History what history?
27 Aug 2022
Dear LPG,
Not only am I old but I have worked out that I am also very old fashioned. Throughout my life, the only thing that I have ever owned that I didn’t buy outright is my house. I have always been the sort of person that would rather buy a second-hand car than have credit on a new one. I am going back a few years now, but I remember just how hard it was for me when I decided to get a mobile phone for the first time.
My application was refused but it was all finally sorted out and the situation did not arise again until last Christmas when I wanted to buy a Christmas present from one of those catalogues that keep coming through the door. The item only cost £12.00, and I wanted to pay the whole amount. I was surprised when I had to fill in an online application form that included my bank details but for all that I got an email back saying that they could not accept my application or sell me the thing I wanted to buy.
It worked out that I had a bad credit rating, or rather that I don’t have a credit rating at all because I have never owned a credit card and prefer to save up and then pay outright when I buy things. So, I have learnt that not having a credit rating because you don’t use credit is as bad as having a poor credit rating.
I am still doing my best to avoid having a credit card and suspect that there are quite a few people in my age group with the same attitude to spending as me, but I did find some information on ways of improving a poor credit score or developing a good one for those who need to do that.
MR, Dartford…
Not the easiest of subjects to understand but if you have not got a credit history so far, but plan to get yourself one, this information might help…