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@Wannabe
a moderate credit score is far better to get cards / phones / loans because you'll make more money for the bank. My wife has a full-time job, good saver, hates credit cards, never been in debt, never had a contract phone, and can't get a store card.
I'm unemployed, £17k ish in debt (extended studenty-ness), a piss-poor credit record, missed direct debits, £20 late charges on £4 credit card bills out of laziness, and Natwest are STILL throwing money at me, even after I explained my change in circumstances.
Electoral Roll, landline phone, all good places to start. Moving around less is harder, but worth doing, for some reason banks think people who are long-term in one house are more likely to pay back.
I just moved to France though, and banking charges are upfront. It's about 40-60 a year for an account with a visa card, and the bill will go through the roof if you miss payments, etc etc. Legal cap on borrowing = repayments not to exceed 33% of income, term of loan not to take you past retirement age.