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Should I cancel second CC before applying for a new one?

Hi all

I currently have a Tesco CC which I took out last August with 12 months 0%... So the deal is soon coming to an end and I have over £2000 which I want to balance transfer.

I also have a Santander Zero card which I have had for quite a few years now. I've always kept it for when making overseas payments. The balance on this one is £0.

My question is this..... When I make an application for a new card (to do the BT to) am I more likely to be accepted - and more likely to get a higher credit limit - if I cancel/close my Santander card first? Or would I be better off keeping it open? Or does it make no difference?

In case it is relevant, the new card is likely to be the Post Office card with 0.7% fee for 18 month transfers.

Many thanks for any help

Max

Comments

  • Aquamania
    Aquamania Posts: 2,112 Forumite
    Seagull27 wrote: »
    Hi all

    I currently have a Tesco CC which I took out last August with 12 months 0%... So the deal is soon coming to an end and I have over £2000 which I want to balance transfer.

    I also have a Santander Zero card which I have had for quite a few years now. I've always kept it for when making overseas payments. The balance on this one is £0.

    My question is this..... When I make an application for a new card (to do the BT to) am I more likely to be accepted - and more likely to get a higher credit limit - if I cancel/close my Santander card first? Or would I be better off keeping it open? Or does it make no difference?

    In case it is relevant, the new card is likely to be the Post Office card with 0.7% fee for 18 month transfers.

    Many thanks for any help

    Max

    The answer is, it depends (on your credit profile)
  • If you have a gigantic credit limit on it, it could hinder the credit limit that the post office will give you. If it's only a couple of grand, I wouldn't think too much of it.

    If you're not using it anyway, then close it.
    Credit 'Score' - Don't buy the credit 'score' that Experian, Equifax and Noddle want to sell you. It's an arbitrary number that means nothing when it comes to applying for credit.

    ALWAYS HAVE A DIRECT DEBIT SET UP FOR THE MINIMUM PAYMENT ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO LOGIN AND PAY EACH MONTH.
  • Tunstallstoven
    Tunstallstoven Posts: 1,045 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
    Many thanks for the replies.

    The credit limit on the Santander is only £1000. On the Tesco card it is £5000 (but of course I cannot close that until the transfer is done).
    If you're not using it anyway, then close it.

    Yep, that's what i thought and what I as about to do this morning. But then I suddenly thought that I did not want to "shoot myself in the foot".... Which is what led to this post/thread....

    Thanks again for the help

    Max
  • System
    System Posts: 178,375 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I'd be inclined to keep it until you do the application as otherwise the Post Office may think your average credit limit is £1000.

    Assuming the Post Office meets your needs, I'd then close the Tesco one.

    Santander Zero is useful to keep for ATM use abroad.

    Seagull27 wrote: »
    Many thanks for the replies.

    The credit limit on the Santander is only £1000. On the Tesco card it is £5000 (but of course I cannot close that until the transfer is done).

    Yep, that's what i thought and what I as about to do this morning. But then I suddenly thought that I did not want to "shoot myself in the foot".... Which is what led to this post/thread....

    Thanks again for the help

    Max
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • planteria
    planteria Posts: 5,322 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    as others, i suspect that the Santander card will do no harm. it will take a while to disappear from your file anyway.
    just a thought, but perhaps Santander will even offer you a deal on that card to move the Tesco debt across, increasing your limit in the process. i doubt it, but it's worth asking as you already have that line of credit in place.
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