Obtaining a phone contract with no credit rating

outof thepark · 09-06-2014, 21:31

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.

TheBigM · 09-06-2014, 21:57

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.

pinkllama · 09-06-2014, 22:51

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.

prking · 10-06-2014, 07:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigM

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.

de525ma · 10-06-2014, 12:20

Use http://www.noddle.co.uk to get a free credit report to check if you are worried....

prking · 10-06-2014, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by de525ma

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?

stephen122333 · 10-06-2014, 21:08

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)

outof thepark · 10-06-2014, 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephen122333

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by prking

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

lee18xx · 10-06-2014, 23:05

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

Bliss_Light · 13-06-2014, 10:37

No, calls to other countries in Europe or outside Europe won't be included in any inclusive bundle.

09-06-2014, 21:31	#1
outof thepark Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,626	Obtaining a phone contract with no credit rating 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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09-06-2014, 21:57	#2
TheBigM Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: moon Posts: 12,983	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.

09-06-2014, 22:51	#3
pinkllama Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 61	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.

10-06-2014, 07:44	#4
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by TheBigM 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.

10-06-2014, 12:20	#5
de525ma Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portsmouth Posts: 787	Use http://www.noddle.co.uk to get a free credit report to check if you are worried....

10-06-2014, 20:28	#6
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	Quote: Originally Posted by de525ma 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?

10-06-2014, 21:08	#7
stephen122333 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: London Posts: 835	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)

10-06-2014, 22:19	#8
outof thepark Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 4,626	Quote: Originally Posted by stephen122333 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 Quote: Originally Posted by prking 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

10-06-2014, 23:05	#9
lee18xx Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 2,794	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

13-06-2014, 10:37	#10
Bliss_Light Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: crazy land Posts: 70	No, calls to other countries in Europe or outside Europe won't be included in any inclusive bundle.

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Obtaining a phone contract with no credit rating