Build your credit score
By managing your account well and with tools like Aqua Coach and free credit score checks, you could build your credit score.
Credit cards for bad credit
Aqua Classic
A credit card to help repair bad credit
Check your eligibility and get a response in 60 seconds with no impact to your credit score
Smart credit limits from £250 - £1500 that could adjust as we get to know you
Build better credit with expert support in the Aqua app
What are the benefits of an Aqua classic card?
Get the smart way to build better credit. Aqua Classic is the credit card for bad credit or poor credit history, that gives you the power to improve your credit score. Backed by our expert support, personalised credit limits & secure app that guides you on your credit building journey.
A credit card to help improve bad credit
Protected when you spend
With a Mastercard® you can use your Aqua card safely at over 35 million places worldwide with 24/7 fraud protection.
Smart credit limits
A personalised credit limit, starting from £250 - £1500, that can adjust and could grow if you manage your account well.
Hear from our customers
Everybody has their own credit-building journey. Hear directly from the people who’ve used Aqua to help them along the way.
Aqua Classic FAQs
Aqua Classic comes with a host of tools to help you use your card responsibly, including:
- Aqua Coach – our free credit builder tool in the Aqua app
- A great mobile app to keep you in control 24/7
- Text reminders to keep you on track
- Award-winning support from our UK-based call centre
If you make your payments on time and stick within your credit limit over a number of months, then we may look at increasing your credit limit, if we think that's the right thing and taking into account your personal circumstances. We'll need to see that your account is being managed responsibly before we can offer you a credit limit increase.
You can reduce your credit limit at any time by calling customer services. You can also choose how you would like us to manage your credit limit preferences.
You can reduce your credit limit at any time by calling customer services. You can also choose how you would like us to manage your credit limit preferences.
Unlike some other credit cards, there are no annual fees with the Aqua Classic card.
Yes, just look for the contactless symbol at locations that accept Mastercard.
Am I eligible to apply for an Aqua Classic card?
You can apply for an Aqua card as long as you:
- Aged 18 and over and have a permanent UK address.
- Haven’t been registered bankrupt in the past 18 months and don’t have ongoing bankruptcy proceedings against you.
- Have a current UK bank or building society account.
- Haven’t received a County Court Judgement (CCJ) in the past 12 months.
- Don’t already have an Aqua card and haven’t had taken out an Bip, Marbles, Opus or Fluid card in the past 12 months.
What is bad credit?
Bad credit is usually a way of describing having a low credit score, due to either a history of using credit poorly or not having built up much of a credit history. Having a bad credit history is one of the main reasons people are turned down for credit cards, loans, and even bank accounts.
If you have a bad credit history, it’s important to remember that millions of people in the UK are in the same category, so you’re not alone and you can get help to fix it.
It’s also important to remember that nobody has a single credit ‘score’ that all lenders look at to decide whether to give you credit. Each lender will carry out its own assessment based on your credit history and decide based on their own criteria, so it’s still possible for you to get credit and use it responsibly.
Let’s look at the two situations which usually result in it being more difficult for people to get credit.
A bad credit history
If you haven’t stuck to the terms of credit agreements in the past, lenders might decide that it’s a risk to give you credit.
Ways that people get a bad credit history from irresponsible credit card use are:
- A late or missed payment
- Going over their credit limit
For example, if you’ve made a late payment, or missed a payment altogether on your credit card, other lenders are likely to think that you might miss payments and decide not to give you credit. There are lots of steps you can take to start improving your credit score and options for getting credit while you have bad credit. At Aqua, we’ll do our best to help you with both.
No credit history
If you’ve never borrowed money, lenders don’t have much information on which to judge whether you’ll manage your credit well.
Using credit responsibly is the most important factor in building a good credit history, so having no history of using credit can be just as much of an issue as a history of using credit poorly.
What’s the difference between an eligibility check and an application?
