Got these cards... what should I apply for?

missk_ensington

Hi all,

I've spent a long time trying to clear up my credit cards, I used them for a long time BT'ing to a new card and then all of a sudden I started getting rejected (even though I always paid), my Experian score dropped to 869 and over the past 18 months I've been working hard to reduce and clear debts, use existing BT deals and making no credit applications whatsoever and it has FINALLY gone back to 999 (from 910) after I got added to the electoral roll. So I now want to try and get a new card, with a BT deal.

I have:

Halifax One card: Limit £4600, balance £4000 (0%)
HBOS card: Limit £1950 balance £1700 (this is the one I want to clear)
Cap1: Limit £6500 balance £4600.
Asda/Santander Credit Card (just BT to the Halifax card but not yet closed)
Barclaycard: £1059 (not using the card, closed to new transactions)

What I need to know is, which credit cards are associated with each other. My next step is to clear the HBOS card, because I know they'll offer me a 0% existing customer offer when I do, I'll then transfer the Barclaycard debt on to it and completely close that one. The Asda one will be closed imminently now it's clear.

I've made the mistake before of applying for a card to move a specific debt, only to find that the card Ive applied for is a sister product of the debt I'm trying to move.

So is anyone able to tell me based on the above, which cards would be good ones to apply for?

Tesco have a credit card, and I have a loan with them which is almost paid off (10 months left out of 60) and all payments have been made on time, would this may them more or less likely to approve me?

Thanks

bigadaj

Your credit score is of limited use so don't obsess over it.

Your cards should all be unrelated apart from the first two so should be able to balance transfer between any of the others.

Tesco might offer you a good card if you applied and mbna are renowned for offering good transfers and 0% offers.

Don't make too many applications at a time, and if you get rejected by one then leave it a couple of months before making another, three in six months seems a likely limit.

Always consider that deals might not be available and Have a plan for paying the debts off over the medium term, or at lest having the ability to do so.

gezza2k

mbna do a 6% rate for life card.
Lloyds do a 24 month bt 0%

read this :http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip/

ecraig

I second the MBNA. Get in quick and apply for the Virgin deal with free wine? Otherwise ask your bank about any deals they have for balance transfers?

Notice that you don't have any Natwest or RBS cards so they could be worth an application...

Agree that you should disregard your 'score'. Every bank scores you different, and it's their decision if and when you apply...

missk_ensington

Thank you very much for your help. I had a card with MBNA from about 2004 - 2009 which was always paid on time, then cleared and closed so hopefully they might have something on their system that remembers me being a good customer?? I have no idea

I recently got married and I've just started changing my name on my accounts - I'm not sure whether this affects how lenders see you - the new name hasn't appeared on Experian yet, so I'm thinking I should apply in my maiden name and then change it afterward as it might flag up as an inconsistency if the name Im using in my application doesn't match what they have for me on file?