Spouse of lawyer can't get a credit card

AnorakNerd

I am a home-maker who owns and lives in a 750k flat in London without mortgage. My husband is a lawyer with annual income of over £200k.
For over 20 years we have used joint credit cards on my husband's account but I want to ensure that I have access to my own credit card.

I have run a soft credit check using the MSE tool but despite the above information I am told that I have a 0% chance of being accepted.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you in advance for any pointers.
 

Alter_ego

You don't have enough income

Vinknut

...and if nothing has been in your name, you will have little or no credit history either.

mcpitman

You don't have any income, how would you repay?

Martin_the_Unjust

My wife, who is in a similar position to yourself, although our house value and my income are a lot less than yours got accepted for an Amazon credit card last year.

Do you get a set amount of housekeeping (or whatever you want to call it) paid into your own account in a bank each month? If you do I suggest that is your income.

Jami74

AnorakNerd said:

For over 20 years we have used joint credit cards on my husband's account but I want to ensure that I have access to my own credit card.

Why now?

I think banks will only lend money if they think your income supports paying it back. If you want to do some secret spending (eg, buying your husband a surprise gift) then maybe you could ask him to transfer some money to you?

lr1277

My parents are rretired with only my dad's pension income. He had a credit card with Nationwide and my mum had a supplementary card. Knowing these circustances, Nationwide still sent an offer to my mum about having a card in her name. She applied and now has the card in her own name.

So you could try your husband's card provider to see if they will provide you a card. Your husband could do some groundwork and ask them the question in which case they may volunteer you an application form.

Or you could try the Nationwide, but if you don't have a relationship with them, you may find it trickier that if you did.

HTH

Thrugelmir

AnorakNerd said:

I am a home-maker who owns and lives in a 750k flat in London without mortgage. My husband is a lawyer with annual income of over £200k.

 

Why the requirement for a credit card then? 

lr1277

Thrugelmir said:

AnorakNerd said:

I am a home-maker who owns and lives in a 750k flat in London without mortgage. My husband is a lawyer with annual income of over £200k.

 

Why the requirement for a credit card then? 

Based on reading this forum, including the death and probate board, I wanted mum to have her own card, incase dad died, in which case she would lose access to her supplementary card and hence any credit facilities. This might impact any services based on continuous payment authorities. Also she may not be able to get a card on the pension she receives.
Fortunately by the time I talked to her about it, she had accepted the promotional offer from Nationwide and had her card.

On-the-coast

Do you have a joint current account?
Don't bother with the one-size-fits-all MSE credit card checker - just ask the bank where you hold a joint account and see what happens.
if you don't have a joint account, then try the same with wherever you do have a bank account.
If you don't have a bank account (joint or personal).... then maybe you need to start there first.

P.s. I can think of plenty of reasons why someone with good cash reserves would need a credit card. Payment protection is one, but car / hotel rental is the big one from my perspective.

oldagetraveller1

With respect, what is the relevance of your spouse being a "lawyer"?

As already advised, you have no inependent income, you haven't said you do.