Credit Card for Bad Credit
Credit cards can allow you the opportunity to help improve your credit score. However, a person with poor credit may find card acquisition a more difficult process.Whilst a credit card can be a gateway to financial services and products, trying to apply for a credit card with bad credit can be more challenging.
The thimbl. credit card has been specifically designed to be inclusive of all credit scores, so any credit history may apply, meaning that a credit card for bad credit may be possible with thimbl., depending on your eligibility and if you’re approved.
39.9% APR Representative (variable)
For all credit scores - poor to excellent
Starting credit limit up to £1,000
Check with no impact to your credit rating
Why a thimbl. card for poor credit?
You’ll notice the thimbl. credit card has a low initial credit limit (up to £1,000). The low credit limit helps to ensure that maximum debt remains low and that in turn payments remain affordable. Payments can be scheduled by providing direct debit details and stipulating how much you want to pay. which demonstrates your ability to make timely monthly repayments to future potential creditors.
Please be aware when applying for a thimbl. credit card that this is only one part of a healthy credit rating. If you don’t keep on top of other accounts you may have, these could damage your credit rating rather than improve it.
If you are struggling to keep up with at least the minimum repayments for thimbl. it can impact your credit score negatively and you will incur a £12 late fee. Any missed payments must be repaid before your next month’s payment is due. Any missed payments will be flagged up as arrears to the Credit Reference Agencies (CRA).
For free financial advice you can visit: moneyhelper.org.uk or stepchange.org. Please see our FAQs at the bottom of the page for further information.
How bad credit accrues
Lower credit ratings can happen for various reasons. For example, not registering on the electoral roll means you have no proof of a fixed abode, missing historic payments or failing to adhere to your credit agreement may also impact your credit score negatively.
Common causes of a poor credit rating in the UK are as follows:
- Failing to comply with your credit agreement
- No proof of a fixed abode
- Declaring bankruptcy
- Having a County Court Judgement (CCJ) on your credit file
- Being a victim of financial fraud – always check your banking activity and report any suspicious activity to your bank
- Applying for credit too often
- Not staying within your agreed credit limits
- Opening too many bank accounts within a short period of time
Having no credit history can influence your borrowing as potential creditors don’t know enough about your financial habits to make an informed decision on whether you are a risk for lending. This is referred to as a ‘thin file’, which is a term used to describe limited or no credit history. If you have bad credit or a thin file, building your credit score up can take time and can be a difficult process.
The perks of having thimbl.® in your wallet
Building your credit score with thimbl.
If you’re approved for a credit card for bad credit, such as thimbl, building your credit score can be easier. You could gain increases to your credit score by making at least the minimum repayments on your thimbl. bad credit credit card in a timely manner each month, as you prove your ability to manage money.
When you apply for a credit card with poor credit, you give yourself the opportunity to improve your credit score. This is where thimbl. can be beneficial, thimbl. provides you with a low initial credit limit (up to £1,000) to allow small spends and regular repayments, which can demonstrate your ability to manage your personal finances reliably.
If you fail to repay at least the minimum repayment for your credit card for bad credit, several things may happen. Firstly, your overall credit card balance increases, accruing interest and increasing the debt. Furthermore, missing payments harms your credit score. A poor credit card could be a good idea, but make sure you make an informed decision on whether it is the right product for your circumstances, ensure you have the ability and capabilities to repay any balances timely and reliably, failure to do so will impact your credit score negatively.
Being accepted for a credit card for bad credit
There is no guarantee of being approved during a credit card application with bad credit – or any credit score for that matter. This is because financial institutions go through a series of background checks before approving an application for a credit card for bad credit.
These checks include, but are not limited to:
- Completing thorough bankruptcy checks
- Considering your income and expenditure levels
- Establishing whether you have an existing or previous bad credit credit card
- Completing fraud and identity checks, validating the recipient of the bad credit credit card
- A comprehensive review of your credit history, which includes any previous searches on your credit file, missed payments, if you are on the electoral roll and any outstanding IVA’s or CCJ’s on your file. Also known as a hard credit check.
- For all credit levels, from poor to excellent
- Checking won’t affect your credit rating
- From 39.9% APR Representative (variable)
Once the relevant background checks have been completed, the lender will approve or decline your credit card application. There may be instances where the credit card provider will refer your application and may require additional information before they can make a final decision on whether to accept you or not.
If you are unsure of how to check your credit score prior to making an application, please see below:
How to check your credit score?
Understanding your credit score and financial position is important. You can check your credit score for free by visiting either TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax.
- Equifax Credit Score Range: 0-700
- Experian Credit Score Range: 0-999
- TransUnion Credit Score Range: 0-710
How to apply for a credit card with bad credit
If you're looking for a credit card for low credit score, there are several steps in the application process. Firstly, the applicant undergoes an initial eligibility check for a credit card for bad credit (also known as a soft credit check). Once the soft credit check is completed, the applicant is asked whether they would like to continue applying for a credit card. If the applicant would like to proceed with a full application with the provider, they check your information and complete a more thorough hard credit check.
A hard credit check is a full search on your credit record, each hard credit check conducted will leave a credit marker on your file, which potential lenders will be able to see. Lenders use hard credit checks to assess your suitability to their financial offerings that you have applied for.
Once you have completed the eligibility checker and have undergone the hard credit check, the lender then decides whether to accept your credit card application for bad credit, at this point the lender will either accept or reject your application.
We understand you may still have questions; the world of credit can be complicated. Learn more about a credit card for bad credit in our question-and-answer section below:
The perks of having thimbl.® in your wallet