HSBC Credit Card and Employed Freelancer

Sharon87

As a bank account customer of HSBC for 10 years I decided to take up their offer of 34 month 0% credit card. So I applied for it, a few days later they told me to ring up. Turns out I have to take my employment contract into a branch for them to make a decision. Which ok, is a bit annoying but fair enough.

The problem comes when they said I need to be permanently employed full time. I work in the TV industry and permanent jobs are very thin on the ground, I am in constant work as a PAYE freelancer. I asked if I could take in proof of my last years income to show how much I am earning, but no they still need a contract from my employer saying I'm permanently employed!

Has anyone else had this issue? I've never come across this before, I've applied in the past to a lot of other credit card companies - Virgin, MBNA, Barclaycard, Halifx, Tesco, none of them have required this information.

I'm wondering if this has got anything to do with me having HSBC as my main bank account - where my salary goes.

I wouldn't be that annoyed if I was just declined for a credit card based on my credit history, but this just seems a bit strange and I put this out as a warning to anyone else who is a freelancer. Don't waste a credit search for HSBC Credit Card, cause chances are you wont be accepted!

Sharon87

Just got a call from HSBC as the person I spoke to didn't explain another option. I could give them a tax return as well as my current contract of employment. But if I only do PAYE work I wouldn't need to do a tax return!

I am registered self employed due to some freelance transcribing but I only started that last year, so I haven't completed a tax return yet, which means it'll take me a while to complete it!

System

PAYE through an umbrella or your actual employer?

Sharon87

PAYE through my employer. I work fixed contracts. So one contract may be a week, another may be 5 months