If you’re looking for a guaranteed no credit check card, you could be disappointed. No credit check credit cards don’t exist – all credit card providers want to know what kind of borrower you are before they will give you a credit card, so they have to perform a credit check.
However, whether you’re looking for a guaranteed credit card with no credit checks because you’ve got bad credit, because you want to protect your credit history from unnecessary checks, or because you don’t want to risk being rejected for credit, there are alternatives, so read on to find out your options.
Alternatives to no credit check credit cards
1. Try a prepaid card. Prepaid cards are a great alternative to credit cards – they offer all the convenience of a credit card, but with no credit check. There’s no risk of getting into debt either, because you have to pre-load money on to the card – a bit like topping up a pay as you go mobile phone. There’s even a prepaid card on the market, the cashplus prepaid MasterCard® with creditbuilder, which could help you to strengthen your credit rating. It works by giving you a small interest free loan, equal to a year’s worth of monthly fees. You then repay the loan each month, which could help to boost your credit rating by showing lenders that you are a responsible borrower. Find out more and apply now.
2. Check your credit report before you apply for a credit card. By having a look at your credit report, you’ll be able to see the information lenders will see when they consider your application, and use it to make sure you apply for the credit card you have the best chance of being accepted for. You’ll also be able to spot things that you can do to strengthen your credit rating – see our article on how to improve your credit score for more information.
3. Use the Barclaycard Pre-Application Check. This tool performs a ‘soft footprint’ check on your credit file, rather than a full credit check, so it won’t harm your credit rating but will give you a good indication of whether or not you’ll be accepted for a Barclaycard before you go ahead with a full application. To use the service, select the ‘Am I eligible?’ option on Barclaycard’s website.
4. Opt for a bad credit credit credit card. If you know you have bad credit, there’s no way you can avoid a credit check. However, there are credit cards aimed at people which bad credit, which you stand a greater chance of being accepted for. These cards can also help you to build your credit rating over time. Find out more with this article on strengthening your credit rating with a credit card. Even though you stand a greater chance of being accepted for a bad credit credit card, it’s still a good idea to check your credit rating before you apply.