Best Credit builder card for Housewife?

zebra7t4

I would like to clean up my credit file, and see if I get a credit card and pay in full it will help my rating.
I am a housewife, so have no job but my husband works full time.
I have 1 default from 2009 showing, and a couple of late payments in the last year for a mail order account I have. I do have a car loan I've been paying for the last 6 months with no late payments. No other debts.
I'm not yet on the electrol roll, but will be when the council update their system sometime this month.

Could anyone say whether I would have any chance of getting one of the credit building cards, and if I applied which one(s) would be more likely to accept me as I'm not working?

YorkshireBoy

Do you share a joint current account with your husband? If so, try your bank.


Vanquis don't require you to be in employment. They ask for "household income".


I wouldn't bother applying anywhere (other than perhaps your own bank) until all 3 CRAs (because you never know who they'll search) show you as being on the ER.

zebra7t4

I understand about your comment on the elecrol roll - could I apply as soon as I'm showing on all 3, or is it best to wait?

We only have one joint account with Nationwide. Would they not require hubby to be main card holder as he is the one working?

Do Nationwide do credit building credit cards?

YorkshireBoy

zebra7t4 wrote: »

I understand about your comment on the elecrol roll - could I apply as soon as I'm showing on all 3, or is it best to wait?

Nothing to be gained by waiting.

We only have one joint account with Nationwide. Would they not require hubby to be main card holder as he is the one working?

Not necessarily. However, hubby's credit rating will have suffered due to your default and late payments because you're financially associated.

Do Nationwide do credit building credit cards?

No, but you may not need one. Why not try the eligibility checker on their website? They'll give you a quote first, and then you have the option of taking it, without affecting your credit rating (the initial search is a quotation search so won't be seen by anyone else searching your credit file).


Is your 2009 default settled?...or still outstanding?

CLAPTON

zebra7t4 wrote: »

I understand about your comment on the elecrol roll - could I apply as soon as I'm showing on all 3, or is it best to wait?

We only have one joint account with Nationwide. Would they not require hubby to be main card holder as he is the one working?

Do Nationwide do credit building credit cards?

lots of stay at home people have CC based on family income

zebra7t4

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Nothing to be gained by waiting.Not necessarily. However, hubby's credit rating will have suffered due to your default and late payments because you're financially associated.No, but you may not need one. Why not try the eligibility checker on their website? They'll give you a quote first, and then you have the option of taking it, without affecting your credit rating (the initial search is a quotation search so won't be seen by anyone else searching your credit file).


Is your 2009 default settled?...or still outstanding?

Thank you. The default is outstanding, it is with a debt collector, and I've written to tell them of my new address, I'm waiting to hear back.

I didn't know Nationwide had an eligibility checker on their website.. I will check this.

YorkshireBoy

zebra7t4 wrote: »

I didn't know Nationwide had an eligibility checker on their website..

I may have misled you. It's not a separate eligibility checker, just that it does a quotation search first without leaving a search footprint...

Nationwide wrote:

During your application, we're able to check your credit history and give you a no-obligation personalised quote, that won't affect your credit rating.

However, I suspect you'll be declined with an unsettled default on your file...but you've nothing to lose by trying.


If unsuccessful, go with plan B, the credit builder/re-builder provider...but even they may not like unsettled defaults?

zebra7t4

Would I have a better chance if I settled the default, either in full or asked the debt collector to take a partial settlement?

zebra7t4

It looks like Nationwide have 3 credit cards. If I applied, which one should I try, and should I put hubby as 2nd card holder? would that give me more of a chance?

If I am declined for Nationwide, and I try Vanquis etc, how many times should I apply before giving up?

zebra7t4

Just bumping.. does anyone know?

MQ77

A few years ago, I had 4 defaults on my files. Totalling over 8k

I managed to get avanquis card, started on £250 and over time increased to £3k.

Luna, aqua are good starting options too.

Apr is high, so aim to clear the balances first.