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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:
JigsawsAreInPieces · 24/10/2019 22:58

DD will have a credit card opened in her name as soon as she is old enough

When she's old enough, that's when she is 18 so will be an adult. She can choose to open one then if she wishes because she is an adult. It's not up to you to control her and ”open credit in her name” once she is of age! Hmm

saraclara · 24/10/2019 22:58

Can you set that up as a regular payment?

Yes @Gwenhwyfar
I don't give my credit card payment a thought. It's paid straight from the bank on the due date every month. It doesn't matter that the amount is different every month. It just goes out.

ConFusion360 · 24/10/2019 22:58

Can you set that up as a regular payment?

Yes. All mine are set up to be automatically paid off in full close to the due date.

SoyDora · 24/10/2019 22:59

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

Yes, it can be as a regular payment and yes it can be a direct debit payment into your credit card account. You have the option to set up your direct debit as either the minimum payment, a fixed payment of your choice or the full amount. We have a DD set up for the full amount to come out on payday.

m0therofdragons · 24/10/2019 23:01

We only got one because you can't hire a car without one. Never paid any interest as I pay it off if I use it.

Original poster
Linnylinn1 · 24/10/2019 23:06

@m0therofdragons yes you can, we have hired cars several times without a credit card!!

OP posts:
Canyousewcushions · 24/10/2019 23:08

@Pomegranateseeds
Two reasons:
-I might not have checked my bank account for a few days and therefore not picked up the fraudulent transaction until after my direct debits had bounced, meaning missed mortgage payments etc and issues with trying to sort out unintentional defaults and credit records

  • my bank didn't repay me immediately- they investigated the transaction before they repaid it. For a big sum and without much spare cash kicking about in my current account it would have meant we'd been in trouble that month, and with no credit card to fall back on at the time either because we didn't see the need for one.

The bonus of the credit card is if it did happen again, I'd have a few weeks between noticing an anomally on my statement and needing to repay to balance- it's a huge additional protection to have in place.

WalkAwaySugarbear · 24/10/2019 23:10

I have 4 for different uses. I know they can be incredibly difficult to repay if you overspend but if you dislike debt they can be advantageous over debit cards.
All of mine are paid in full by DD so no interest paid.
My main one is a cashback card that I use all the time. I also have an abroad spending card for good rates, I have one with a large limit that was useful when buying our kitchen (s75 protection) and lastly I have a super balance transfer card that will transfer money into our current account should we desperately need a short term loan although I think this is now dormant as we've not used it for about 10yrs.

It's just a financial tool that if used sensibly can work for you.

FionaOgre · 24/10/2019 23:12

DH got a credit card for our wedding. Used it, paid it off and got rid of it. I know very little about credit cards and at 37 years old, I have never had one. DH had the wedding one for a year and that was five years ago.

Nat6999 · 24/10/2019 23:16

I haven't got a credit card, just a debit card & no overdraft.

saraclara · 24/10/2019 23:17

@Linnylinn1 maybe you have hired a car without a credit card. But I've not been able to in recent years. When my daughter needed to hire one and she didn't yet have a credit card, I had to hire it with her as a second driver.

Car hire companies cant guarantee that they'll be reimbursed for the car should you have an accident or you don't return it, if you pay with a debit card. If you use a credit card, the CC company is obliged to pay the car hire company.

morrisseysquif · 24/10/2019 23:25

Unusual but you do need a credit record for a mortgage as in having borrowed money and paid it off.

You will have a poor credit rating for never having credit. Bonkers, but there it is.

Original poster
Linnylinn1 · 24/10/2019 23:41

@morrisseysquif a lack of credit card did not stop me getting a mortgage at all. As other pp’s have said also.

OP posts:
PancakeAndKeith · 25/10/2019 00:12

Unusual but you do need a credit record for a mortgage as in having borrowed money and paid it off.

No you don’t. It’s helpful but it’s not vital.

violetbunny · 25/10/2019 00:25

I don't have one either. Didn't think it was that unusual to be honest.

Instagrrr · 25/10/2019 00:31

Never had one and I’m 34

MonChatEstMagnifique · 25/10/2019 00:48

Most people I know use a credit card sometimes for the protection it gives you that a debit card doesn't.

We use a credit card for large purchases as it better than withdrawing money from savings. Credit card has 0% interest so it doesn't cost extra. When the 0% interest runs out we apply for a different one so we always have one.

Some people I know that don't have one, say they don't trust themselves to have one as they'd spend too much.

AwkwardFucker · 25/10/2019 00:52

I am in my 30’s and have never had a credit card, and will never ever get one.

My only debt is my mortgage. If I can’t afford to buy something, I just don’t buy it.

MonChatEstMagnifique · 25/10/2019 01:06

If I can’t afford to buy something, I just don’t buy it.

A lot of people can afford the things they put on a credit card, it's not always about that, it's often for the extra protection it provides under the consumer credit act. I take full advantage of that.

Unfortunately some people don't earn enough to be able to save. For those people credit cards are a blessing if something like their oven breaks as it allows them to spread the cost at no extra charge if they purchase it on s 0% interest credit card. They can't really apply your attitude of 'if I can't afford it, I don't buy it' as they need to be able to cook food.

I think some people are a bit snobby over having a credit card. If they're used sensibly they're great.

JenniferM1989 · 25/10/2019 01:33

I don't have one GreatHat and I'm an accountant. Am I clueless about finances then? I must tell my boss tomorrow so she can sack me promptly on the basis that I have no credit card so there for useless with finances

1forAll74 · 25/10/2019 02:05

I have never had a credit card. Never buy anything I can't afford. But as an oldie, I suppose I am just set in my old fashioned ways..

I once lent a biggish amount of money,to someone who had a big credit card debt,who had bought things that they wanted, but didn't need.

Bluesheep8 · 25/10/2019 06:10

DP and I don't have any credit cards. Because we had several at one time and built up what was, for us, a large amount of debt. So we don't have any now.

CheeryB · 25/10/2019 06:23

We only got one because you can't hire a car without one

I don't have a credit card and I've hired cars several times.

CheeryB · 25/10/2019 06:26

a lack of credit card did not stop me getting a mortgage at all. As other pp’s have said also

My daughter got a mortgage 4 years ago and she doesn't and never has had a credit card.

Tohavefarted · 25/10/2019 06:46

You don’t need a credit card to get a mortgage. But for people who haven’t had any credit commitments eg maybe someone who hasn’t moved out of their parents home yet they can be a good way to build a credit history without actually taking on any additional commitments because it’s just being used as a different way to do the normal spending they were already doing.

If you’ve had phone contracts, a car on finance etc etc and already proved yourself credit wise then you’re not going to need to do that.