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Obtaining a phone contract with no credit rating

outof theparkoutof thepark Posts: 6,810
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in Mobile Phones #1
Help i need some advice, i am a british national but have lived abroad in europe for many years
My son will attending university in the uk sept and i want to get him an iphone with a monthly contract.
I do have a uk bank account registered at a uk address for many years, if i enter on line theese detials will it be acceptable..i am concerned because i dont have a uk credit card and i suspect no credit rating.
If not does anyone have any suggestions as to the best deals or is buying a phone and pay as you go the only option?
Also do any of these monthly contracts allow any phone calls to europe within the tariff
Thanks in advance.

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    TheBigMTheBigM Posts: 13,125
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    #2
    It doesn't have to be pay as you go. You can buy the phone and a sim-only contract. Sim-only usually has much lower credit score requirements.
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    [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 62
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    #3
    If you get a tesco mobile sim only and ask for a cap on out of bundle costs (say £5-£10) they don't credit check you. Other networks may do the same.
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    prkingprking Posts: 9,794
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    #4
    TheBigM wrote: »
    It doesn't have to be pay as you go. You can buy the phone and a sim-only contract. Sim-only usually has much lower credit score requirements.

    I think a bigger barrier than the credit check will be the difficulty of passing the ID check, due to not having an established UK address.
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    de525made525ma Posts: 874
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    #5
    Use http://www.noddle.co.uk to get a free credit report to check if you are worried....
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    prkingprking Posts: 9,794
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    #6
    de525ma wrote: »
    Use http://www.noddle.co.uk to get a free credit report to check if you are worried....

    How is someone living abroad going to get a UK credit report?
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    stephen122333stephen122333 Posts: 912
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    #7
    could your son not take out the phone in his name/address and then you pay the bill (once the phone is all set up you could even change it your you bank account)
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    outof theparkoutof thepark Posts: 6,810
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    #8
    stephen122333 wrote: »
    could your son not take out the phone in his name/address and then you pay the bill (once the phone is all set up you could even change it your you bank account)
    I think i will face the same problems to be honest of no credit rating and no established history of address
    prking wrote: »
    How is someone living abroad going to get a UK credit report?
    I did live in the uk at one time but i think the history is too old now to have any relevence, so i agree with you.

    Thanks for the advice folks i think getting a normal phone/contract is going to be difficult.

    i do think best option is to buy a phone and look into a low-cost sym contract, where maybe i can get away with a uk family members address where i have a financial history.

    I presume this problem will go away with time when my son establishes a credit rating in the uk:)
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    lee18xxlee18xx Posts: 2,971
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    #9
    My credit history is absolutely shocking. Though I managed to get an iPhone 5s with three last month (and I've messed them around highly in the past)....seems their criteria is quite low. Try online to save the embarrassment of being rejected in store ;-)
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    Bliss_LightBliss_Light Posts: 71
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    #10
    No, calls to other countries in Europe or outside Europe won't be included in any inclusive bundle.
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