to stay low than them

[@Dower-DX1-22]

​@@nessyldnmanagement8574 well said

[@tylerbeaumont]

Because God forbid the curriculum actually includes life skills and financial tips rather than just telling us how to draw an atomic diagram and interpret the antiquated language of Beowulf and Canterbury Tales

[@bharatgangwal8238]

Hey Andy, you give great info. As a suggestion I would say add the info on screen through graphics or text, it will help your viewership. Cheers.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Thanks Bharat. It’s a lot of extra work to do these that I don’t always have the time for but I’ll try to find a quick solution!

[@samc12345]

My first credit card was capital one when I was 25. I had a £1600 limit and 0% on purchases for 6 months. Seems pretty good for a first timer compared to what you're saying. Within a year my experian score was 999.

[@maitzyjp6649]

On the 0% do you have to pay back what you spend monthly or do you have 3 months to pay off any of the £1600 you had

[@chiseledjaw8874]

Is 999 good

[@Stimm002]

@@chiseledjaw8874 its a max score

[@tandoorichicken4870]

@@chiseledjaw8874 credit score doesn’t matter

[@JSOGaming]

@@tandoorichicken4870 it really does nowadays

[@kbrp5493]

Ah the advice i have been seeking for a while. Thanks buddy

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

No problem 👍

[@d.b.cooper1]

Worst mistake I made was getting an Amex when I was 19, used it a lot paid off every month perfectly. Some great perks & points but literally had no positive impact on my credit rating. Never knew difference between a charge card vs credit card. Few months into my first credit card & credit rating shot up.

[@josephinebenjamin1330]

i just got an amex please tell me whats wrong with it

[@d.b.cooper1]

@@josephinebenjamin1330 I mean it's still ok & has tonnes of perks etc esp if used right which is why I got it, But it's also key you get a normal credit alongside to build credit, as oddly enough despite it being a charge card where you pay the entire balance off each month it really doesn't help build your credit score. Key difference is it's a charge card not a credit card, the latter is key to build credit.

[@sultanachowdhury6610]

@@d.b.cooper1 what credit card, as opposed to charge card, would you recommend for a student and beginner? And what exactly are you supposed to look at to understand what's a charge card and what's a credit card?

[@sj9241]

Really clear and useful explanation. Much clearer than the bank helpline. Thank you.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it was helpful!

[@callmemainey]

Question: Is paying off the credit card right away good? I heard it isn’t. The reason being because you’re not actually creating a statement balance. Would the best practice not be to, on a £1000 limit credit for example, spend £300 on groceries or whatever, utilising the 30%, and then wait for your statement where your minimum payment will be decided THEN pay it off in full? That way your statement shows you’ve got a balance and that you are able to pay it off in full before the due date?

[@OlleyThorpe]

Needed this one Andy! I got a British Airways American Express a couple of months ago as my first one! good to know these other options! would love to see a more detailed strategy and managing system, like excel sheets etc

[@OlleyThorpe]

@Tom Bagley So far so good! Its my first ever credit card, so I have just been putting stuff through it and then clearing the balance straight away. I decided on that particular card for the travel points (which aren't relevant right now haha) I run a lot of facebook ads for my business and clients, So have switched to using this on FB too, so just using it for stuff I would be spending on anyway aka not just buying dumb stuff haha

[@mdkhoda6490]

@olly good. May I know you pls what was ur score. Thnx

[@ezeokeogechukwu6453]

Thank you Andy. I am a foreigner and skeptical about using credit cards because I don’t understand the nitty gritty. The video has done a great justice but I am yet to understand what the different credit cards are ( 0% balance transfer, 0% spending, 0% money). Which will be recommended for a first timer thank you in advance

[@paikiah77]

I have stellar credit rating back in Korea, but meant absolutely nothing in the UK... so this month is inally 1 year in the UK and finally approved to get a credit card

[@aliciagoddard6757]

appreciate the video! a slideshow or presentation would really clarify what you are saying, just being flecked through beside you whilst you speak

[@ssebitaabawamala6861]

Thanks boss. Just successfully applied for the Amazon classic....for credit building.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Good luck! Remember to clear the balance every month once you've got the statement

[@christineherbert4937]

Thank you for this video!! I'm a beginner to credit cards and want to make sure I have an idea of what i'm signing up for so this was very useful!!! 😅

[@shakilamatthews]

So many questions. Wish we got taught this stuff in school

[@hannahnewton807]

This is so helpful thank you!

