how do I GET a card???never had debts...

bearcat_3

I''m on v low income (benefits due to disability), have never had any debts, loans etc and have only ever been twice overdrawn (and that only by a couple of pounds...).
the two times I applied for a card through my banks I got turned down...
due to low income and apparently having 'no credit rating'...

I can understand they dont want to give me a card cause they most likely wouldnt make any money on it...BUT :mad: why should I miss out on the 'added security' of buying with a credit rather than debit card and the "in case of emergency" peace of mind...

it seems :rotfl: that peops with huge debts get offered more cards, more credit...and I cant have any...booohooooo

any suggestions?

CLAPTON

Firstly I would suggest you can try your own bank.
Ff they say no then try one of the companies like vanquis or cap 1 or maybe barclaycard initial

BUT these charge very very very high rates of interest so its essential you pay in full each and every month ... set up a DD for the FULL amount so you aren't tempted into debt.

"In case of emergency" peace of mind comes from having savings to call upon and not from very high interest rate debts.

bearcat_3

I did try my banks...
saving on benefits is v hard...I spent 2 yrs 'buying nothing' apart from food and bills (oh I lie! I bought a pair of trousers at oxfam for 2.95, and a pair of trainers for £15) doing nothing, going nowhere, scrimping on everything...and I managed to save enough for an old car, insurance, tax, AA and have a weeny weeny nest egg for eventualities...
BUT if an eventuality is for example £30 more than my nestegg, the eventuality is urgent (as for example breaking down in car, AA cant fix it, has to be repaired away from home......at 'home' I luckily have peops I can quickly borrow money from, I have a v good credit rating with friends and family)...and I know I can pay this back from next benefit...but dont have it there and then (yes I can then ring a friend and have them pay it by credit card..but I would like the 'independance' of having my own)..that's the 'peace of mind in case of emergency' a credit card can give you...
(and I couldnt wait with buying a car any longer to have a bigger nestegg/buy a better car, cause I would have lost my 9yrs no claims bonus, that would really have been false economy/false budgeting)

will look into the companies/cards you suggested, thanks!

has anyone heard of a card that's particularly 'disability friendly'?

lisyloo

I assume you have already explored all avenues for working, but if not feel free to explain your abilities (and any obstacles) so that people can make suggestions.

The other issue is the lack of credit history.
So have you considered doing something like switching phone calls to TalkTalk (carphone warehouse).
I am pretty sure the credit limit for calls gave me a credit account on my file.

The other suggestion I would make is either to appeal about rejections or make an appointment with your bank manager, explain your situation and ask for a small limit.

acook

bearcat wrote: »

I''m on v low income (benefits due to disability), have never had any debts, loans etc and have only ever been twice overdrawn (and that only by a couple of pounds...).
the two times I applied for a card through my banks I got turned down...
due to low income and apparently having 'no credit rating'...

I can understand they dont want to give me a card cause they most likely wouldnt make any money on it...BUT :mad: why should I miss out on the 'added security' of buying with a credit rather than debit card and the "in case of emergency" peace of mind...

it seems :rotfl: that peops with huge debts get offered more cards, more credit...and I cant have any...booohooooo

any suggestions?

Keep away from the credit cards. With the greatest respect, the reason people on low incomes don't get credit cards is because they often build up unsustainable debts which cause great pain and misery in the long run.

To the extent possible, save some money and use this as your cushion for unforeseen contingencies.

Alice

bearcat_3

lisyloo- thanks! you made me realise something/kick started my brain;) !
...days of brain fog/woolly thought processes are one 'minor' symptom of a plentiful array of probs I have... : )

credit rating- I 'didnt have one' cause as said I never had any loans, overdraft etc...BUT ALSO, I assume, cause I had never had any bills in my name!!!
(shared housing, bf's etc)
but now I have quite a few years of bills in my name (paid on time) racked up (including the talktalk deal-love it!)...so that might have changed things!!!

I also realized that 'confused head' that i sometimes am, I had applied for a card just after I got diagnosed and written sick, had moved and opened another bank account...(got turned down)...then idiotically applied again with new bank (instead of trying old bank)...donut...

a job- I've discussed this with other Ehlers-Danlos sufferers (genetic connective tissue disorder) ...and I sure dont want to bore you with my considerable list of probs : )
(if you are v curious check the websites and forums of
ehlers-danlos.org and hypermobility.org)

acook-oooooh you hit a bit of a sore spot/pet hate there!
the assumption that low income=irresponsible with money...grrrrrhh...(i'm a spendthrift!!!!)
how many mid/high income households are drowning in unaffordable debt??????!!!!!!!
even billionaires have been known to go bankrupt;)

it's the relation between income and debt that matters!

so for me low income=low credit=fine and sensible
low income=no credit=:mad:

but thanks to 'lisy induced' realisations...I will just try again and fingers crossed...
bearcat

MABLE

My feeling is if you are struggling on benefits how can you service credit card debt. It is possible to manage without credit cards. However I note you say in case of an emergency. If you feel life is incomplete without a credit card then go for a pre payment card.

bearcat_3

I'm def NOT intending to clock up debts...am kind of an old school debt-a-phobic : )
I indeed find saving up and then getting things far more satisfactory and enjoyable than "instant gratification followed by debt head ache"...

and nope a cc wont make my 'life complete' nor do I think 'it's absolutely essential'. I made it well into middle age with just my debit cards and the very occasional help-from -a friend-with cc (i.e. for occasions such as emergency car hire, as a lot of these companies will only deal with cc).

Guess since becoming disabled and becoming 'dependant' (dependant on benefits to live; all too often dependant on help for the most basic things like shopping, cleaning, hanging up washing, cutting vegetable etc etc), I might now be disproportionately touchy about any added 'dependancy'...

hence I would quite like a cc of my own rather than having to hassle friends in an emergency...: )