Joint Credit Cards?

fairytwinkles

Hi All,

I'm moving in with my partner and we are going to set up some joint spending arrangements to cover our household outgoings. We're both very responsible with our finances, as far as we know have good credit ratings and will set clear rules for spending and paying off.

Can we open a joint credit card? with who? I've read about 'additional card holders'... but not sure if that's the way to go.

Between us we have already both points cards and Amex, but want to keep this spending separate for clarity. Considering an airmiles type card to give some rewards, but can we get these as joint cards?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks!
FT

[Deleted User]

No. You can have a primary and additional, but not joint.

Janie4Now

From personal experience I would say do not do this.

If you wish, open up a joint account into which you both pay an agreed amount each month and out of which ONLY direct debits or agreed sums such as for food shopping get paid. And without an overdraft facility.

Credit cards are too open to abuse. IF you were to split up - and I sincerely hope that you don't - you need to be aware that you will both be jointly and severally liable which means that even if one of you abuses the card limit (I know you both say you won't, but you don't know what could happen if things go bad in the future) the other person will be responsible for the debt.

Of course, I may be a little embittered.....

Maestro.

Most of the time when you sign up for a CC, at the end of the process you have an option to "add additional card holder". That's what you are looking for.

InsideInsurance

There is no such thing as a joint credit card simply a credit card with additional cardholders but the primary cardholder is fully liable for all debts irrespective of which card(s) were used to run them up.

Meadows

You have one main account holder and then another person named on the account that can have a card.

Credit card companies allow the other named person to access the account and query transactions by filling in an authorisation form (but not change credit limit etc), this is only as good as what they have showing on the account. Some companies are very good with the named person whereas others are a real pain and a lesser trained operator will not look for this authorisation and insist on speaking to the actual account holder.

Can you not keep both the cards you have and use them for set spending? Or open a new account with a limited limit until you are sure it works for you both.

scottishblondie

Janie4Now wrote: »

Credit cards are too open to abuse. IF you were to split up - and I sincerely hope that you don't - you need to be aware that you will both be jointly and severally liable which means that even if one of you abuses the card limit (I know you both say you won't, but you don't know what could happen if things go bad in the future) the other person will be responsible for the debt.

Of course, I may be a little embittered.....

This info is not correct. Only the primary card holder is liable, as it is their credit account. The additional card holder has no liability at all.

reclusive46

scottishblondie wrote: »

This info is not correct. Only the primary card holder is liable, as it is their credit account. The additional card holder has no liability at all.

American Express charge cards being the only exception, the additional card holder signs a form saying they are jointly liable.

CLAPTON

best to avoid joint a/cs of any kind

why not just work out the bills and divide by two?

Janie4Now

Scottishblondie - you are, of course, correct. I am still traumatised from being chased by the bank for payment of the joint account that I had already paid my half of. However, if they DO get a joint credit card, then they would indeed be jointly liable.

thenudeone

Janie4Now wrote: »

Credit cards are too open to abuse. IF you were to split up - and I sincerely hope that you don't - you need to be aware that you will both be jointly and severally liable

Wrong Wrong Wrong.

Only the account holder is liable for the debt.The credit card company can and will only chase them for the debt.

There is no such thing as a joint credit card in the UK.

The account holder might be able to get a court to force an additional cardholder to pay up for their spending in some circumstances.
In general, courts would need some convincing that a contractual relationship existed. For example, if two people who were not in a relationship agreed to split the cost of buying and running a house or a car, the courts might agree that the additional cardholder had to pay the main cardholder their share of the spend. In the absence of such an agreement (written or otherwise) the courts will assume that by allowing an additional cardholder access to a credit account, the main cardholder was making a gift.

But that's a matter between the two parties and nothing to do with the card company.