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jjangbeoms4346]

for students, can i apply for the amazon or tesco credit cards with my student loan/ bursaries used as my annual income?

[@SR-sr3fh]

Got my first credit card with aqua. I applied via Experian and I had already used their boosted score feature and I received a ‘boosted offer’ which offered lower interest which I otherwise would not have gotten.

[@blessing303]

Which aqua card did you get and how are you finding it?

[@Pisceswildfire]

Thank you clearing up the interest rate malarkey! It got me all freaked out that I'd be charged for every purchase which wouldn't make a credit card worth it for me! 😅

[@liamslore]

Subscription earned, very quick to point and informative. 📖

[@martinguy7609]

You said you can use the and and then pay it off immediately. Do you not need to wait for your statement to be produced before paying it off for there to be a record of that money being borrowed and being reflected in your credit score?

[@LB-cl9jf]

Years ago, somebody said this to me. To wait for the bill first. I was also wondering if this was true

[@danbrayne3580]

does having a mortgage for 13 years and two loans from the bank going to help ur credit report

[@netflixsk5491]

Really good info. Thanks a ton👍

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it was helpful!

[@diefrage1453]

9:31 could you please save the time of the very long introduction? Thank you 🙏 🌺

[@ArdxnFX]

Could you do a 2023 best beginner credit cards ?

[@jb-opgrand-cross9072]

Thank you for making this video much appreciated

[@ekaobongjohn443]

Excellent video thanks for sharing 👍

[@0Cindrum0]

I want it for consumer protection for buying things on new websites but I guess I’ll improve my credit at the same time

[@sammyyim17]

Thanks for the advice Andy!! Really helpful, question. How long should one maintain a beginner credit card? How many months on a beginner credit credit card will demonstrate to credit companies that you are a good person to lend to?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Thanks Sammy! So it's an ongoing process. You won't see the effects of using and paying off your first card for around three to six months. And if you continue with this pattern of only buying what you need and clearing the balance it could help further strengthen your credit report. You can use your credit score to identify the progress you're making. More here on how these work kzbin.info/www/bejne/baTGXqObqM-Natk

[@kwhitmill7617]

my first was a barclay card I ( i originally banked with barclays) i got in 2019. my second was tesco credit card they had a 0% interest for 6 months.

[@kr-yq3yn]

Was Barclays good?

[@kwhitmill7617]

@@kr-yq3yn yeah, I've not had any bother

[@stellahaddon6078]

Really useful info - thanks for sharing😊

[@Signedpeach]

In UK, other companies won't know if you are rejected, only that you had a hard search. Too many hard searches are bad.

[@briannadacres6126]

Thanks for this Andy ! So helpful ! :)

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it was useful!

[@wolfxman6514]

Thank you for this video... What advise do you have for people new in UK and not yet completed 3 years residency?!

[@tobybeswick36]

Great video, thanks! I was just wondering, if I buy a few small things throughout the month with a credit card, would the interest be charged if I miss my first repayment or is the interest automatically on the purchases? Also if a direct debit of £50 was set and I’d only spent £30 on the credit card, what would happen with the remaining £20? Currently got a hood credit score, but completely new to this and looking to build my credit score

[@shinmoda]

You'd have a negative balance which basically means the card owes you and it will report as a 0% credit utilization~ nothing bad happens :) however, you may find difficulty in paying more than you actually own, besides the fact that there is no need to do so.

[@ryanmarsh4713]

Great video very informative, but at what point do you pay the interest? Obviously from what you said paying it off straight away will avoid this but what is the usual timescale is it the end of every month if not payed up what was used in that month?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi Ryan, you'll have a monthly credit card statement period, and that's what the interest will be based on. You'll have a date to clear that before the interest is charged, and if you don't do that, or only do part of it, you'll see interest added. The statements will probably be a month after the date you opened it rather than a calendar month.

[@ryanmarsh4713]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash thanks for the reply, I've alway been good with money in the sense of not spending what I don't have and saving but this has put me in the strange position of being penalised for never being in debt or borrowing... Need to get my credit rating up and a credit card like you described seems a good route to go just need to educate myself before applying.

[@KaylaS-t6o]

Hi Andy, Would you recommend BA Amex Free card as a first credit card? Or should I start with a Tesco Foundation or Aqua card for credit building? I know people that have had BA Amex as their first card and have been accepted. Is there a disadvantage to starting with the BA Amex card?

