Halifax credit cards - how many are you allowed?

gelato_cat

Hi all

Anyone know how many Halifax credit cards you can apply for if you already have existing ones?

I had two, which I got in 2000 (Visa and Mastercard) and was attracted to the 0% on purchases one. So in May this year I rang up and asked if I could apply. The guy said yes, I could hold up to seven Halifax credit cards at any one time.

Today I rang to close my old Mastercard account and asked the same question (as I could be interested in another 0% card, and I have previous experience of the call centre staff all having different answers to the same questions). The guy said there was no limit and the decision to grant credit depended on their scoring of me etc.

He put me through to someone else to cancel the card and I asked the question again. Woman said I am only allowed one Halifax card at a time!!! When I asked when this came into effect (as I clearly had three cards), she was typically vague and said "sometime this year" :rolleyes: I asked her to check with her supervisor and sat on hold for a while until she returned and said the supervisor had confirmed it (not the first time I've heard that one either)!

Anyone know the definitive answer (if there even IS such a thing with the 'Fax)? Have you successfully applied for more than one in the past three months?

Suze

Kavanne

I was told one as well when I tried to apply for a 2nd... Maybe try applying online and bypassing stupid people in call centres?

YorkshireBoy

The only rule I'm aware of is you can't have two of the same cards, ie you can't have two 'One' cards or two 'Plus' cards.

I've had two (different branded) cards on the go several times over the years, and right up until a couple of months ago.

Do you have a Halifax current account...and online access? If so, they occasionally put 'pre-approved' offers in there which may even be granted without an external credit search. In my experience, you can also choose a different card to the one they're pushing at you.

Kavanne

I have halifax online and have never seen pre approved offers The only sign I see of preapproved is that i could have a 4800 od if I wanted (Have £2000 that I never use atm) but they won't increase my credit limit on my CC by £500... silly.

Moggles_2

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

The only rule I'm aware of is you can't have two of the same cards, ie you can't have two 'One' cards or two 'Plus' cards. I've had two different branded cards on the go several times over the years and right up until a couple of months ago.

That's my experience as well. I've held Halifax and Bank of Scotland cards simultaneously. Unlike some lenders, HBOS doesn't seem to mind

gelato_cat

Thanks. That kind of blows my idea of having two One cards out of the window, but no biggie. I wonder, though - if I apply for another One (to see if I can get one) and that's the rule, am I "wasting" a credit search...?

Good idea re pre-approved offers - I have a few accounts with Halifax so will look. Never really paid attention to those notices before!

Suze

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

The only rule I'm aware of is you can't have two of the same cards, ie you can't have two 'One' cards or two 'Plus' cards.

I've had two (different branded) cards on the go several times over the years, and right up until a couple of months ago.

Do you have a Halifax current account...and online access? If so, they occasionally put 'pre-approved' offers in there which may even be granted without an external credit search. In my experience, you can also choose a different card to the one they're pushing at you.

YorkshireBoy

Suzey wrote: »

That kind of blows my idea of having two One cards out of the window, but no biggie. I wonder, though - if I apply for another One (to see if I can get one) and that's the rule, am I "wasting" a credit search...?

I've seen conflicting reports re Halifax and BOS cards. Some people have reported holding both (eg Halifax 'One' and BOS 'One') simultaneously, whereas others have been declined for a second one.

Your choice as to whether to risk it really.

Why 2 Halifax 'One' cards though? There are plenty of 10-16 month cards around at the moment.

LongTermLurker

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Do you have a Halifax current account...and online access? If so, they occasionally put 'pre-approved' offers in there which may even be granted without an external credit search. In my experience, you can also choose a different card to the one they're pushing at you.

Just checked and my only offer is "pay bills online" - uff, they obviously don't think much of me then? :rolleyes:

(that MAY be because I've asked them not to use my details for marketing, but I doubt it)

King_Of_Fools

I had three, a classic, cashback and One at the same time.

galileo

I have just cancelled my Halifax one card and am planning to apply for a Plus card early next year. Has anyone done something similar with HBOS cards ie cancelled one type of halifax card and applied for another type only months later?

YorkshireBoy

galileo wrote: »

I have just cancelled my Halifax one card and am planning to apply for a Plus card early next year. Has anyone done something similar with HBOS cards ie cancelled one type of halifax card and applied for another type only months later?

I understand the 'wait' for another Halifax card of the same type is only 30 days.

To be on the safe side though, I wouldn't apply again until the card was showing as settled on my credit file (which could take up to 8-10 weeks).