Can I apply for a new cc, I am not working, but partner is?

Lucyxx

The reason I ask is I have now left work since having my 2nd child and had almost completely cleared my cc (it wasn't a massive bill and I worked really hard to get it down to nearly £0 with my mat leave pay) anyway it has slowly crept up to £650, and I am managing to make payments of around £40 a month, sometimes more

My cc company has sneaked my interest rate up to a ghastly 24.something% from a not so good in the first place 18% and I feel like I am being ripped off with interest and slowly getting bogged down by this bill and am much in need of finding a good deal (preferably a 0% if poss)

My question is am I able to apply for a credit card using total household income ie partners, as I am now a stay at home mum and have no wages of my own? or would I have to be working? and if so are there anyones recommended for my situation? Partner earns 30k, we have a good ish credit rating etc (no missed payments on mortgage, but partner keeps making late payments on his unrelated cc :mad:

I used to have to sell storecards in my old work and usually the women would be putting partners details, but this is a while ago and for !!!!py storecards not credit cards, so I don't know if the same applies. Infact this cc I have is from my old work from when we replaced the storecard.

I have stopped spending on the card and havn't felt the need to for months now, and probably won't in the foreseeable future, so I am really looking for a balance transfer one which I can concentrate on paying bits off at a time without worrying about interest.

Any help would be gratefully received, I am trying so hard not to be sucked under with money problems, while we are on one wage so am trying to nip this in the bud while I can! Doing ok so far, mostly thanks to this site, I do the odd bit to earn a few pennies for extra bits each month, I do not claim benefits or anything (except normal child benefit) as I saw it as my choice that I left work, I don't feel I should claim anything else. but am really hoping I can sort this bain of my life out - at least so I am not forced into weekend work for a while (which will be a major hassle around my partners shifts)

Sorry for the huge first post on your forum ( i usually reside on other parts of MSE and am slowly finding more and more helpful areas!) I like everyone to have all the facts and always post huge essays!!!!

Look forward to hearing your replies!

Luc xx

missile

You can apply and will most likely be acceted by one of the less picky card companies, even if your credit history is less than perfect. However why do you want to? If it is a 0% balance transfer to move your existing debt to then maybe a good idea. If you think you might be tempted to rack up more debt, maybe not such a good idea.

I suggest you talk it through with your partner. Your partner ought to set up a DD to pay at least the minimum on his unrelated CC.

Lucyxx

Thank you for your reply, yes it is for preferably for 0% balance transfer, but if that wasn't possible then anything that is better than the 24% that current cc have swapped me to!

I have got used to not using a credit card now, so while I can't guarantee I would never spend on the new one at xmas etc it certainly wouldn't be hundreds of pounds again.

Partners cc is the same type as mine and they have also put his interest up - his problem is literally remembering to write a cheque and send it off (unlike me who writes them the day the come in) so I have taken to make him do it infront of me and I now take charge of the posting!! (he once took mine with him to post, forgot, somehow muddled them in with paperwork, first thing I knew was when cc company rang to say I had not paid, this happened with 2 cards and I resulted in having 2 hefty charges thanks to his forgetfulness :mad:)

Which are the less picky companies? and do they ask for total household income?

jimbo26

ASDA do a 0% for 9 months card. They take the household income into account.

missile

Lucyxx wrote: »

Thank you for your reply, yes it is for preferably for 0% balance transfer, but if that wasn't possible then anything that is better than the 24% that current cc have swapped me to!

I have got used to not using a credit card now, so while I can't guarantee I would never spend on the new one at xmas etc it certainly wouldn't be hundreds of pounds again.

Partners cc is the same type as mine and they have also put his interest up - his problem is literally remembering to write a cheque and send it off (unlike me who writes them the day the come in) so I have taken to make him do it infront of me and I now take charge of the posting!! (he once took mine with him to post, forgot, somehow muddled them in with paperwork, first thing I knew was when cc company rang to say I had not paid, this happened with 2 cards and I resulted in having 2 hefty charges thanks to his forgetfulness :mad:)

Which are the less picky companies? and do they ask for total household income?

It is not hard to set up a DD. May I suggest you phone and set up to pay at least the minimum amount each month and thus avoid penalty charges. This does not prevent you from paying more, if and when you can afford it. Do your payments on line and save the postage.

I suggest you try Capital1. You may not qualify for their 9.9% Platinum card, but @ 15.9% even their Master Card is less than you currently pay. see http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4SNYK_en-GBGB253GB253&q=capital+1+credit+card
There are literally hundreds of offers, see here for a selection of the "best" http://www.beatthatquote.com/credit_cards?source=google&keyword=capital+1+credit+card

Good Luck :j

Lucyxx

Thanks ever so much guys, this is certainly something I will look into over the next 2 weeks and get shot of that stupid 24 % card once and for all!!!

I know it isn't a massive amount of money that I am trying to clear compared to some people on here that ask for help, but I am really trying to nip this in the bud and stop paying more than I have to!

As for my partner... I think the shame of me watching over him to make sure he has written his bill will be enough to stop him forgetting to post his cheque off!!!

I didn't know you could make overpayments when you had a dd, so thanks for that helpful info aswell!

Luc x

helenshappyhens

Hi
I've not been working for a whole year as on long term sick leave and I've just got a new cc through Quidco, I told them total of Child Tax credit, child benefit and my DLA plus they asked for hubbys income which is about £18000 a year.
Just wondered you say you dont claim benefits, but you do claim Child Tax credit dont you? Apparently everyone earning less than about £55000 should get something.

Lucyxx

helenshappyhens wrote: »

Hi
I've not been working for a whole year as on long term sick leave and I've just got a new cc through Quidco, I told them total of Child Tax credit, child benefit and my DLA plus they asked for hubbys income which is about £18000 a year.
Just wondered you say you dont claim benefits, but you do claim Child Tax credit dont you? Apparently everyone earning less than about £55000 should get something.

Hi!

No I don't claim Child Tax Credit, the only benefit of any kind I claim is the regular Child benefit that everyone gets.

I did get a form for it once, but it was so long and confusing it had run out of date before I ever completed it!

I'm not really sure how I feel about claiming that one anyway - I kind of feel that I get enough from the tax payer (of which I paid into the pot for years before I took anything out of it!!) already by having normal child benefit, I know some people can be a bit funny about it!

Which brand was your new cc?? and does it have 0% balance transfer?

Luc xx