Credit Card Application - Employment Status?

F1F93

Hi all,

I graduated earlier this month and have a job starting in September. I am looking to get another credit card - mainly for cashback purposes (looking at the Capital One 0.5% one).

I already have credit - a phone contract and car payments, as well as the Santander 123 credit card (although I thought this was hard to get? I was pre-approved for the standard one, asked for this one and they said I was pre-approved, albeit at a higher interest rate, but I always pay off in full anyway). However my OH has a Luma cashback card so petrol and supermarkets go on that anyway, leaving the 123 fairly redundant. So the idea is I'll get the Capital One and cancel the 123.

Anyway, my main issue is what should I put under employment status - am I a student even though I have graduated (until the end of the academic year maybe? Although I doubt it), am I employed (I have a job - it just hasn't started yet) or am I unemployed?

If the latter then I'll just wait until September, but it seems silly to wait if there's no reason to.

Thanks in advance!
F1F93

InsideInsurance

How are you supporting yourself?

Ultimately speak to them to get their view. Sounds like you are of independent means at the moment assuming you arent claiming benefits

F1F93

InsideInsurance wrote: »

How are you supporting yourself?

Ultimately speak to them to get their view. Sounds like you are of independent means at the moment assuming you arent claiming benefits

I am living with my Fiancee. She is currently working, but we have plenty of savings too. And nope, no benefits or anything.

YorkshireBoy

From the application form your 3 options are:


Homemaker
Student
Unemployed


None will look particularly good on a credit card application in terms of credit limit and/or acceptance I'd imagine (although Homemaker may be the best of a bad bunch?). You may improve things if you can enter a high "Other Household Income" figure, ie that of your partner, but what will you enter for your own income? Zero?...a bit of savings interest?...some investment income?


I understand you might not want/need a large credit limit, being as you'll be paying off in full each month, but it seems a shame to waste an application now when you can apply once working in a few months time...especially since you've presumably already paid the 1-2-3 card's annual fee and have some months left?

F1F93

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

From the application form your 3 options are:


Homemaker
Student
Unemployed


None will look particularly good on a credit card application in terms of credit limit and/or acceptance I'd imagine (although Homemaker may be the best of a bad bunch?). You may improve things if you can enter a high "Other Household Income" figure, ie that of your partner, but what will you enter for your own income? Zero?...a bit of savings interest?...some investment income?


I understand you might not want/need a large credit limit, being as you'll be paying off in full each month, but it seems a shame to waste an application now when you can apply once working in a few months time...especially since you've presumably already paid the 1-2-3 card's annual fee and have some months left?

Thanks. I was just wondering if there was any way I could put employed, as I have a job, it just hasnt started yet! I'll just wait a few months.

chattychappy

F1F93 wrote: »

Thanks. I was just wondering if there was any way I could put employed, as I have a job, it just hasnt started yet! I'll just wait a few months.

Well, you are not "employed", so you can't really put that. If you did, it would be a fraud. You expect to be employed in the future, but presently you are not.

When I was younger, I would "white lie" in situations such as this. As a student I was so wealthy that I lent my parents money to sponsor their divorce. Charged interest too, telling them I thought that they were high risk. Such a charming son I was! I resented simplistic forms where I couldn't get the true picture over.

On balance, I wouldn't lie about the situation now- especially if you have to put down details of your employer. They might check and you might get a marker at NHunter or whatever.

chattychappy

(duplicate)

InsideInsurance

F1F93 wrote: »

I am living with my Fiancee. She is currently working, but we have plenty of savings too. And nope, no benefits or anything.

Then independent means (ie your savings) or housewife/husband (fianc!e's income) depending on the options or what you want to say.

You could speak to them to see if they will accept employed but to do it without asking risks them asking you for payslips and you having to admit that you wont have any for another 2-3 months

Millie_Millsters

F1F93 wrote: »

I am living with my Fiancee. She is currently working, but we have plenty of savings too. And nope, no benefits or anything.

Surely that means you're a homemaker?

agrinnall

How much cashback do you think you might earn between now and September? I'd just wait a few weeks then apply when you can truthfully say you are employed.

Alexd52

agrinnall wrote: »

How much cashback do you think you might earn between now and September? I'd just wait a few weeks then apply when you can truthfully say you are employed.

Fully agree with this