Nationwide additional card holder

kew63 · 4 June 2009 at 8:52AM

Hi
I've had a Nationwide credit card since 1999, use it as my major credit card but pay it off in full most months, or at most if put something very big on it over a couple of months. Never done min payment and worst offence is probably couple of days late paying a few times but that's because I simply forgot not because I couldnt afford to pay it.

So in 10 years they must have built up a pretty good idea about the kind of customer I am. Probably not their ideal because they dont make much money out of me because I nearly always clear the balance, but not exactly a high risk and would have hoped they would give me some recognition for that.

About 6 weeks ago I applied to have my husband of 7 months added as an additional card holder. Just want it so he can pay for petrol etc and we can track our budget (he's got some business debts which he's paying off - and I find that non-cash makes it easier to keep records, so I can keep a strict eye on our monthly outgoings).

After filling in the original form heard nothing, after a month rang them and yesterday they sent me a form asking for proof of ID for me & him, unfortunately cant give them as they want Utility, mortgage, telephone etc bills and before he moved in with me he lived with his parents for several years.

Personally I think they are having difficulty finding credit records for him, and rather than be up front and ask, they use these tactics. If you want to prove someones identity why not include driving licence, passport etc.. why are they all financial or credit related records they want ?

Aside from that they have enclosed a CCA 1974 form for me to sign, obviously never done before and they want that little loophole closed !!

Hubbie not having credit card is a bit of a nuisance but nothing more, but Nationwide's behaviour towards me has offended me more than any bank has ever managed before and now seriously rethinking my loyalty to them. Have a bank account I use for household bills, credit card, savings account, ISA & mortgage all with them and they behave like I'm scum.

Is this standard practice nowadays? I'm working up to giving them a piece of my mind, but need to calm down a bit first.

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

CLAPTON · 4 June 2009 at 9:18AM

I can't quite understand what you're saying about Nationwide but

if you husband has a poor credit record then I would suggest you may want to get copies of both his and yours record records.
If you link yourself financially to him and his record is poor then your credit rating will suffer too.

Paul_Herring · 4 June 2009 at 10:39AM

CLAPTON wrote:

If you link yourself financially to him[...]

Getting a second card holder for your credit card is not financially linking yourself to anyone. The Card holder is solely liable for any debts on the card - the second, (or third, or fourth) holders have nothing to do with the debt (beyond creating it of course.)

Even with Amex, who give them a distinct card as opposed to an effective duplicate of your own, don't financially link you with the second card holder.

kew63 wrote:

Is this standard practice nowadays?

Not in my experience. I have a second card holder on 3 credit cards, and
1) Second card holder has a crap credit rating due to lack of data
2) None of the companies (Egg, Amex and Halifax) asked for anything beyond Name and DOB for the 2nd card holder.

savagej · 4 June 2009 at 11:23AM

Many banks now ask for ID for a secondary cardholder, do a credit search on them and financially link both of you on the CRA's system. If you require more details on this you can find it on many credit agreements the most informative is the Sainsbury's credit card which spells it out. So if the person you are thinking of adding has a poor record and you have a good one think twice as it will bring down your score until such time as you become dissociated.

Many people will try to tell you this does not happen, as in the above post. They will say it is only the primary cardholder how is liable for the debt (which is entirely correct) and therefore no link is created. That used to be the case but it is no longer the case.

kew63 · 4 June 2009 at 12:23PM

Many thanks for your replies, certainly something to consider, as to my knowledge I have a good credit rating, certainly never had a problem getting any, and dont want to risk anything to reduce that.

For the time being hubbie can build up a better history and we can maybe try again in a year or so.

What makes me cross is the sneaky way they try to get you to sign the CCA 1974, very unhand and certainly not appreciated by this loyal customer.

But then I'll just vote with my feet, hit them where it hurts, seems to be the only way.

Thanks again

Paul_Herring · 4 June 2009 at 12:33PM

savagej wrote:

Many people will try to tell you this does not happen, as in the above post.

Well it must have started to happen in the last couple of months, since that's when I got my Halifax Card.

With second card holder.

And the second card holder is not only not on my credit reference reports in *any* capacity, we live in the same house.

So no, it either doesn't always happen, or it's started in the last 2 months.

savagej · 4 June 2009 at 12:37PM

Yep, only certain banks are doing it and in certain situations but it is happening and has been for about a year. I beleive there is a case on here of Capital One asking for ID to and permission to credit/fraud search the additional cardholder.

CLAPTON · 4 June 2009 at 1:17PM

kew63 wrote: »

Many thanks for your replies, certainly something to consider, as to my knowledge I have a good credit rating, certainly never had a problem getting any, and dont want to risk anything to reduce that.

For the time being hubbie can build up a better history and we can maybe try again in a year or so.

What makes me cross is the sneaky way they try to get you to sign the CCA 1974, very unhand and certainly not appreciated by this loyal customer.

But then I'll just vote with my feet, hit them where it hurts, seems to be the only way.

Thanks again

its best to get a copies of his credit files and see exactly whats on them
also your own
and don't link yourselve to him until you have seen them.
although you say you have never had any problems with credit ..was that since you were married?

kew63 · 4 June 2009 at 1:48PM

CLAPTON wrote: »

although you say you have never had any problems with credit ..was that since you were married?

To be honest havent applied for anything, but the house mortgage bills etc are all in my name - all paid up, no debts, nothing unpaid or anyone getting stroppy, so cant see why my rating should have changed, and if it has you'll hear the fireworkers !!

Was told that unlike before where credit rating was linked to an address, now it's to the person, so whatever happens to hubbie & his debts it wont affect me.

Not planning on applying for anything anyway, the additional card holder was just something that may have made life bit simplier, but certainly not essential so Nationwide can stick it, and they'll find I wont be using much in the future.

To be honest I suspected that they may play silly !!!!!!s although when any debt on the card is my responsibilty and I've not exactly shown myself to be a risk in 10 years, had hoped a little logic may have taken place. But the CCA thingy has just infuriated me. I have never defaulted on anything in my life and the assumtion that I would is offensive, and I think that rather than tarring everyone with the same brush you should get a little credit for your past record.

Thanks for the replies though, it's certainly made me realise that I need to keep financial matters between me & my husband very separte, at least until he's out of this mess and his credit rating has improved.

Moggles_2 · 4 June 2009 at 3:42PM

I was told that unlike before where credit rating was linked to an address, now it's to the person, so whatever happens to hubbie & his debts it won't affect me.

Yes, credit ratings assess people, not dwellings.

If you share a financial product (eg. joint bank a/c) with someone else, then you are financially linked to them and the poor management of their affairs could have an effect on your credit rating, but simply being married and/or occupying the same home as somebody with a poor credit history, has no effect whatsoever

harryhound · 24 August 2009 at 10:08AM

Sorry to sound stupid but what is a CCA 1974 ?

Nationwide additional card holder

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