Qualifying for a Credit Card

First off, there are a couple of requirements that need to be met for your credit card application to be considered:

• You have to be over 18 (or 21) years old, depending on the credit card.
• You have to be a resident of the UK or Channel Islands.
• You have an annual household income of at least £5000.
• You need at least a reasonable credit history.

If you meet these requirements, the card issuer will then run a credit check on your name to find out your history with other credit card companies in order to determine the level of risk you represent to them in case they agree to extend you credit. In the UK, this is normally measured on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the highest rating). The average UK consumer has a score of 3.

Your credit history is taken from a compilation of records from high street banks and building societies, taking into account other credit card providers, lenders and credit agencies you have had dealings with. In case you have no credit history yet, you have to build one up. Fortunately, it is possible to avail of a credit card with a low spending limit to get started. A credit card with a maximum spending limit of £100 is reasonably easy to obtain if you meet the issuer’s other requirements, and gives you a chance to prove that you can handle credit responsibly. If you are consistent in this regard, your credit score go higher.