7 years Post Bankruptcy applications?

ShinyNewLife

Hello all
I would be very grateful for some advice please?

I was forced to declare bankruptcy when my ex-husband left me, having run up massive debts in my sole name.
My credit file is finally clean, even though some creditors left the incorrect information showing for many years.

I've remarried (so have a different name), and have been watching my credit score carefully, to wait for the right moment to rebuild my life and credit score.

I have a Vanquis credit card, and am now up to the second 'rung' of credit increases. I have excellent payment history for my mobile phone, have an unused overdraft etc.
I now want to apply for a 'normal' credit card, because Clearscore tell me that my low credit limit is a negative thing.
Martin's credit card checker suggests lots of different cards, but most of them were creditors in my bankruptcy.
I'm scared to make a mistake at this point.
Should I avoid any previous creditors? This would exclude Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, Virgin, First Direct...
What are other people's experiences?
Many thanks for your input!

bigadaj

Your credit score isn't important but your file is.

It doesn't show whether you were accepted or rejected, just that you made an application.

So whilst it may be best to try and avoid your creditors but a single application will have little effect. Just don't make more than say 2 applications in any six month period.

chanz4

Capital one maybe best for you

Round_The_Bend

Of the former creditors that you mention, I am only aware of First Direct usually refusing to issue further credit cards to debtors. Ironically, despite being First Direct's parent company, HSBC will issue credit cards to former debtors of FD.

To possibly improve your chances of acceptance, it might be worth using the eligibility checkers for specific cards. These only do a soft search and ones of which I am aware are Barclaycard, MBNA, Nationwide, Capital One, Nat West and RBS. Just go to their websites and you should be able to find the eligibility checker.

ShinyNewLife

I did the money saving expert eligibility checker, and all the suggestions were old creditors.
Do you mean individual checkers for specific cards? Do they have individual ones?

Thanks for all the input everyone.

Round_The_Bend

Yes, they do have individual ones. Check the links below for Barclaycard, MBNA and Nationwide. All offer soft searches, before the full application.

https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/eligibility-checker

https://www.mbna.co.uk/understanding-credit/eligibility-check/

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/credit-cards/ncc/apply