Are credit card companies ageist/anti pensioners?

JohnSwift10

I'm nearly 80 and just got an Amazon Barclays credit card with a £50 Amazon gift card, yet last year I was turned down for an Amex card. 

oldagetraveller1

Slightly younger than you John, but my credit history and credit worthiness must be good enough. Not a large income, (not small enough for Pension Credits, thanks Comrade Reeves) but I've had no problems in applying for current accounts for their switch money. 

No problems with credit cards applications, although never offered a large limit (don't want or need one anyway).

Only last month, like you, I was accepted for the Amazon Barclaycard, received the £20 and closed the account.

I also opened a Barclays Current Account for their switch money, but had massive problems with the account and closed that too.

Felixcat88

I've got the same problem. Retired early so my wage=zero as I won't get my state pension for another 5 years. My credit score is 992, I have no mortgage or rent to pay- no dependants and get £24,000 p/a from other sources. My total debts are £773. I did the eligibility check and no credit cards will accept me. Why?

DE_612183

Felixcat88 said:

I've got the same problem. Retired early so my wage=zero as I won't get my state pension for another 5 years. My credit score is 992, I have no mortgage or rent to pay- no dependants and get £24,000 p/a from other sources. My total debts are £773. I did the eligibility check and no credit cards will accept me. Why?

The question could be - why do you want a credit card?

Most people who apply do so as they can't afford to pay for something...

400ixl

Felixcat88 said:

I've got the same problem. Retired early so my wage=zero as I won't get my state pension for another 5 years. My credit score is 992, I have no mortgage or rent to pay- no dependants and get £24,000 p/a from other sources. My total debts are £773. I did the eligibility check and no credit cards will accept me. Why?

I doubt you pass their affordability test with that income level, especially if not through sources such as employment.

born_again

Felixcat88 said:

I've got the same problem. Retired early so my wage=zero as I won't get my state pension for another 5 years. My credit score is 992, I have no mortgage or rent to pay- no dependants and get £24,000 p/a from other sources. My total debts are £773. I did the eligibility check and no credit cards will accept me. Why?

Did you declare the £24K as income?
If not then why not?

Nasqueron

Felixcat88 said:

I've got the same problem. Retired early so my wage=zero as I won't get my state pension for another 5 years. My credit score is 992, I have no mortgage or rent to pay- no dependants and get £24,000 p/a from other sources. My total debts are £773. I did the eligibility check and no credit cards will accept me. Why?

Credit score is not seen by anyone, if you can evidence the £24k income then you should be fine, if it's from savings or similar then you can't use this as you could spend it all tomorrow, it is not possible to count as income

GeoffTF

Age 75. Income above the national average for working people, and lower outgoings than them. No debts apart from my Barclaycard Rewards Card, which I always pay in full. Barclays recently increased my credit limit. I do not believe they care about your age.

NoodleDoodleMan

etienneg said:

No, my experience of credit card companies is not that they are ageist or anti-pensioners. Of the six cards I have at the moment, three were obtained after my retirement. One of those is the one with the highest credit limit. Then again, I don't carry a balance on any of them ...

Why do you want to transfer a balance? Why not just pay it off using the "very comfortable income" you have?

If you had applied for a 118 118 credit card your experience would be different.

They do not offer cards to anybody aged 70 +.

Gandalf644

NoodleDoodleMan said:

etienneg said:

No, my experience of credit card companies is not that they are ageist or anti-pensioners. Of the six cards I have at the moment, three were obtained after my retirement. One of those is the one with the highest credit limit. Then again, I don't carry a balance on any of them ...

Why do you want to transfer a balance? Why not just pay it off using the "very comfortable income" you have?

If you had applied for a 118 118 credit card your experience would be different.

With a representative interest rate of 49.9%, who in their right mind would want a 118 118 credit card??