cant get credit for a phone contract arrgghhhhh!

[insanojackson]

I am currently near the end of a contract with orange, and want to start a new contract on another network with a htc desire. Thing is both vodafone and t mobile have failed my credit check. (from equifax my score is 337 which falls in poor).



I think the main issue might be that i am not on the voters register yet having moved house in late December (paperwork submitted but not gone through yet) however i lived at my previous address for over 7 years and have never missed a mortgage payment or any other bill in my life. Im 32 years old.



Thing is i am a sensible chap and tend to pay cash for most things so i dont have any debt history apart from my mortgage.I dont even have a credit card. But i would have thought i was a good risk?



I make a decent salary, have a decent amount of savings, a secure job (police sergeant) and have never missed a payment on anything ever. So why will nobody give me a phone contract? are there any companies who actually make a more detailed assaement of my situation? is it worth going into a shop instead of online where i can produce proof of address, id etc?



i really need a new contract in the next ten days aqnd to be honest im finding the situation very frustrating!!!

[soad]

You really need to buid your credit history - been declined for bank loans a few times myself for not being on the Electoral Register.

Take out a credit card and use it regularly for smaller purchases (just like a debit card) - make sure to pay it off on time though.

[chickenkebab]

I'm surprised you can't get it.

Have you tried 02?

I took out my contract when I had just turned 18, wasn't really earning, and was at college.

Strange they turned you down.

[mattley]

Not being on the electoral roll is a huge hit on the credit rating but 337 for a mortgage holder is really poor :?

Have you checked for yourself to make sure there's nothing spurious help about you?

[plover]

Do you need a HTC Desire as that will probably be making the credit check very stringent as it's a new handset; also same if you are asking for a high monthly payment.

What about getting a SIM only deal and using your existing phone (once it's unlocked).

[cazzer]

insanojackson said:

Thing is i am a sensible chap and tend to pay cash for most things so i dont have any debt history apart from my mortgage.I dont even have a credit card. But i would have thought i was a good risk?

There's yer problem.
They can't check yer credit history if you haven't got one.

[hairyben]

Can you put down a deposit? Pretty sure I did that once to secure a cellphone contract when I was moving around a bit, something like £50 IIRC.

[plover]

cazzer said:

insanojackson said:

Thing is i am a sensible chap and tend to pay cash for most things so i dont have any debt history apart from my mortgage.I dont even have a credit card. But i would have thought i was a good risk?

There's yer problem.
They can't check yer credit history if you haven't got one.

What about your existing phone , is that on contract as I know my orange contract appears on my credit report. Did you tell Orange (and everyone else) about your change of address ?

[insanojackson]

plover said:

cazzer said:

insanojackson said:

Thing is i am a sensible chap and tend to pay cash for most things so i dont have any debt history apart from my mortgage.I dont even have a credit card. But i would have thought i was a good risk?

There's yer problem.
They can't check yer credit history if you haven't got one.

What about your existing phone , is that on contract as I know my orange contract appears on my credit report. Did you tell Orange (and everyone else) about your change of address ?

orange is on there, togather with my mortgage, and some o2 transactions from years ago. I made sure i changed all my bils etc over when i moved.

[Dan_1981]

Is it worth signing up wth Experion - I think you can get a free check - and then cancel the subscription - it won't cost you anything.

Just might be worth doing it so you can see your own score and why its so low etc.

[strudel]

Sort yourself out on the electoral roll before you start fannying around with anything else!

[B16JUS]

try 3 a friend was in the same problem they gave a 6 month contract then at the end he went for a further 12

[mrmr96]

strudel said:

Sort yourself out on the electoral roll before you start fannying around with anything else!

This.

[Slinky]

Are you in your upgrade window with Orange? If so, phone around a couple of CPWs and see if anyone has one in stock.. that's if you want it ASAP of course..

Obviously you need to repair/rebuild your credit rating in some way..

[audi321]

Voters role is biggest problem, get on it asap.

insanojackson said:

I dont even have a credit card

Another major issue and a quick fix. Get a credit card (vanquish is the easiest if you can't get one with a normal company) MAKE SURE YOU ONLY SPEND A MINIMAL AMOUNT (SAY £10/MTH) AND PAY IT OFF EVERY MONTH WITHOUT FAIL!! SET UP A DIRECT DEBIT SO YOU DON'T EVER FORGET!

[amir_j]

bear in mind your credit file does not not show the decision made, but repeated searches in a small period will look dodgy to future lenders.

Check the previous owners of the house didnt result in the house being flagged up in any way if possible to.

Also check your file to make sure you are not associated with anyone incorrectly

[Sixpackpert]

B16JUS said:

try 3 a friend was in the same problem they gave a 6 month contract then at the end he went for a further 12

No! Avoid 3 like a fat bird with crabs.

[BigBen]

Dan_1981 said:

Is it worth signing up wth Experion - I think you can get a free check - and then cancel the subscription - it won't cost you anything.

Just might be worth doing it so you can see your own score and why its so low etc.

I have my own domain name with unlimited email aliases, I use these to track which companies sell my email address to spammers. experion (sic) appear to have done this, a very high percentage of my junk email comes to the address I only used in conjunction with that company.

[mrmr96]

Sixpackpert said:

B16JUS said:

try 3 a friend was in the same problem they gave a 6 month contract then at the end he went for a further 12

No! Avoid 3 like a fat bird with crabs.

Agreed. Reception is baaad.

[B16JUS]

mrmr96 said:

Sixpackpert said:

B16JUS said:

try 3 a friend was in the same problem they gave a 6 month contract then at the end he went for a further 12

No! Avoid 3 like a fat bird with crabs.

Agreed. Reception is baaad.

but for 6 months if it gives you a credit history you can then move onto vodafone etc