(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

	krazycat 2007-04-21 06:36 pm UTC (link)
	I can't even get a credit card yet, as I'm an evil immigrant person who is clearly in the UK to rip everyone off. I can't get a phone line or a cell contract either. I'm not bitter. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	pointandlaugh 2007-04-21 06:53 pm UTC (link)
	Uh, unless there's been a MASSIVE change of policy in the last two years, tyou should be able to get a landline? At least we never used to ask for ID when setting accounts up. exBT worker (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

krazycat
2007-04-22 12:23 am UTC (link)

I am in the process of moving house and went to the BT site to order phone for the new flat, and it asked me for two years of address history, which I don't have. When I saw it said two years I didn't even bother finishing the application, as a similar field was there when I tried to order a contract phone, and they refused me based on that, despite me being paid okay. I was rather pissed off.

Have informed the boy I'm moving in with that he'd better sort out the phone, so we will be able to get one. Still bloody annoying, though.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

pointandlaugh
2007-04-22 12:33 am UTC (link)

Ah, THERE'S your issue.

If you want to get one, call up and do it over the phone. If they ask your history, say you've been living with parents, or with NTL. Chances are very high that they WILL NOT ask. We didn't when I was there. If they're requiring it now, they've upgraded their systems a whole lot.

The reason they ask you for address history isn't so much to find GOOD credit history is that some people really are stupidly honest and 'fess up to debts on the account. And then of course, we have somewhere to send bills to.

The only other time it would be an issue would be if your property had bad debt from a previous inhabitant. However, even then they should accept a tenancy agreement or certificate of sale for that property.

(It always amused me, having worked in CS, how stupidly easy it EASY to open a phone/utilities account as long as you do it over the phone and have a property that doesn't have bad debt. Because what do banks require for an account? A utility or phone bill! Oh hoorah.)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	krazycat 2007-04-22 12:35 am UTC (link)
	Oh, so that's why they do that? Funky. Things sure are different in this here glorious UK :D Thanks, that's really good to know. Think that would work for a mobile phone too, just go into a shop and buy one? I'm seriously online-centric, so I always do stuff online if I can, heh. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

pointandlaugh
2007-04-22 12:42 am UTC (link)

I've never worked in the mobile industry, so I'm now trying to remember what they asked me for when I got mine. It is certainly worth a try - the only reason I would be cautious is that my brain is going *mumblemumble*newlawbroughtin*mumble*terrorism*mumble* which I THINK had something to do with mobile phones. But I don't actually remember any details at all of that, so I may just be making it up.

To be fair, with landlines and utilities, it may also be easier because we make it a hell of a lot harder to run away from bad debt. You rented elsewhere? Your landlord'll have your address. You sold your house? We'll bug the new owner for it. Wanna be a pest while you're still living there. Fine. We can cut you off. About the only way to escape it properly is by doing a midnight flit and not telling your landlord you're leaving.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	krazycat 2007-04-22 01:55 am UTC (link)
	So I shouldn't tell them I'm a terrorist, then? I mean, I'm from viking blood, I'm totally here to rape and pillage :D (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goldberry 2007-04-22 02:45 am UTC (link)
	I don't know about other people's experiences, but I've just walked into a shop and bought a phone in the UK (twice!), when I had just hopped off a plane and wasn't going to be in the country for more than two months. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	krazycat 2007-04-22 04:09 am UTC (link)
	A contract phone? There's a monthly fee on those. I have a phone that I bought in a store no problem, but that was pay as you go, and those they don't care about. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goldberry 2007-04-22 04:48 am UTC (link)
	Ah, right - I wondered about that after I posted. It was indeed a pay-as-you-go. Sorry for the non-helpfulness - I'm neck-deep in a thesis on the moral "ought", and my brain-function is definitely suffering whenever I drag myself out of it for a few minutes. ;p (Reply to this)(Parent)

	pointandlaugh 2007-04-22 10:13 am UTC (link)
	Dude, I'm a Northerner. I've been telling my Southern friends that I'm going to invade them for YEARS. Good, Northern barabarian blood I've got. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	wickedwitch 2007-04-22 10:04 am UTC (link)
	While you're all being so awesomely helpful - I heard that UK landlords won't rent to you unless you had a work permit even though we're supposed to be able to stay for six months without visas. I have an EU ID card and enough money to last me for months but I won't have a work permit at first. Would I be able to rent a flat in or around London? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	pointandlaugh 2007-04-22 10:11 am UTC (link)
	That one I'm not sure on, and probably depends on the landlord. I can't see private-let really caring as long as you've got the cash at least though. (I'm not a city person so they may have different rules down there.) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	wickedwitch 2007-04-22 12:39 pm UTC (link)
	Gotcha, thanks, this helps. Maybe I could sway them with an offer for services in addition to the rent. makes a sign saying: Will fix computers and balance checkbooks for a rental contract. :-) (Reply to this)(Parent)

	caoilte 2007-04-21 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	Prepaid Gold Mastercard I have one of these (in addition to my other regular cards) and it's actually quite good. Might wanna try it out if you're still having problems with credit and stuff here. (Also, prepaid mobiles are cheaper than contracts, in the long run...coughs) Hope that helps :) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	krazycat 2007-04-22 12:21 am UTC (link)
	Oh, I'm going to have to look into that one, thanks! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	caoilte 2007-04-22 01:11 am UTC (link)
	No probs, glad to help out. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

(Read comments) -