[mattowen_uk]

Ah but, for most people it's easier to get a low-limit credit card in the UK, than it is to get any other unsecured loan.

I also didn't say 'you need a credit card to get a good credit score', I said not having one will negatively impact your score. This is 100% correct; Your credit score is made up of various metrics on how you manage debt, one of which is credit cards. You will get a % boost if you have a card that you manage well, whereas without a credit card, you will get no boost at all in that category. Granted, you may make up for it overall in other categories, but in the main, for most people, my statement still stands. Credit scores start at 0, and only improve if you show you can manage debt across multiple products.

[b112]

Hmm. I think the issue here is, we are all in different regions. Not only does the country matter (Canada here), bit the region too (Quebec, Napoleonic civil code, and provincial laws).

Credit bureaus are definitely legislatively controlled here, and court decisions have an effect on them too.

[scaryclam]

You can use direct debits instead of loans and are available for a really wide variety of payments, so is easier and safer than getting a credit card for many people.