In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product details
    • Eligibility
    • Fees
  • Your reviews

thimbl. credit card review

  • Tom Stelzer's headshot
thimbl. credit card
3.6
★★★★★
Finder score
Representative example:
When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 45.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 45.5% APR (variable).
Minimum credit limit
£500
Interest-free each billing period
Up to 56 days
Account fee
£0

Our verdict

thimbl. offers a straightforward credit-builder card for those with good and bad credit.

thimbl. is a very straightforward card aimed at those looking to build their credit score, whether they've got good or bad credit. It's competing with the likes of the Zopa credit card or any of NewDay's credit building brands (aqua, fluid, marbles, etc.).

With no rewards scheme, points or cashback, it's about as no frills as credit cards come, which may suit customers who simply want access to a manageable credit account.

There's also no annual fee, which means you can keep your costs to a minimum, as long as you pay off your credit card balance in full. But if you're someone who's likely to carry a balance each month, you'll need to beware of the high rate.

Overall, the thimbl. credit card could be a worthy option for those with limited or bad credit history, but anyone wanting to get more out of their card may need to look elsewhere. Despite billing itself as a card for all credit profiles, it's unlikely to appeal to those with high credit scores. At its core, it's a fairly straightforward rebranding of a typical Vanquis credit card. In fact, and in fact, its slogan should maybe be "thimbl. – Because Vanquis Bank sounds a bit... oppressive."

Pros

  • You can manage the card via an online app
  • The card is available to those with poor credit
  • There's no annual fee

Cons

  • No rewards or other offers
  • Maximum initial credit limit is capped at £1,500
  • The APR is noticeably high

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product details
    • Eligibility
    • Fees
  • Your reviews

Details

Product details

Issuer Visa
Annual/monthly fees £0
Purchases 45.5%
Purchases interest-free period Up to 56 days
Cash advances 39.94%
Maximum credit limit Subject to status: £1,500
Incentive
Potential costs 3.4 ★★★★★
Doing its job 3.8 ★★★★★
Extras 4.0 ★★★★★
Overall Finder score 3.6 ★★★★★

Eligibility

Minimum Age 18
Min income Not specified
Availability Available to new customers

Fees

Annual/monthly fees £0
Foreign usage charge (EU) 2.99%
Foreign usage charge (rest of world) 2.99%
Cash advance fee 3% (min. £3)
Late payment fee £12
Exceeding limit fee £12

What is thimbl.?

thimbl. is a fairly standard credit-building credit card, aimed at a wider-than-you-might-expect range of credit scores. Like other credit builders, it has a more lenient approach to approvals, offset by relatively high interest rates, and “manageable” (low) opening credit limits. Both rates and limits are tailored to the applicant.

How does it compare?

thimbl.'s card

1 - 1 of 1
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Minimum income Representative APR Incentive Link
thimbl. credit card image
3.6
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit £1,500.
Not specified
45.5%
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 45.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 45.5% APR (variable).
loading

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Min. limit £500, max. limit £3,000.
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Representative example: When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 30.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.9% APR (variable).
loading

Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for a thimbl. credit card, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a UK resident
  • Have a UK bank account

You’ll also need to meet thimbl.’s income and financial requirements.

How to apply

In order to apply for a thimbl. credit card, you'll first need to use its Express Check eligibility checker via the thimbl. website. You'll need to provide certain personal information as part of the check, and will receive your results within one minute. Using the eligibility checker will have no impact on your credit score, and if you're approved, you'll then be eligible to apply for a thimbl. credit card.

Is thimbl. any good?

With its simple credit-builder credit card, thimbl. aims to give customers the option of an accessible card with no bells and whistles. As a result, it could be suitable for those with poor or limited credit history looking for a basic everyday card to build their credit score. However, with its high, variable rate, it will only be an affordable choice for those who can pay off their balance each month.

Frequently asked questions

How long will it take to get a thimbl. credit card?

It normally takes around 10-14 days for you to receive your thimbl. credit card once you’ve submitted your application.

Where can I use a thimbl. credit card?

You can use your thimbl. card anywhere that accepts Visa, including in the UK and abroad, as well as online.

Does thimbl. run credit checks?

Yes, but thimbl. isn’t about credit perfection.

You can check your eligibility for a thimbl. card using a quick “soft” credit check – that’s a search of your credit file which has no impact on your credit score.

If this tells you that an application would likely be successful, and you decide to go ahead and apply, thimbl. will then run a “hard” credit check. A hard search does have a small negative impact on your credit score, but provided you use your card responsibly (stay within your credit limit and make repayments on time), then this dip should be short-lived, and thimbl. should start to benefit your credit score.

Will a thimbl. credit card help build my credit rating?

Yes, using your thimbl. credit card can help improve your credit score, as long as you stay within your credit limit and make your monthly repayments on time.

How can I manage my thimbl. account?

You can manage your thimbl card and pay your bill via the Vanquis Bank online app.

Finder credit card scores

★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor

Our experts score credit builder credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like interest rates, credit limits, features to help you track your credit, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.

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