[@davidmiscavige5663]

The card I'm looking at says the following; "The minimum payment will be the higher of: A. The sum of (a) interest for the period from the last statement, (b) any default charges and (c) 1% of the full amount you owe as shown on your monthly statement (not including interest and default charges). B. 3% of the full amount you owe as shown on your monthly statement (including interest and charges). C. £5." Is this to say even if I don't owe any money I will still have to pay £5 every month?

[@mdkhoda6490]

My son is over 18 yrs now. He never had credit. Don't have contract mob. To increase his score what initiative we should take. Pls advice

[@swapnilajmera8887]

Hey Andy, Your ideas are amazing and gives full useful info on credit cards and many other topics. Could you please create a video on " Can I pay house rent using credit card"

[@vitalieb.8886]

Hello. Nice review. Regarding the UK credit cards, may I ask for your advice? Which one would be better and how to pay the debt (everyday exactly what is spent, or the last day before the statement day)? Thinking to improve my credit score (looking for the best mortgage deal) I've applied for the second credit card (HSBC Premier card) but I'm not sure if that is the best one (I've got a barclaycard platinum from 2018). Thank you.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi Vitalie, the easiest thing is to set up a direct debit for the full amount each month - then you won't have to worry about doing it too late. If the mortgage is in the next six months I'd stay clear of new credit applications. If you're focused on credit building then any credit card is as good as another. The most important choice is the one which you are most likely to get accepted for.

[@akintolaolamide8645]

Great video as always! I completely agree the current credit system is flawed, but at what cost is this going to be to fix it. For one, like others have posted what government system has ever been smooth and without flaw. This sounds more like less privacy of individual finance. Bank account info and payment history being directly shared to the government. They already know what is reported on end of year taxes. This would allow knowledge of how that money is spent as well. For most people that may not matter but it’s still something to think about. At the end of the day, it’s what it’s. Freedom is far from being free in today’s time. This might make it easier for younger people to get credit they deserve. At the same time giving more credit then someone is accustom to can create problems that could be avoided as well. Because I was in the same situation where my score denied me from great position but I have no worries when I met Hackergold02 on I-g..

[@APAP-ld8yl]

Thanks for the explanation👍

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

No problem 👍

[@Invisiongamer]

Can't understand what is for that APR, maybe somebody will help, for example, if I have this Barclaycard credit and I have a spending limit of £1200, in the first month I'm doing shopping for £200 and I'm paying it back right away at the end of the year I will pay interest for that money spent?

[@oinkoink5897]

if you pay it back ‘on time’ you won’t pay interest

[@airportdocumentaries]

You won't pay any interest if you pay off the balance before the statement date. All you have to do is set up a direct debit and you won't have to even worry about paying any interest, the amount you owe will be automatically taken out every month

[@edzsteerr]

4:00 I got advertised 39.9%, I got 24.9% at 18 :)

[@rockstarjoe5725]

Appreciate the video bro

[@mariajosegonzalez1863]

You recommended in another video the American Express Platinum Cashback Credit Card. What do you think is better Tesco or American Express?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi Maria, it depends on a couple of things. If you are starting out and have a poor credit report, then the cards in this video are the best ones to go for. If you have a decent score and are more likely to be able to get other cards, then the cashback Amex will make you money back. I’d say go to a place like Money Saving Expert and sign up to its free Credit Club - then you’ll be able to see all the cards you’ve got a chance of getting

[@mariajosegonzalez1863]

Amazing!! Thanks for the response! I really appreciate :) best

[@Sammm30]

Hey! I just got a credit card and had a question, hoping you can help me make this clear. If my credit limit was £500 and I were to make a purchase with it on say; Amazon of £500. Would I have to pay this in full before the following month in order to pay 0% interest? If I wanted to space the repayments of this £500 borrow say; monthly. Would the only way to do it is by paying the minimum every month and also pay the interet? What if I payed the minimum required +£10,;would that negate the interest and allow me to pay in monthly like I want?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi Sam. So if you have reached your credit limit, then you can't spend any more money on the card until you clear some of that balance. Any money you don't clear by the billing date will be charged interest (unless you are on a 0% purchase or BT credit card). So if you do space this out, you'll get charged interest each month. The minimum payment is only to prevent any charges getting added on top. The difference is if this is a 0% purchase card. If that is the case then you need to still make the minimum, but you won't get charged interest on top until the 0% period ends.

