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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is not abnormal?!

380 replies

Linnylinn1 · 24/10/2019 16:19

In work today one of the girls asked me something about a credit card and transferring a balance. I said “oh don’t ask me I have never had a credit card, I don’t know anything about them!” She was totally shocked that I don’t have one (as were the rest of the office!” AIBU to think it’s not THAT shocking!!??

OP posts:
Original poster
Linnylinn1 · 24/10/2019 21:38

To the pp’s saying you can return things and get a refund on a credit card, or return faulty goods. I can do that on my debit card too!! I have done it several times!!!

OP posts:
Travis1 · 24/10/2019 21:39

@Pomegranateseeds that doesn’t always happen a family friend recently had several hundred of fraudulent transactions and tsb have refused to refund any of them saying she was negligent. I’m not sure in what way they think it’s her fault but she’s had no money back and is escalating through the ombudsman.

Go west @Tohavefarted? I’m on that fb page and some of the amounts have been shocking 😢

With all the company’s getting into difficulties now I think anyone who doesn’t utilise the section 75 protection from credit cards on large purchases is off their head.

Tohavefarted · 24/10/2019 21:46

@Linnylinn1 there is MORE protection for consumers when paying for items over £100 with a credit card. Well worth doing your research. Often people can have no luck with retailer/manufacturer then will be refunded by credit card company. For the whole amount of the purchase even if only £100 spend on CC.

Tohavefarted · 24/10/2019 21:46

Yes @Travis1. Poor families.

Wheat2Harvest · 24/10/2019 21:46

I'm in my early sixties and I have never had a credit card. I have never felt the need to have one and was put off by (former) work colleagues trying to outdo each other with 'I'm maxed out on my X card so I'm using my Y card' discussions.

I appreciate that people who travel on business need them but for me they would have served no purpose except possibly allow me to rack up debt.

Original poster
Linnylinn1 · 24/10/2019 21:52

@Tohavefarted as I said upthread where I am (not uk) you have the same protections on a debit card. They also do chargebacks.

OP posts:
theSnuffster · 24/10/2019 21:54

I don't have one. I had one through my bank when I turned 18 but never used it.

overnightangel · 24/10/2019 21:55

I’m 37 and never had one

RoseMartha · 24/10/2019 21:55

I didnt have one for years but have one now but rarely use it. Perhaps once a month on something about £20 just to keep it looking active. However if and when I need to buy something like furniture I would probably use it for at least some of the amount.

overnightangel · 24/10/2019 21:56

“I don't have one. I had one through my bank when I turned 18 but never used it.”

Same here @theSnuff, when I brought it home my dad cut it up!

Bluejeantreefrog · 24/10/2019 22:01

I only got a credit card 4 years ago because I was going to the USA and it was a better exchange rate to use the card withno bank charges. Since then I've only used it to book holidays and holiday purchases when there but its paid off every month. Managed 46 years without one!

Judellie · 24/10/2019 22:06

I've never had one. I'm nearly 50

PutThatDown10 · 24/10/2019 22:06

I've never had one, neither has my partner so I wouldn't find it unusual.

MintyMabel · 24/10/2019 22:14

At uni, our accounts lecturer gave us all sorts of advice of the things we needed to do to help us in the future. The main one was to get a credit card. Open the account, cut up the card, never use it. That automatically boosts your credit rating.

I have a friend who was in the Navy. He never needed a car or a house or a credit card. He left the navy and moved in with his girlfriend for five years. They moved to a new area and lived in social housing. When he was 35 they split up and despite the fact he was working offshore and earning good money, he couldn’t get a mortgage because he has zero credit rating. DD will have a credit card opened in her name as soon as she is old enough.

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 24/10/2019 22:18

Never had one, and would be utterly ineligible for one now.

I'm terrified of them - exP managed to accrue something in the region of £30k debt on them for absolutely bugger all, other than a load of tat. The resulting horror (homelessness, utterly buggered credit score, etc) made me determined to never use credit, and just only buy what I can afford.

MrsJBaptiste · 24/10/2019 22:30

I don't get the angst about getting credit ratings. Who ever asks about this? Once you have a mortgage, does it really matter about building up your credit rating?

Vix20678 · 24/10/2019 22:35

We don’t have credit cards. Me and DH are in our forties. Great credit ratings, never had any problems returning goods or getting refunds.

BuxbyFree · 24/10/2019 22:44

Blush im going to sound so stupid now, but how do credit cards actually work then?

Ive never had one and have always assumed they were a bad thing, i dont quite understand how a credit card works then?

thatwasMauijustmessingaround · 24/10/2019 22:47

I'm 33 and don't have one.

My parents never used one.

My husband has one but for 10 years has only used it for online purchases which he paid off the same month (thinking it was safer)

Gwenhwyfar · 24/10/2019 22:49

"I don't get the angst about getting credit ratings. Who ever asks about this? Once you have a mortgage, does it really matter about building up your credit rating?"

Well, the people who worry about it are probably the ones without a mortgage! I do worry that mine is low because I don't have much debt, but I don't worry enough to think that getting a credit card is the right solution to the problem.

saraclara · 24/10/2019 22:50

@BuxbyFree When you buy anything on a credit card, the CC company pays and you either settle up with them at the end of each monthly period (at no cost - no interest is levied) or if you can't pay the full amount, the remainder is a loan. You only have to pay the minimum amount each month and interest is levied on the remainder.

But most people on here pay in full every month, so use them to take advantage of the law that says the CC company is responsible for what you buy, as they have effectively loaned you the money. Consequently, if anything goes wrong with the purchase, they have to refund you.

FunnysInLaJardin · 24/10/2019 22:50

we have 2 with a £10,000 credit limit. We use them to pay for holidays as they give good protection against bankruptcy etc. Always pay them off though.

IMO they are very useful if you use them properly

Gwenhwyfar · 24/10/2019 22:51

"despite the fact he was working offshore and earning good money, he couldn’t get a mortgage because he has zero credit rating."

Some people who've been in the navy have never even paid rent or bills so might not be ready for a mortgage anyway.

Gwenhwyfar · 24/10/2019 22:54

"you either settle up with them at the end of each monthly period (at no cost - no interest is levied)"

Can you set that up as a regular payment? I just wouldn't want to have to remember to do that. Can't be a direct debit payment into your credit card account because the amount would be different each month.
I've heard of people just using the cc to pay one particular bill like the electricity and I suppose this could be one of the simplest ways to use the cc just to build up your credit rating.

ConFusion360 · 24/10/2019 22:54

im going to sound so stupid now, but how do credit cards actually work then

A bit like having a bar tab. You can keep on buying drinks but only pay at the end of the month. If you have the money, you just pay the bill and that is the end of it. If you can't pay in full, they let you pay it a bit at a time but charge interest on the amount you haven't paid off.