Credit cards to build credit
A credit builder card from Capital One can help you improve your credit score, which could help you get access to credit in future. We offer credit limits starting from £200. Try QuickCheck to see if you could be eligible for a credit card today.
Remember to manage your card responsibly by making your monthly minimum payment on time and staying below your credit limit. Not doing so could harm your credit rating.
Build your credit score with a credit card
Capital One Classic credit card
Over 4 million people have already been accepted for a Classic card
Capital One Classic credit card
Over 4 million people have already been accepted for a Classic card
- See if you'll be accepted without affecting your credit score
- Use it to help build your credit rating
- Get a credit limit starting from £200
Representative example: Assuming a credit limit of £1,200 and an interest rate on purchases of 34.94% p.a. variable, you will receive a 34.9% APR representative variable.
How to apply for a Capital One Classic
credit builder card
You can apply if you're 18 or over and live in the UK (including Northern Ireland). Here's what you'll need:
- Addresses for the last two years
- Contact details
- Employment history
- Details of your monthly income before tax
- Information about your outgoings
- Your bank details
Why do I need to build my credit?
Your credit score is an indicator of your personal credit history. It's one way that lenders will decide if you'll be accepted for a credit card.
A bad credit score can be a frustrating issue. It can stop you from getting a loan, credit card or even a mobile phone contract. But if you do currently have a bad credit score, a credit builder card could help.
What are credit builder cards?
A credit builder card, like the Classic card from Capital One, can help you build your credit score.
But it's how you manage your card that will determine whether it succeeds as a credit building one. It should be used responsibly. This means:
- Repaying (at least) the minimum amount each month.
- Staying within your limit. This can help create a positive record of you managing your money.
The Capital One Classic card comes with a 34.9% APR representative variable and a manageable limit to help you stay in control of your finances.
Who are credit builder cards for?
Not being able to get credit can be frustrating and the thought of being turned down can put a lot of people off even trying. If this sounds familiar, or you've been refused credit, a credit builder credit card could be right for you.
Having a low or bad credit score isn't the end of the world. There can be many reasons why it may be low or bad. The two main ones are:
Past problems with credit
If you've ever had difficulties with credit in the past, this could affect your credit score. This is a common reason people have trouble getting access to credit. Some of these problems can seem relatively minor at the time, but can have a much bigger impact later on.
Past problems with credit can include:
- Not paying a bill on time - or even at all
- Building up a lot of debt
- Going over the limit of another credit card you have
- Being made bankrupt or having a CCJ (opens in a new tab) against you
No credit history
If you don't have a history of using credit, this can also stop you from getting a credit card or loan. A healthy credit history is one of the ways lenders can decide whether to offer you credit. It shows that you've used credit responsibly before, which is why your chances of being accepted are better.
When you don't have a history of managing credit to show lenders, they don't have much information to help them make their lending decisions. This can be especially hard if you're new to the UK. You might have a fantastic credit history in another country, but it can't be transferred to the UK.
As a result, it can make it hard to get a credit card or create accounts for things like mobile phones or broadband.
If any of this sounds familiar, it can be frustrating. But the impact on your credit rating doesn't have to stick with you forever. If used responsibly, getting a Capital One credit builder card is just one of the steps you could take to help improve your score - and your chances of being accepted.
How can I get a credit builder card?
If you live in the UK and are over 18, you could be eligible for a credit builder credit card from Capital One. We've designed our Classic card specifically to help people with low or poor scores, with a manageable credit limit and a 34.9% APR representative variable.
The first step is to see if you are eligible - and this is easy. Our QuickCheck eligibility checker can give you a definite yes or no before you apply. You can be 100% sure you'll be accepted or not if you use QuickCheck before applying. And we've said yes to more than 4 million people.
Why should I do an eligibility check before I apply for a credit builder card?
When you apply for credit, this leaves a record on your credit file. Other lenders can see this, and too many of these marks can affect their decision to offer you credit.
QuickCheck can tell you if you'll be accepted without affecting your credit score.
Use our free eligibility checker now to see if you'll be accepted
Check nowCredit builder card FAQs
How do I build my credit score using a credit card?
You can use a credit builder card to pay for things just like you do with any other debit or credit card. But knowing how to build your credit score using your card will make sure you're getting the most from it. The key thing to remember is to make your repayments on time each month and stay within your limit.
What else can I do to build my credit score?
Using credit cards to build credit is one way you can improve your credit score. But it's important that the rest of your finances are kept in good order too.
Check out this list of things you can do to improve your credit score:
Check your credit report
Whether you check your report regularly or do it just before you apply for credit, it can give you a better idea of if you'll be accepted. Equifax (opens in a new tab), Experian (opens in a new tab) and TransUnion (opens in a new tab) are the UK's three leading credit reference agencies and each one lets you see your report for free. It's a good idea to check all three, as different lenders use different agencies for their checks.
Your report provides you with the current state of your credit history, and also gives you the chance to see if there are any errors on your file. If there are, you can ask for them to be fixed.
Register to vote
Lenders use the electoral register to check your identity. If you're not signed up to vote or your details don't match, it can be harder for lenders to make sure you're the person you say you are. It's free to register to vote (opens in a new tab) and only takes a few moments.
If you're not eligible to vote in the UK and can't register, you can send proof of residency to all three credit agencies and ask them to add a note to your report.
Don't apply for too many credit cards
Each application for credit leaves a mark on your credit report. Applying for too many credit cards in a short space of time can be a warning sign to lenders. It can make it seem like you're desperate for credit and this could hurt your chances of being accepted.
Don't miss any bill payments
Paying your bills on time is an important way to help your score move in the right direction.
Late payments are reported to credit reference agencies and can stay with you for up to six years. So, whether you're repaying your credit builder card or mobile phone contract, have a schedule in place and stick to it.
Always use an eligibility checker
It's worth repeating that it's always a good idea to use an eligibility checker like Capital One's QuickCheck tool before you apply. It'll give you a definite yes or no so you can be 100% certain you'll be accepted. And it won't leave a mark on your credit report.
What's the difference between an eligibility check and an application?
When you check your eligibility for a credit card with us, your score isn't affected. This is because we're doing a soft credit check. At this stage, we simply confirm your identity and get an idea of your credit health.
When you apply for a credit builder card with us, we'll then do a hard credit check. This is to ensure we're right to approve your application. A hard check looks at your full credit history and tells us how you manage debt. Hard checks can stay on your credit file for between 12 and 24 months, so you have to think carefully before you go ahead and apply.
Can I apply for a credit builder card if I have bad credit?
If you have bad credit, it doesn't mean you can't get a credit card. Each lender has their own criteria for applications. If you're considering a credit builder card with us, use QuickCheck to find out if you'll be accepted for a Capital One credit card before you actually apply.
If you use your card responsibly, it can help you improve your credit score over time.
Is there an annual fee?
No, we don't charge any annual fees on any of our cards.