[@Sammm30]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash thank you!

[@KelseyMcGregor-h9v]

Hello, can you do an updated video 2024 credit cards for beginners

[@johnalex9484]

I don’t understand it. How do you pay “pay off balances”? Surely you need a debit card to pay those off? So what’s the point in having a credit card if you e already got the money?

[@courtney3164]

Hi Andy, What credit card do you recommend I get. I have never had one before and I’m looking at getting what specifically to build credit for when I buy a house in a few years. Which one do you think will work the best for me? Thank you

[@laxi8305]

This was such a helpful video!

[@peterdamian7342]

Hello Andy, is it 30% max spend for the month or with repayment multiple times a month, I can go over 30% in total?

[@jamesswift7823]

Hi, I heard you talking about minimum spend/credit per month. Even if I didn't use the credit card one month, would I still need to pay in that minimum amount?

[@jamesswift7823]

My bad I was too impatient! Just heard the answer

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi James, no - if the balance is zero there's nothing you need to pay

[@jamesswift7823]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash thanks for clearing that up. I did in the past apply for a basic AMEX credit card for which I was given a high chance of getting (which I was confused by given I am a student), however the application failed. I then checked my credit rating on Experian and despite never owning a credit card my score is 999. Don’t suppose you have any insight into this?

[@qlus]

@@jamesswift7823 I'll chime in and say maybe your parents had u on a phone contract which helped your credit or something similar

[@nubiannelly8376]

really informative video!

[@tecelctsof3022]

Thanks for so much information 🙂👍..

[@chaneltube5531]

Thanks for the informative video. Say I used a credit card only for travel as I go to university and work is this ok as I will use it four times a week which is quite alot??

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hey! As long as you clear that total balance every month and avoid the interest charge then you'll be absolutely fine! If you're worried about forgetting to pay the full amount you can set up a direct debit to clear it every month, or you can even transfer from your current account the exact amount you've spent as you go along.

[@chaneltube5531]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash Great, thank you so much

[@3nyx]

Hi, I have my first credit card and usually pay it in full 7 days before due date. I’m utilising about 4-5%, do you think I should increase to 10% to help improve my score?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

It could potentially help a little, but I don’t know for sure. Whatever you do, don’t put any spending on the card that you can’t afford to clear. I think if you’re comfortable with how it is now that’s the best things to keep doing.

[@3nyx]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash alright i’ll give it a go for 3months and see how i feel. thanks for being honest 👍👍

[@Light-vl3vd]

I do have a Capital one credit card

[@boneslim8483]

thanks

[@Moe-tm2vy]

Can opening a Student credit card account and making regular weekly or monthly payments with it with a definite payments back on time to the provider help with improving the credit score?

[@AK-rk4bs]

very helpful! i have a question you said that i can clear it straight away that means i can buy things again straight after clearing it ? or i need to wait for next month and if yes then doing it rapidly on my basically every purchase will make my credit score go up faster?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi AK80, so you can always spend up to your credit limit. Say that's £300 and you've spent £100, there's another £200 you can spend. But if you pay off the £100, then you've got the full £300 to use. But I'd only spend on the card what you need to, and using it for things you'll buy anyway. Now, if you clear the balance immediately, that's great for budgeting, but it might not help your credit score. If that's your objective then paying it once a month is better. That's because your balance is probably only sent to the credit reference agencies monthly. So if the balance is zero, then they won't see you've borrowed money and paid it off.

[@jonesogbe5613]

I love your explanation on CD. I got my first card last week

[@jasmine5133]

Thank you for this video! It was really helpful 😊 You mentioned near the start of the video about using the credit card every single month and paying it off completely every single month .. so if I were to get a credit card and use money from it every 3 months for example instead of using it every month, would it affect my credit score negatively? So basically, if I don’t use the credit card regularly, will it lower my credit score? 😊

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Hi Jasmine, glad I could help! As long as you aren't charged interest it won't hurt your credit report. But the lenders are looking for regular borrowing and repayment, so monthly is better than quarterly.

[@jasmine5133]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash Ah okay I understand, thank you so much for your quick response! I really appreciate it 😊

[@РусланДмитриев-с3ж]

​@@jasmine5133привет

[@biggiesmallz7987]

What do you think about being referred to someone else credit card, is it a good thing or bad thing?

