Applied for a credit card and didn't tell DH

[stiltonontoast]

I have bad credit history - defaults, ccj's the lot. Not great at being sensible with money (clearly) but have been good for 6+ years now.

Applied for a credit card thinking I'd get turned down - I was successful. Limit is just £200 so thinking I can use it to build up my credit rating / prove I can be trusted with money a bit.

I haven't told DH yet, not sure if I should.

AIBU?

If you can't afford to buy the things you want, how will you afford to pay it back once you've used the money on the card?

That's the bit I don't get. If you have £10 a week to spare, save up to get the things you want. If you don't, you can't pay back what you've borrowed.

You absolutely do not need a card.

Cut the card OP.

You've got your credit score back on track. And it takes years. Well done!

You really don't want to have to start again, do you?

If you don't have spare cash now ,where are you going to find the cash to repay the credit card?

This is a disaster waiting to happen. You've done well to get rid of past debt, don't go back there. Save up a little bit each week and in 3months you can treat yourself in the boxing day sales or January sales when things are extra cheap.

If you've been 'good' for six years, sufficient to be given a credit card, I can only say, "Well done". You've changed.

A £200 credit limit is very small, just use it occasionally. I've no idea whether or not you should tell your husband, that's your call but some people are just sent credit cards without applying so not a big deal really.

Whilst I am a frivolous spender myself, I agree with others that you didn’t get your credit card for the right reasons. You shouldn’t really see your credit card as ‘treat money’ unless you’re responsible and financially well off enough to handle it, else it may spiral out of control when it’s time to make repayments. Also £200 is fuck all - don’t cripple your finances over £200 that you can’t afford. If you can’t afford £200 to spend on yourself now, how long would it take you to pay off the full balance on the card? Would the interest and possible stress be worth £200 of clothes etc down the line? At least spend it on something important or special like a holiday or something that will last.

Also an initial £200 limit tells me that your credit history must be quite concerning as that is very low. So your bank sees you as quite a risk, regardless of how old everything concerning on your credit report is. I think you should tell your husband as at least he wouldn’t feel decieved, and he may be able to steer you into using it responsibly.

I am not against credit cards at all, I just use mine as a buffer or when I need extra protection on a purchase. I wouldn’t go buying loads of clothes or ‘treats’ unless I would spend the same money on my debit card!

Ah the interest on credit cards when you've spent the cash and can only pay the minimum each month is scary.

My advice is cancel the card

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

I need to be honest here, it was actually two credit cards I've told DH about one.. and he wasn't happy but said its up to me if I want to keep it or use it, but there was no way he would get involved / bail me out if anything went wrong.

So far I've bought a tub of formula on it and thats it. I think I want to test myself to see if I can be sensible with it, the reason I want to build up my credit rating is for mortgage purposes - I don't want to rent forever.

You're already not sensible, it was two cards not one. You lied about this to a bunch of randoms on the internet, and you're still lying to your husband about it. You know you can't test yourself like this. As for mortgage, if you're so poor you can't even afford clothes that's just a red herring for using credit again.

I need to be honest here, it was actually two credit cards

I think you're in a very dangerous place if you cannot even be honest to strangers on an internet forum. You say your DH won't bail you out but those are just words. When you inevitably need help with your debts he will of course try to support you, albeit he will resent you and feel let down but if he is a good husband he will still want to help. You know this deep down so you think you have nothing to worry about regarding the debt.

In truth I think you need support for your lack of understanding about the circle of being in debt. This card will NOT help you get a mortgage it will on the other hand most probably leave you in mountains of debt and possibly without a Husband. Get help before it is too late.

If you want to rebuild your credit rating, spend a small amount each month on one of the cards (cut the other one up .. you don't need 2 cards) and set up a direct debit to pay it off in full every month.
If you can't do that, then you're not being sensible.

Oh lord. ‘Testing yourself’ sounds silly and immature.

If you truly want to use it to build credit, then use it for something essential like bills, food shopping (your typical shop, nothing extra!) or petrol etc. So for example pay your phone bill with your credit card, which will direct debit your debit card for the same amount. This means that you’re literally not spending anything extra as you already budget for this bill, but you are building a history of using your creditcard and paying it off in full.

Also it doesn’t seem like you have learned from your mistakes in the past!

This will all end in tears.

I got a CC to rebuild my credit rating after bankruptcy. I took it out after discussing it with my OH. I’ve had it 18 months now (took it out 4.5 years after bankruptcy with my bank, not one of those poor credit rating card companies), use it for up to £100 per month ish and haven’t accrued a penny of debt or paid a penny of interest on it.

You lied to your husband, and randoms online, and you’re seeing it as money for treats not debt. You’ve been incredibly foolish. If you were ‘testing yourself’ you failed. You know what you’ve gotta do.

Why did you put a tub of formula on the card?

If it's because you are completely on your arse until cash comes in then that's onr thing, if it's just because you CAN then you still have serious money problems.