How many credit cards do you have?

Nea1983

I think applying for potential three new credit cards isn't a bad thing. Just stagger the applications out a bit, maybe once a month maybe.

I currently have six credit cards,
2x MBNA, 1x Virgin, 1x Lloyds, 1x Barclaycard and 1x Marbles. (now 4 of these on 0%BT offers)

Make sure you pay in FULL!

mistakehappens

Probably a bit behind on the thread but here i go
1- Barclaycard cashback -amex/visa
2. John lewis partnership
3. Amex gold
4. Amex platinum
5. First Direct
6. Halifax clarity
7. Natwest Reward
8. MBNA -reward card amex/visa
9. Virgin Money transfer card
10 MBNA Platinum
11. HSBC credit card
12. Marks and Spencer credit card
13. Debenhams credit card
Cancelled my capital one recently
overall credit card limit of about £46000

tempus_fugit

I've got four, effectively.

1) Santander 123: for everyday purchases to get cashback and stoozing
2) Barclaycard: used to be our main card but is only used now and then if we need a larger purchase that has not been budgeted for in the current month, but always to be paid off before the next deadline
3) Halifax Clarity Card: for use abroad only
4) Argos card: hardly ever used except for similar to the Barclaycard

So, I don't think three is a lot these days, it depends how you use them really.

guesswho2000

Currently 16 between myself and my OH:
1 - Amex Gold charge card (main charge card)
2 - Amex BA (signup bonus and main credit card)
3 - Amex BA (OHs name), no longer in use
4 - Amex SPG, targeted for 20k Starpoints, will close eventually
5 - Tesco, for double points on fuel
6 - Tesco (recent addition for the clubcard points signup bonus), will close eventually
7 - Tesco (OH 1), her main credit card along with a supplementary BA on my account
8- Tesco (OH 2) (same as my second one)
9 - Nationwide Select, overseas spending
10 - First Direct Gold, 0% purchases
11 - Fluid (MBNA), balance transfer
12 - Etihad Guest (MBNA), 25k Etihad miles signup bonus
13 - MBNA Platinum (OH), not in use
14 - Barclaycard Platinum, not in use
15 - Barclaycard Platinum (OH), balance transfer, to close shortly
16 - Barclaycard IHG (OH), not in use

Recently (last six or so months) closed another IHG, 2x Hilton, an Amex Gold, various MBNA cards (Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines) and a Barclaycard Cashback.

I'm pretty much out of signup bonuses now, so will be reapplying for OH's Amex Gold in a few months, and waiting to see what else comes up! Will also be binning off the remaining barclaycards, as I'm keen to reopen the Hilton ones, but Barclaycard have stopped existing cardholders applying for more now!

guesswho2000

w00519772 wrote: »

I believe you get the same points regardless of whether a credit card or debit card is used at the pump. Both say: "5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel". Therefore I do not understand your comment.

If you use a Tesco credit card as a clubcard, you get 1 point/£1 on fuel, regardless of what you use to actually pay. If you use a standard clubcard and a non Tesco card (or cash) to pay, you get 1 point/£2.

TheDebtinator

Forgive my ignorance, but some of you guys have so many cards it makes my teeth itch.

Once upon a time I had around 6 and was living way beyond my means. This caused me to default on pretty much all of them. I guess I would now be limited if I ever wanted to get another card from one of those banks in the future - computer says no!

I now have one card which I just applied for, an Aqua card which I am going to put monthly work expenses on and pat in full each time in an attempt to hopefully improve my credit history in time for a mortgage.

Anthorn

I have two credit cards, Aqua Advance and MBNA Low Rate Mastercard. Since my Aqua card is now only 1% or so above an everyday card APR I would expect I don't see the point in changing. I marked MBNA for closure some time ago but to be brutally honest I just can't be bothered to do it. Maybe I'll get around to it some time.

Cycrow

TheDebtinator wrote: »

Forgive my ignorance, but some of you guys have so many cards it makes my teeth itch.

Once upon a time I had around 6 and was living way beyond my means. This caused me to default on pretty much all of them. I guess I would now be limited if I ever wanted to get another card from one of those banks in the future - computer says no!

I now have one card which I just applied for, an Aqua card which I am going to put monthly work expenses on and pat in full each time in an attempt to hopefully improve my credit history in time for a mortgage.

It depends on how you use credit cards. Not everyone spends upto their limit with each card. So having lots of cards doesn't mean they are getting into more debt.

you will find that alot of people with loads of cards will have got them due to promotional rates or other bonuses that they offer rather than to increase the amount of credit they have available.

One of my cards is only used as a direct debit to qualify for the £5/month from halifax. And i have a few that i previously got to use their promotional rates but now sit empty

planteria

agreed, it is all about how you use the cards..
some of us have been using creditcard for years, to our benefit, with Cashback and Points generated, and lots of money borrowed cheaply and saved/invested elsewhere to benefit from the extra funds..
BUT, no doubt, there are traps for the unaware or those that are not clear thinking and develop a clear plan.
if someone has got into a difficult position in the past then, unless there is a clear change of approach to money, they are best advised to steer well clear of creditcards altogether.

Drp8713

Only 2.

Amex platinum CBE 95% of all my spending goes on this, except for contactless which goes on the TSB debit for the 5% cashback.

Halifax Clarity, for overseas spending.

I cant see the point of getting another one, the only one that tempted me was the MBNA Amex with the no overseas fees, but the Mrs has a Clarity too, and neither have ever been rejected overseas so seems a bit pointless.