Recommended Frequency of Credit Card Applications?

Saltrams

I'm on a mission to get my financial management in order (I've no debts, a good credit score, don't need a loan or anything but I'm trying to focus on getting good value from my essential spending such as maximising Avios, or cashback if Avios aren't possible).
With this in mind I got a Platinum Amex in late September, then upgraded my Blue BA Amex to the Premium Plus in October (don't think that left any trace on my record though). I opened a couple of savings accounts in October too (MSE's best advice). Now, I want to get a Barclaycard Avios Mastercard, not sure which of the two yet, for times when Amex isn't accepted. However, I'm wondering if I should wait a while in case this all looks bad on my file. Is there a guideline for a decent time to pass before applying for another card?

MorningcoffeeIV

Now would be a good time to try if your credit history is good (history, not score).

If declined, leave it a couple of months.

Saltrams

MorningcoffeeIV said:

Now would be a good time to try if your credit history is good (history, not score).

If declined, leave it a couple of months.

Thank you. I don't like the sound of being declined! Is that a double whammy? Do card companies see one refusal and then follow suit?

MrFrugalFever

Lenders will not see if you've been declined, they'll only see if you've been hard searched (won't see soft searches and even if they can they cannot use them in their decision making process). They won't see an account being opened straight away as the CRA's rely on the lender to submit data, which may only be once a month on a set date.

I would conduct an eligibility check with Barclaycard directly to start with and if comes back OK go ahead and apply.

You will need to do some serious spending if you are now having fee credit cards (BA PP Amex is £250 per year fee) so you need to be putting £20k plus through this card to effectively start with net zero and start gaining.....

emperormessia

You can apply you don’t really have much applications in your file and to your last question being declined does not shows it just appeared on your credit file you made a application