When seeking to maximize credit: should husband and wife use same/different credit card providers?

Jeffff_2

We are doing some building work and need to use credit to finish the work. We can't currently remortgage. I have a Sainsburys credit card with a £9k limit and 0% interest on purchases for 18+ months. My wife has an Barclaycard she uses only for expenses, but any introductory offer has now passed. We earn about the same amount of money, minimal users of 'credit' but no bad marks.

Ideally we want another £12k credit, which we would be able to pay off within 2 years.

Sainsburys seem to have the longest introductory offer at 0%. I'm not sure if they are typically generous or not with their credit limits, but another 9k should they offer her the same would be a good start.

Will Sainsburys link the fact that we live at the same address, have the same surname, are about the same age, are probably married, and consider the 9k they have given me; in determining what to offer my wife?

Is there any downside to spouse having separate cards from the same provider?

Santander seem to have the second best offer, albeit with a monthly fee. Our mortgage is with Santander - again, does that have a bearing?

Thanks for any advice.

[Deleted User]

No

Your wife’s credit history is her own and they will look at her individually

Craig1981

nothing to do with you if your better half is applying for credit in her sole name

the limit will be determined on her credit file, so there is nobody who can say what the limit would be or expected to be besides sainsburys

i would suggest using an eligibility checker to see likelihood of acceptance, and the other various 0% purchase deals out there too

Nebulous2

An obvious gap there is MBNA, anecdotally they give better limits than most providers. Don't discount Barclaycard. They give reasonable existing customer offers at times. I'm being offered a money transfer with a 2.4% fee until mid 2020.

Some of your workmen may not take credit cards, so paying money into your account and using it to pay them might be necessary.

Her existing limit may give some indication of her likely limit, but I'd expect to need more than one card / application to get to £12k.

moatmeister

Wifeys credit report and account conduct may have a bearing on yours if you are financially linked, ie joint current account, mortgage in joint names etc.

And whilst I fully understand the requirement to raise money now for the building works make sure you have an exit plan. Carrying large credit card balances wont improve your ability to remortgage in the future and even if you get it a 0% deal it will eventually run out and your costs will spiral if you cant pay it off in some way. I know, i've been there!!