How soon is too soon to apply for the next credit card?

usernameusername

I'm looking to transfer a balance from one 0% card to another. I was accepted for a new card in March, but this does not cover the entirety of the debt I would like to transfer. The old card's 0% period ends in November. I seem to remember reading that a second application within 6 months is suspicious, so should I wait and apply last-minute to avoid applying twice within six months? My concern is that if I am rejected last minute, I will have to rush to get funds together to pay off the balance.

The sooner an application is accepted, the more secure I will feel, but I don't want to risk being rejected because of applying too soon.

Thanks!

(A little more info: I have three cards, have never been rejected, have a pretty high credit score, have never missed a payment but am on a moderately low wage and have paid interest in the past for an emergency cash advance)

[Deleted User]

Suspicious? No? Desperate? Potentially.

What are your cards, limits, rates, debt and income?

rockm87

I think it is usually 3 months, but can be 6.

Maybe worth moving to the debt free wannabe boards, and get it rid of for good!

usernameusername

The old card is 0% until November, 3000 balance, 6400 limit. This then goes to 19% and if I've got this right, that's 19% applied to the entire YEAR'S worth of being nearly maxed-out.

The new card is 0% for AGES (2018?) 3000 balance, 3000 limit.

My other card is ~zero balance, 4300 limit and would charge interest right away if not paid off monthly.

I do also have a 1600 overdraft, which I'm using all of and is interest free until about 2019

My income is 13k (plus my partner's is 13k) although a lot less of this than we'd like seems to be expendable!

Angry_Bear

usernameusername wrote: »

My other card is ~zero balance, 4300 limit and would charge interest right away if not paid off monthly.

You could call up this provider and ask if they would offer you a deal on balance transfer. Worth a shot.

bengal-stripe

usernameusername wrote: »

The old card is 0% until November, 3000 balance, 6400 limit. This then goes to 19% and if I've got this right, that's 19% applied to the entire YEAR'S worth of being nearly maxed-out.

"Buy now, pay later" deals in stores work like that: if you do not pay before the deal expires you get charged the whole interest from day one.

Credit Cards on promotional deals do not usually work like that. If your 0% interest deal expires, you will be charged interest from the day after your deal has expired, but not retrospectively.

I am presuming you hold a "proper" CC and not some store card, in this case, could be on a "buy now, pay later" deal.

usernameusername

Thanks all,

Yes, they're all real CCs. I will try calling, as Angry Bear suggested.

If I end up needing a new card, what do people recommend - does six months seem to be some kind of magic threshold in application decisions, or might the most important have already passed, as rockm87 seems to be suggesting?