Multiple savings accounts applications = poor credit rating?

Ok, probably this. Couldn't get savings account or even cheap phone contract for a while when I repatted even though gainfully employed and no bad stuff in my past. I was told no credit history was often viewed as higher risk than poor credit history, and that no electoral roll entry or residential UK address history suggested murkiness like prison or fraud. Nice.

I followed advice above re actively building up a credit history (you'll pass for a Barclaycard on the back of your Barclays account I guess - that's what I did) and for me it took about 18 months.