Applying for a first Credit Card

RichBigD

Morning everybody,

I am posting here having recently joined the site. I have held down a position with an energy consultancy company since July 2012 and am looking to apply for a Credit Card; given that I may be meeting exterior clients with my job and would like to put all expenses onto a Credit Card instead of going through my current Santander Debit Card.

I have possessed a Santander Current Account for over 5 years and have regular direct debits going out to companies such as Orange and PCWorld. I also have regular salary income coming into this account as well. Tax, pension, student loan and NI comes out my salary through PAYE. I also have a Halifax Onlline Saver which I rarely touch and allow to gain interest on.

It would be great if I could possibly have some advice from other people. I am 22 if the age will make much of a difference in the application procedure.

Much appreciated.

You-kip

Try your own Bank first as they know you.

If that fails then you may well have to try high interest credit building cards such as Cap1 classic or Vanquis which if used correctly will build up your credit file and put you in a better chance of acceptance on 0% card.

iAMaLONDONER

RichBigD wrote: »

Morning everybody,

I am posting here having recently joined the site. I have held down a position with an energy consultancy company since July 2012 and am looking to apply for a Credit Card; given that I may be meeting exterior clients with my job and would like to put all expenses onto a Credit Card instead of going through my current Santander Debit Card.

I have possessed a Santander Current Account for over 5 years and have regular direct debits going out to companies such as Orange and PCWorld. I also have regular salary income coming into this account as well. Tax, pension, student loan and NI comes out my salary through PAYE. I also have a Halifax Onlline Saver which I rarely touch and allow to gain interest on.

It would be great if I could possibly have some advice from other people. I am 22 if the age will make much of a difference in the application procedure.

Much appreciated.

Luma have a 0% card till July which they allowed me to get with a 500 pound limit

Btw I'm an 18 year old student who got my first card in October 2012 with 750 limit which they raised to 1.25k last month!

So I guess you have a very good chance! Or you could try capital one -they have 1 which gives 0.5% cashback!

Make sure you enrol on the electoral register and sign up with Noddle to get a free credit report to just check everything's all right!

Also you might be better of getting a Nationwide Flexdirect account (and putting your savings there) which pays you a whopping 5% on balances up to 2500 and gives you preferential interest rates on CCs!

JimmyTheWig

First question? Are you going to be paying off the balance in full each month?
If not, then credit cards can be very expensive. If you do then as long as the card has no annual/monthly fee (hardly any credit cards have a fee, these days) and the card gives an interest free period on purchases if the balance is paid in full each month (again, nearly all cards do this) then you won't be charged to use the card.

Secondly, are you hoping to make anything extra out of this? E.g. some cards give you cashback, air miles or points for using them. As this is your first credit card then you may well not qualify for a card that does this, so if I were you I would ignore this for now.

Which means just about all cards, for you, are a much of a muchness.
As You-kip suggests, your own bank would be a good starting point.

It sounds like, with direct debits going to Orange and PC World, that while you haven't had a credit card before you have had credit. This will help you get accepted. As long as you have kept up to date with the payments on these!