An eligibility check – like our SafeCheck – tells you whether the card company is likely to say ‘yes’ to your application, but it doesn’t leave a hard check on your credit report and doesn’t commit you to applying for the card.
This means that you know whether you’re safe to apply, without having to worry about damaging your chances of getting other credit in future.
A full application, on the other hand, does leave a mark on your report. That’s why it’s best not to fill in lots of applications with different companies. If in doubt, always check your eligibility first.
Can I apply for a credit card if I have bad credit?
The short answer is ‘yes’. The first step is to decide which card is right for you.
If you have a bad credit history or haven’t applied for a credit card before, it can be tempting to fill out lots of applications in the hope that at least one of them will be successful. But this is exactly the wrong thing to do.
Each full application is logged on your credit report, so the more you apply and are turned down, the more likely you are to keep getting turned down. That’s why you need to pick a card that’s designed for your circumstances and offers an eligibility check – sometimes called a ‘soft’ check – up front.
Bad credit FAQs
Your credit score is a number based on a range of different factors that gives an indication of how good you are with credit. A higher score means that lenders are more likely to lend to you. If you’re an Aqua customer, you can find out your current credit score (powered by TransUnion) at any time in the Aqua Coach tab of the Aqua app.
Your credit score is calculated by one of the three credit reference agencies in the UK - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion (formerly Callcredit). What’s classed as a ‘good’ or a ‘bad’ score varies slightly between the three agencies – you should check with the agency that your score is from to see if it’s a bad score.
Having a bad score may make lenders concerned that you’re not able to manage credit as well as they would like. This could make it more difficult and/or expensive for you to get credit – but, the good news is, it’s possible to improve your credit score (see ‘Can bad credit be fixed?’ below).
Having a bad score may make lenders concerned that you’re not able to manage credit as well as they would like. This could make it more difficult and/or expensive for you to get credit – but, the good news is, it’s possible to improve your credit score (see ‘Can bad credit be fixed?’ below).
Yes. An Aqua card can help you fix bad credit and get you back on track.
If you use your card responsibly, including by making all your repayments on time and staying within your credit limit, then over time this will help you build up a history of good credit. Your improved credit score may then help you be accepted for other types of credit that you can apply for – from credit cards and loans to mortgages and other large purchases.
If you use your card responsibly, including by making all your repayments on time and staying within your credit limit, then over time this will help you build up a history of good credit. Your improved credit score may then help you be accepted for other types of credit that you can apply for – from credit cards and loans to mortgages and other large purchases.
How to fix a bad credit score
If you have a bad credit score, getting a credit card and managing it well can be a great way to improve it. There are a few other easy things you can do to help improve your credit score.
Check the electoral register
An official record that lenders can use to confirm your identity. Keep your name on it even if you don't plan to vote.
Make payments on time
If your payment is late, even by just a day, it can stay on your credit file and affect your score for up to seven years.
Update your credit record
Credit records can sometimes have mistakes, and these can affect your score. Check yours regularly to make sure it’s correct.
Keep your old accounts open
Established, well-managed credit accounts can show you’ve been reliable in the past, which is a good sign for future lenders.
Don’t apply too often
Lenders may be less likely to approve your application if they see lots of credit applications on your record in six months.
Be a responsible borrower
Managing your credit accounts well is one of the easiest ways to build your credit score and help you on your credit journey.
Get more help improving bad credit
Slide 1 of 3Check out our range of guides with helpful tips and advice to get you on the path to building better credit.
How long does it take to improve your credit ...
Discover how long it takes to improve your credit score, the actions you can take to improve it and how an Aqua cre...
Published on April 20th, 20266 mins read
How to get a credit card with bad credit
Learn how to choose and apply for a credit card when you have bad credit.
Published on October 2nd, 20194 mins read
How to fix bad credit
In this guide you’ll find out how to improve bad credit and how quickly you can do it.
Published on May 17th, 20193 mins read
