Credit Card for 70 year old

iabw12

Not sure where to ask this (Credit Cards or here). My 70 year old neighbour would like a credit card, but is finding it really difficult to find one as she's retired and doesn't have a job. She's always had a great credit record but it seems that nobody wants to know her. What can she do?

margaretclare

Try her bank?

horsechestnut

Try Marks & Spencer, but go to the actual store, there is usually someone trying to get you to accept one! They like older, reliable people and you do get points for spending.

iabw12

As soon as she hit 65, her own bank didn't want to know. I'll suggest that she tries M&S. Is there anyone with personal knowledge of getting a card after retirement?

horsechestnut

I got my card after retirement, but I am under seventy years old. However I have seen them offering cards to people who clearly look over seventy, in the Liverpool store.

alanq

The Co-op do an Help The Aged card. It would look bad if they refused!

http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1193206374066,CFSweb/Page/Bank-CreditCards

iabw12

Thanks to all who are trying to help, the Help the Aged card site does say "must have a minimum income of £10,000 or more" would her state pension cover that do you think?

Farway

iabw12 wrote: »

Thanks to all who are trying to help, the Help the Aged card site does say "must have a minimum income of £10,000 or more" would her state pension cover that do you think?

It depends, mine does, but I am male & have full serps or whatever it is now called as well, plus how are they going to check?

luminated

But would this mean a very low and therefore useless credit limit?

jennifernil

iabw12 wrote: »

As soon as she hit 65, her own bank didn't want to know. I'll suggest that she tries M&S. Is there anyone with personal knowledge of getting a card after retirement?

Which bank?

Maybe a change of bank is in order?

Savvy_Sue

luminated wrote: »

But would this mean a very low and therefore useless credit limit?

this leads me to a very personal question, which you may or may not wish to ask her.

What sort of credit limit is she looking to get, and is a credit card the best way to achieve what she wants?

Because whatever she spends is going to have to be repaid (as I'm sure she knows), so if her income is just the state pension then it is likely to be a low credit limit, so if she was hoping to re-roof the house with it that may not quite work.