[@JackCoeCoe]

Hi Andy, really liked the video thank you. Quick question though, I tried to apply to Amex BA card and got rejected, same as HSBC (my first applications). Is it likely this is because i have a blank credit report? (I’ve never paid bills myself etc.) I’m now thinking of going with the Capital One card (i’ve been approved) and applying again in 3 months or so. Is 3 months too soon?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Yes it could be. Really important to use an eligibility check first. Hopefully that’ll reduce the chance of applying for a card that rejects you. I’ve got some other videos about improving credit reports so take a look at them

[@babur8063]

Hello, I am an international student coming to study in UK and I was wondering if you would reccommend the Totum Card, it was suggested by the one of the university representatives but I would like to hear your opinion aswell.

[@ruth2312]

Super helpful!

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ahaider5032]

Hi Andy - I will be starting my first job in a months time, should I wait until one monthly salary comes in first and then apply or apply on my first day starting ?

[@andrei9417]

Hi, I have an bank account that I don't really use and is the oldest account ( 4 years+) that I have, currently I use another bank. I've seen on credit report that an bank account over 5 years help me on my credit score. And I was thinking to close it, will be a good idea?

[@jasminesroay2570]

This video was so helpful, thank you! What should I do if I have a temporary job? I have had a Covid job for months now, and due to the nature of the job, it is never going to be a permanent job and I really want to get a credit card asap. Do I need to wait for a permanent job?

[@noelsebz90]

Do credit cards in the UK give you "extended warranties" like the credit cards have in the US?

[@Healwithintention]

Hello, this video is quite old but i would like to ask you. I already paying a loan. I would like to paying my monthly or at least a part of it (over £1.6k/month) via credit as I am 100% sure that i will be able to pay that every month. I need a credit card as if I travel and need a 🚗 rental they only accept credit card. As i never own a credit card how likely is for me to get one with £1200 /1400 Max spend per month? Thanks

[@manavvaid4195]

How long does it take to get an Excellent score for beginners with BarclayCard Forward Card assuming I pay all the bills on time and clear the credit before due date? Thanks

[@jatheripper620]

Is this still relevant in 2023? Thank you! I got a starling account because of your reviews 😊

[@bradleymaguire7179]

I recently got my first ever credit card, I got a 4,600 limit and 12.9% Apr. I only got it to improve my score and get like my weekly shop from it.

[@malpricetv889]

I got rejected for the tesco one turned 18 last Thursday

[@indescribableprincess685]

this year im thinking about applying for a credit card, i don't know when but I will get one

[@fr5335]

Do not apply twice in 6 months. Space applications 6 months apart

[@cad6095]

I need help and this might sound really silly. I’ve just purchased the gold status credit card American express and the Marriott bonvoy. Can I use my Marriott bonvoy for literally any purchases like groceries etc. Or is it better to use the gold card, which I intend to cancel at the end of year one because 140’is too much for me. Thanks

[@99999george]

You can build credit on either. The only difference between the two is that you get different types of reward points for different kinds of purchases depending on the terms of the card. I believe you get 2 AMEX membership reward points per £ for airline and foreign exchange purchases on the gold card. However, on the MB, you get 2 Marriott Bonvoy (not AMEX) points per £ on all purchases and 6 MB points on MB hotels. Considering you cannot afford the £140 gold card fee, I think you are unlikely to make use of the bonuses of either card, at least not enough to warrant paying a fee for each. You are likely better off using one or the other and cancelling the one you don't use. Also consider switching to the AMEX Platinum Cashback Everyday card (NOT THE "PLATINUM CARD") in the future, as you can benefit from it more right now if you aren't going to get enough points to redeem anything on the others. However, you might want to wait for a while before applying for any more cards as too many applications will hurt your credit score. Take care and research cards more thoroughly before jumping straight into applying in future, as you really should be aware of what you can use your card for before you apply.

[@callum_0903]

What I sometimes can't understand is that recently I was declined for a credit card after using eligibility tests on comparison websites and given me 80 percent success rate?

[@jeniferwarren237]

I currently had an argos card although I haven’t used it in a while I was worried about if it would go against my credit score? I have always paid my credit off in full before the 6 months so I haven’t ever incurred interest but I’m still not certain, would anyone know? Thanks :)

It's curious how back home banks give these away like they were a slighltly expensive flyer (granted with a very low credit limit) while here in the UK they don't bother trying get any new customers.

