Applying for a credit card after bankruptcy.

MARKA

I was made bankrupt by the I.R in March 2003. Business failure. Since then I picked myself up got another job and am generally doing very well.
I would like to apply for a credit card just for the conveniance really at the moment my partner pays with hers and I pay her back. But I feel too dependant and want freedom to do as and when without relying on her.
I checked my credit file and the only thing on it is my mobile phone bill with O2 and my bank account with the Co Op these are perfectly clean no late payments or defaults,these go back 3yrs I think.
I'm on the electoral roll and my salary is £38000.
What I was wondering was do I apply for a mainstream card or a credit builder card,though a card with £250 limit is neither use nor ornament but I don't want one with thousands on it either.
Any advice would be appreciated.

YorkshireBoy

MARKA wrote: »

Any advice would be appreciated.

If you're paying a £38K salary into your Co-op current account then they're the best people to ask for a card aren't they?

MARKA

Yes true but they have a knowledge of my bankruptcy. Their Casminder account was the only one I could get at the time.

YorkshireBoy

I'd try the following, in this order...

1. Co-op (may not even search you if it's a straight 'policy rule' decline...maybe you could ask first?) Could ask to upgrade the current account first...might give an indication of how they now view you?

2. Mainstream card

3. Credit builder card.

Dabooka

You should find by now they'll give you a "grown up" account, just pop in and ask.

If not, you need to get a credit builder card so be prepared for a low limit, but they're a start. At the end of day it's all based on your history isn't it? I'd take whatever you're offered, use it and pay it off and see what happens once you've kept your nose clean with them. Cap One might be a good start as they've got a couple and you might score for the Progression(?) card.

MARKA

Well, I took the advice of you good people who replied to me and went to the CO OP to upgrade my account,which they did and they offered me a credit card as part of the package. So thanks all for the advice and really it was the most obvious answer but sometimes you can't see the woods for the trees!:beer:

BugsyBrowne

MARKA wrote: »

Well, I took the advice of you good people who replied to me and went to the CO OP to upgrade my account,which they did and they offered me a credit card as part of the package. So thanks all for the advice and really it was the most obvious answer but sometimes you can't see the woods for the trees!:beer:

Lets just hope all people who have been bankrupt before and getting credit cards again please make sure you pay the creditors back this time, because we don't want any more letters telling us our interest is going up again which is probably due to bankrupts anyhow.

Not picking on you marka as yours was a buisness venture,i am talking about the people who know full well they cant pay money back but keep borrowing.

MARKA

Actually star-fire this is the 1st credit card I've ever had,believe it or not. Set up a direct debit to pay off balance in full,so no worries there about defaulted payments.
I feel the majority of people who do go bankrupt learn a very hard lesson and are much more careful later on.Of course there's always the ones who never learn!!

allycat2309

Hi, on 12th March I was officially discharged from bankruptcy, I can honestly say the last 12 months have been a lot easier than I thought, I havnt actually thought about the bankruptcy order as I have been leading a stress free life without that dark cloud of debt hanging over me.
I would like to say a big thank you to you all for your words of wisdon, support and above all else your understanding.

As I am know free from bankruptcy what do I need to do next as I have read I need to clean up my credit etc, any advice would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
Allycat x

BugsyBrowne

allycat2309 wrote: »

Hi, on 12th March I was officially discharged from bankruptcy, I can honestly say the last 12 months have been a lot easier than I thought, I havnt actually thought about the bankruptcy order as I have been leading a stress free life without that dark cloud of debt hanging over me.
I would like to say a big thank you to you all for your words of wisdon, support and above all else your understanding.

As I am know free from bankruptcy what do I need to do next as I have read I need to clean up my credit etc, any advice would be appreciated.

Many Thanks
Allycat x

Depends what your circumstances were when you become bankrupt,but if you were one of these people who racked up loads of high credit card bills knowing full well you couldn't pay it back,then these types of people don't deserve a clean credit file for at least 20 years IMHO.