guaranteed platinum card - while on benefits?

squeaky

Hi all,

Yet another letter from good old Barclays offering me a platinum card. Which is pretty decent of them since I've been on benefits for a good few years now.

I use a debit card. I can't afford to get into debt - it's case of I can buy it now or if there ain't enough money in the account... do without.

But I'm wondering...

Would it be a good idea to have a "SuperDuperDireEmergencyFallback"?

If I apply, being on benefits, would they still give me a card - even if it only has a credit limit of a tenner or something silly?

If they refuse - would that affect whatever minimal credit rating that I currently have?

Zoomclub

Interesting post - I'm on benefits, and am trying to get a CC that will actually give me some rewards/cashback - Been refused by Amazon (Bank of Scotland), and also MBNA - can only assume because I'm not in employment.

LloydsTSB - my current a/c bank for over 10 yrs or so keep offering me a "guaranteed"/just fill the basic form in £3,500 credit limit Platinum card - which I'm not really that interested in having, 'cos there's no c/b or rewards.

They do now do a "Duo - Airmiles" card, which 1 of their staff tried to flog me/give me recently - assuring me that it wasn't just travel that you could use the airmiles for - He actually (rather secretively) showed me a 3-4 page list of other companies/products you could use the airmiles for.

When asked if I could get a copy of that list - to see the full potential benefits of having the card - He mysteriously said "I can't actually give you a copy - but here's a leaflet all about it"
The leaflet just gives the standard blurb about flights etc - no list of other possible benefits.

So, after all this ........Does anyone know if any of the worthwhile cc's that offer c/b or rewards accept the lowly unemployed - not through choice - (with no debts or nasty surprises on their credit report)??
- Or, is it simply that they have a blanket "No unemployed" policy - even though that is not stated?

Realise that all lenders have different criteria, and score differently - or so they all say - just seems to be alot of BS around the whole thing!