[@Merdian1988]

Trying from so long, asking for 3 yrs address. Is there any options to get card without 3 yrs stay. 8 months in the UK, no company provides cards

[@a.e5070]

Thank you for video. I recently had my credit limit lowered from 2500 to 1500. When i called the company and asked why they did this. I was informed i was not using my card enough. I usally spend like £200.00 per month..am i suppose to spend more?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

The credit card companies can do what they like... and they'll each have different rules. I've got cards I haven't used in years but have thousands of pounds limits, I've got one (non-Amex cashback) I use all the time and they won't lift the limit!

[@a.e5070]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash thank you for your reply. I get it how.

[@Polyglotwriter]

I wish you would be to the point and just get into which credit card is the best for first timers.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

It's all important context and information. Just listing cards won't help people

[@azpersonal]

I wish you will be patient and listen

[@maxwaldburg4286]

So paying it off with a direct debit…. Is there a penalty for doing this? I would imagine the CC wouldn’t want you doing this as they want you to slip up so that they can charge you interest, how else would they make money? Thanks

[@NA-jq9jk]

Hi Would be good if i set direct payment on the credit card for my mobile bill and payback in time before interest apply?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Yes make sure you clear your credit card once you get the statement. There will be a deadline on the statement for when it needs to be paid

[@FredGreenGB]

1 simple rule . If your rich then credit cards are great . If your not your going to be in debt the rest of your life and potentially pass that debt to your children. You improve your credit rating just by paying your bills on time it's as simple as that

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Absolutely, never get a credit card if you can't afford the repayments in full each month

[@sameducation3591]

How do you pay it off? Do you manually have to transfer money to the credit card or is there a way to send money automatically? Im 18 and want to get started :)

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

A direct debit to clear the full amount is the best way to automate it. Though you can of course put a note in your diary to make the payment, or even transfer the cash over as soon as you make a payment

[@karlafolgar3439]

Hi, i was wondering if i need to get a local bank acount to be more eligible or with my monzo bank acount is enough?

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

A local bank won’t make a difference, though a few things can help. First, the longer you’ve had a bank account linked to you the better. Second, not all credit reference agencies include Monzo, so that could hit your chances with some lenders

[@Jayluxton]

im 18 just keeps telling me im not eligible for any card impossible to start

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Have you signed up for the credit reference agencies to see what is held on your credit report? It could be there's a mistake on the report, or things you need to do like register to vote

[@Sarahcasam]

Are you on the electoral roll? This was the first thing I realized was telling me I wasn't eligible

[@RobynElms]

Hey, any reason why your not a fan of Amazon? Intrigued..

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

Lots of reasons! Partly it's an ethical move in terms of Amazon's stance on paying tax, but it's also a conscious effort to spend my money with more local and independent businesses. Also, having Prime can actually make you spend more money as you're more likely to buy things

[@RobynElms]

@@BeCleverWithYourCash Oooo this is interesting. My partner pays for ours so its free for me, but I agree can make you spend more.. would struggle to convince him to cancel the subscription. Does this mean you invest in Etsy or Ebay who are made up of some smaller/local businesses? Etsy offset their Carbon emissions apparently so have invested in them.

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

@@RobynElms I'll try to shop with local retailers first if I can. Beyond that it's hard to always know the ethical stance of different companies. Interesting to hear about Etsy - it's not a site I tend to buy from though

[@hudaismail2297]

I'm turning 35 female immigrant been in the uk for 6 years I'm worried I won't be issues one but I need to have a credit history/report

[@huss9629]

I pay my credit card of in full two days before the due date but my score still keeps dropping my credit limit is £500 I spend just £100 and pay back before the due date. Seems like a scam

[@garythesnail7631]

I'm in a dilemma. I spend 600 a month on my debit card and never run out of cash. I'm good with money and I don't see the need to borrow money. Yet I want to build up my credit score without paying interest

[@ronaldo-cp1fo]

You might aswell get a credit card borrow 600 a month pay it back and it will help your credit score

[@BeCleverWithYourCash]

As long as you clear the balance of the credit card each month (how much you've spent on it) then you'll avoid getting charged any interest. You could easily spend just a little on the new credit card - say £50 to £100 of normal expenses (petrol maybe) - and over time your score will improve.