[Legogris]

I'm curious if there's anywhere else outside the US where "building your credit rating" by accumulating debt history from e.g. credit cards is a thing and makes a difference. I haven't heard it mentioned as a US-specific thing, but I've also only ever heard Americans talk about it.

[quietbritishjim]

It is true in the UK too, although I doubt it would make much difference when applying for a mortgage, but maybe for a small loan.

[djmobley]

In the UK it is absolutely a thing. Why would it not be a thing?

[pwinnski]

The cost of rigorous consumer protections is sometimes monetary.

I have this discussion with European friends regularly: No, I don't automatically get a three-year warranty on everything I buy. I don't even want such a thing, sometimes. And in return I pay much less for everyday items.

[quietbritishjim]

The parent comment and the one it's relying to are about keeping a credit card to build credit history. I don't see what your comment has to do with that. Am I missing something?

Did you think they were still talking about paying a fee for credit cards? Typically in the UK there's no fees for credit cards, the cost is just in the interest if you don't pay it off in time. In fact there are usually less fees for financial services in European countries e.g. checking accounts and ATMs usually don't have fees. (I mean there isn't usually a fee just for having a checking account, but there are of course fees for doing certain things with it such as a CHAPS transfer.)

[Legogris]

I have not heard this be a factor when people get mortgages or loans. So "because it doesn't matter".

But apparently in the UK it does! So if I understand right, not having a history of debt can be a problem when getting a mortgage or loan simply because lack of data for them to make any assessment?