Unemployed - Currently have Capital One Gold - Looking for interest free to pay off

anewman

I am currently unemployed after graduating from University in 2005 and been paying for lots of things on my credit card recently. I have been looking for jobs my degree would qualify me to do in the hope I don't languish in a minimum wage job for the next 50 years but not getting anywhere so I plan to start going to your Asda's, Tescos and so on asking for any jobs just as something to get me some money.

My likely credit status. I have had contract mobile phones with O2, t-mobile, and Orange at different times and payment was always made by DD. My halifax bank account has only ever been overdrawn by about £5 due to a DD payment being taken, but I quickly topped up the balance. I currently have a capital one gold Visa which currently has a limit of £2000. I have forgotten to pay the capital one credit card bill once (it just slipped my mind at the time) but this was a while ago and capital one still rose my credit limit after that from £1000 to £2000. So I assume my credit rating should be pretty ok. (AFAIK student loans do not count?)

I will have a bill possibly of nearly £1000, I want to simply get another credit card with an interest free period to pay off this balance (and preferably a low interest rate) but I want one that I am likely to be accepted on being currently unemployed. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Ta in advance.

Edit: Just tried HBOS charity card and got declined.

Just tried Post Office, it said they are unable to give a decision but will write within 5 days so I guess I'll leave it there for now. Anyone got any better ideas of places to go?

Why is it if your poor you get charged more interest? Surely it doesn't make sense to charge more interest to people who are unlikely to be able to pay it?!

jonesMUFCforever

Why is it if your poor you get charged more interest? Surely it doesn't make sense to charge more interest to people who are unlikely to be able to pay it?!

Whilst I agree with some of your reasoning - why did you buy the stuff knowing you had little or no income to pay it back?
People have to take responsibilty for their own actions.

anewman

ejones999 wrote:

Whilst I agree with some of your reasoning - why did you buy the stuff knowing you had little or no income to pay it back?
People have to take responsibilty for their own actions.

I am able to pay it back, just not all at once. If everyone can pay for everything all at once why does anyone have credit cards at all!? Why don't you get a clue and try give a useful reply?!

I merely want to avoid interest payments, that's all. Hopefully I will have a job within the interest free period and have no difficulty at all then.

I can and will pay it back it's only about £700 total credit card bill. And my student loan on which repayment is only due when I earn over £15k. I am sure some people are worse off than I am.

My finances are a bit confused at the moment too as I am holding money in my bank account as Bulldog messed up their billing so I want the money to be there for the direct debit.

I can pay it back, I take responsibility for my own actions. By your reasoning all people should have a debit card as if they can't afford it now, they can't pay it back.

Any useful replies? I am waiting on the post for the post office's classic card application.

Basil_Hume

I'm no expert in the matter, but your turning-down by Halifax is now recorded on your credit file and may prejudice further applications.

The conventional business thinking behind "charging poorer people more" is the equation between risk and reward. It probably so happens that those on lower incomes are correlated with those who have more trouble re-paying debt - and are hence perceived as a greater risk for the business. As a result, those businesses looking to trade in this area of the market will either look to make profits through high charges (high reward for high risk) or economies of scale... or most often both!!

UNICORN_2

If you're unemployed, what income can you put on an application form? Apart from benefits I mean.
CC companys don't like people without regular jobs.

david_hellier

I have to agree with the earlier replier. You DO NOT NEED A CREDIT CARD. No one does. They exist purely for the banks to make more money. Pay it off and start saving for luxuries. You are on the slippery slope.

C_Ronaldo

i buy stuff on my CC and i pay it off straight away, personally i wouldnt buy anything if i didnt have a job,

anewman

Basil_Hume wrote:

I'm no expert in the matter, but your turning-down by Halifax is now recorded on your credit file and may prejudice further applications.

What I do not understand is why Halifax do not clearly state what income level you need, and that they do not accept unemployed persons. They make you go through the whole application process.

The way I see it I have a flawless credit history, never had difficulty paying bills or making minimum payments (and usually pay off much more than the minimum payment) so that side of things is good. I also have only one Visa credit card, not a whole wallet full.

Looks like what I need to do is get a job, and then apply for a credit card, unless the post office accept my application.

david_hellier wrote:

I have to agree with the earlier replier. You DO NOT NEED A CREDIT CARD. No one does. They exist purely for the banks to make more money. Pay it off and start saving for luxuries. You are on the slippery slope.

If you do not need credit cards, why are you reading a credit card forum? lol.

UNICORN wrote:

If you're unemployed, what income can you put on an application form? Apart from benefits I mean.
CC companys don't like people without regular jobs.

Erm yep just benefits.

Steve_Snowdon

I went to https://www.clever-money.co.uk to search all the cards and loans in one go. I was with the Halifax and found them OK When I was looking I did not see any who did not need income!! I have to agree. You dont have to have a CC you need a PT job

anewman

Well either way at least I have not lied on the application forms.... I am sure some people have said they are a manager and earn £80k but get JSA, lol.

M_Thomson

Basil_Hume wrote:

I'm no expert in the matter, but your turning-down by Halifax is now recorded on your credit file and may prejudice further applications.

No, the fact that the application has been turned down is not recorded on a credit report. The fact that the application is made IS recorded and having to many searches in a short period of time can be damaging.