Spouse of lawyer can't get a credit card

adamp87

If there’s no income you’d struggle especially with a main lender.

You’ll probably need to try Aqua or Vanquis or something first and get a entry level style Credit Card, or Barclaycard Forward.

then potentially you can move onto to others once you’ve built up some credit history.

NoodleDoodleMan

"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."

Just to be clear (although we know what you mean) but there is no such thing as a joint credit card - you were an additional card holder on his account, making him responsible for all debts on the card.

If you haven't worked for 20 years that might  explain why you don't have a credit record. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable forumites can clarify.

AnorakNerd

Thank you forumites for all your helpful responses to date.
I will follow up the advice given and let you know the outcome.

For info, I do have my own savings income, as well as the underlying capital, from which to repay any card debt.

 As lr1277 points out, my purpose is to ensure that I am not exposed without any credit card if something were to happen to my husband.

[Deleted User]

AnorakNerd said:

Thank you forumites for all your helpful responses to date.
I will follow up the advice given and let you know the outcome.

For info, I do have my own savings income, as well as the underlying capital, from which to repay any card debt.

 As lr1277 points out, my purpose is to ensure that I am not exposed without any credit card if something were to happen to my husband.

Savings income - if you're earning tens of thousands of pounds of interest (and presumably paying tax) that is fine, but income is income, not having money in a savings account in terms of how lenders view you

Thrugelmir

AnorakNerd said:

 As lr1277 points out, my purpose is to ensure that I am not exposed without any credit card if something were to happen to my husband.

The bank likewise wish to miminise their exposure to potential losses. Hence the basic requirement to have an income. Savings can vanish instantly. 

y3sitsm3

AnorakNerd said:

Thank you forumites for all your helpful responses to date.
I will follow up the advice given and let you know the outcome.

For info, I do have my own savings income, as well as the underlying capital, from which to repay any card debt.

 As lr1277 points out, my purpose is to ensure that I am not exposed without any credit card if something were to happen to my husband.

Savings accounts are not reported to the CRAs, neither are current accounts that pre-date the Data Protection Act.

Your husband, in his attempt to shield you from any of his own misgivings, also appears to have shielded you from building up a credit history.

You can't have your cake and eat it too, and it's probably too late for you to build the sort of credit level that a lady like yourself requires. 

lr1277

My mum got her card when her only income is her state pension built up as a homemaker.
There are threads on these boards of people getting into massive credit card debt based on an income of benefits, so income may not necessarily be a problem.
Amex doesn’t require an income. But the issue is not the same level of acceptance as MasterCard/Visa with Amazon being the exception.
There are card providers that look at household income but I don’t know if there is a comprehensive list. However Amex might be one of them.
As suggested above ask the provider of your current account or get your husband to ask his card company.
HTH

born_again

In OP's case, does husband make a payment to them on a regular basis to cover their spending?
If they do then that could be classed as income. If not then Op is a bit stuck.
If the OP has their own sole bank account, then they may get a card via them. As they can see a history on the customer. If not then they are looking at the Sub Prime card providers.