Barclaycard initial for Student

lgfbrown

Hi
I am a second year uni student who has recently been bombarded with Barclaycard initial letters. That said, parents have suggested applying so that I have some credit history rather than none (as I do currently), so just to use now and again really.
However I have done their eligibility checker and it says I'm not eligible for the card despite them clearly wanting me to apply for it! I have a part time job on campus but it's very ad hoc and won't be more then £3000/yr which is part of the criteria (I think this may be the issue?). I got it for experience rather than cash tbh.
Suggestions of how to get the Initial (I am an existing barclaycard customer)?
Thanks

lgfbrown

Edit: I am an existing BARCLAYS customer not barclaycard

RichL74

Suggestions?

If it says you are not eligible, I wouldn't waste your time.

Just because you keep getting post saying apply doesnt mean you will get the card, its a mailshot afterall, they send them to hundreds, if not thousands of people every day.

fruitisbad

I don't think Barclays do, but a number of other banks do 'student' accounts, that come with interest free overdraft and a basic credit card, so long as your loan is going into that account. It might be worth looking at one of those?

andyfromotley

Dont bother, your credit history doesnt need buiding up. Just live your life. As you acquire bills and responsibilities as you get older pay them on full in time and you will do just fine. Spend less than you earn and you will be onto a winner.

I'm convinced that these 'credit building' cards are a sham, designed to penalise the foolish with punative interest rates and hook those who do use them responsibly inopt a lifetimes use of credit cards.

jde-tv

I had the NatWest student account and that came with an add on of a credit card. I would go for something like that if you want to build.

phona

My sister and I used to get loads of junk mail from Barclaycard. When we removed our details from the edited electoral register, neither of us got any more.
That's more likely to be the reason you're getting mailshots than that they desperately want you as a CC customer.

There is something to be said for building a credit history; I think it does help with life after university. Your main bank would be a better bet than Barclaycard.

rtho782

Yeah, if you don't have a Student account, get one, the massive 0% overdraft is credit, and if it's 0% it's worth just sticking it in a savings account. Often you'll be able to get a student credit card too.

Dobbibill

You can build history with a student account, mobile phone contract any other bills, stability of being on the ER for a period of time. You don't necessarily need a CC to do this.

If it is showing you are not eligible, then don't waste your time applying.

cheesetoast

Is it worth getting a card from somewhere and paying it off in full to help start to build a credit profile? YES.

Is it important to get it from Barclaycard? NO.

Try whichever card the eligibility checker gives you the highest possibility of. Maybe look at other starter/sub-prime cards like Tesco Initial, Capital One, Luma, Aqua, Vanquis, and the like.