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Original poster

Joint credit card

23 replies

hopeishere · 28/07/2021 17:34

DH wants a joint credit card from bank X. He has a current account there and a personal credit card. We have a joint account there for a rental property we own.

I have a current account with bank y and I will be paying off the card each month.

Is it feasible can we get a joint card for X even if I don't bank there.

OP posts:

MakeCrisps · 28/07/2021 17:37

I don't think you can have a joint credit card account, but you can each have a card on the others' account.

Theres nothing to stop you having a credit card with a bank you don't otherwise use though. Banks positively encourage it.

Original poster

hopeishere · 28/07/2021 17:51

So I would just get a card for bank x myself?

OP posts:

Marmite27 · 28/07/2021 17:54

There’s no such thing as a joint credit card. Only a credit card held by a primary account holder who allows a secondary card holder to use the account. Primary account holder is responsible for paying off all spending on the account.

If your DH already has a credit card with his provider, they’re unlikely to offer him another one.

MakeCrisps · 28/07/2021 18:10

What is DH wanting to achieve with the joint account? Why does he think you need one?

MrsClatterbuck · 28/07/2021 18:12

You can get an additional card on his credit card account but he will be the account holder and responsible for any debt. That is not to say you can't lodge funds to the account.

dementedpixie · 28/07/2021 18:17

@hopeishere

DH wants a joint credit card from bank X. He has a current account there and a personal credit card. We have a joint account there for a rental property we own.

I have a current account with bank y and I will be paying off the card each month.

Is it feasible can we get a joint card for X even if I don't bank there.

He could get an additional card for you on the existing credit card he holds. He would ultimately be responsible for the balance on the account.

Or you could get your own credit card from whichever provider you wanted and offered you a good deal.

coodawoodashooda · 28/07/2021 18:19

I wouldn't agree to that. Is it for an emergency? And if its not why do you need to be involved in the problem of his debt?

dementedpixie · 28/07/2021 18:34

You could make payments to the card without being the account holder btw
Why are you responsible for paying it off?

WallaceinAnderland · 28/07/2021 18:53

What does he need more credit for.

Original poster

hopeishere · 28/07/2021 18:56

LoL at the assumptions here. I'm the one with the precious debt issues!! He's accounts down to the penny. He's never been in debt!

We want to monitor spending and his bank links to a finance system he uses so that's why we were considering this.

We have separate finances.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 28/07/2021 19:02

So options are:

You get added as an additional card holder on the existing credit card
You get your own credit card with that bank

BarbaraofSeville · 29/07/2021 04:52

With open banking you should be able to link accounts from other providers to his system so see if there's another card that will suit.

But I don't know if his system will access one of your cards, or can only access accounts in his name.

You should also have a think about whether you want him to be able to access the detail of your spending like this. Is this joint spending or personal spends? Do you really want him to see what you spend where, to the penny? Us this likely to cause issues in your relationship?

Some banks do allow you to have more than one card. I had two from Santander for a while, one was to take advantage of a 0% balance transfer offer and the other was for fee free spending abroad.

The other thing you should consider when choosing a card is whether or not they have the same number on both cards. Some do, some don't but I don't know how easy it is to find out, but if they have the same number, I don't think the statement differentiates between who spent the money.

We have Barclaycard and Santander cards with different numbers and we've definitely had one where both were the same, maybe Halifax.

Original poster

hopeishere · 29/07/2021 08:14

It's for joint spending - kids stuff and food.

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 29/07/2021 08:16

Why would you use a credit card for that sort of spending? Unless you are paying it off in full each month?

MakeCrisps · 29/07/2021 08:17

We have an account in my name with a card in DH's name, with the bill paid from the joint account. Technically it's my account and any troublesome debt would be my problem, but it's treated like a joint account and we pay the bill in full every month.

BarbaraofSeville · 29/07/2021 08:33

@dementedpixie

Why would you use a credit card for that sort of spending? Unless you are paying it off in full each month?

Well yes, you pay it off in full every month. Helps with cashflow and is preferable to an overdraft (in terms of cost and how it's viewed by the banks), earns cashback, allows you to spread peaks and troughs in spending over a couple of paydays.

Gives you access to more than one payment method is a particular bank has a problem. There was one earlier this year and the forums and papers were full of sad face stories about people who couldn't access their only method of payment so were stuck for food/petrol etc.

Also good if you need to order things online as it means your main bank account is not at risk if there's a security issue and allows you to order a selection of sizes and return things without having to pay up front (and no, Klarna etc is not a better way of doing this).

The question really should be why wouldn't you use a credit card for this sort of spending.

dementedpixie · 29/07/2021 08:38

I have more than one current account so would have a back up if one bank had a problem.

The credit card is linked to ebay and amazon and I use it for online purchases. I dont use it for day to day spending.

Using it for day to day spending is only worthwhile if you pay it off in full each month. We don't know if OP is going to do that

BertiesShoes · 29/07/2021 08:44

Why would you use a credit card for that sort of spending? Unless you are paying it off in full each month?

Many people use credit cards like that. We use our credit cards for virtually everything, and pay all off each month. I keep a track of transactions via a spreadsheet and Covid has meant even less need to use cash - to the point that I have to remember to withdraw some every few weeks for window cleaner and another cash-only payment.

Op, we have a ‘joint’ card, I am primary card holder but we both use it regularly, we also have an individual one each too. But our finances have been joint since we got married so everything comes out of the same bank account whatever it is spent on.

Can your DH not just add you as secondary card holder to his card from ‘X’ bank?

Aposterhasnoname · 29/07/2021 08:49

@dementedpixie

Why would you use a credit card for that sort of spending? Unless you are paying it off in full each month?

Well obviously you pay it off every month, but there are many benefits in using a credit card for day to day spending including:

Cash back/air miles/points etc that many cards offer
Better protection on spends over £100
Easier budgeting, pay the card off in full on payday then you know everything left is yours.
Regular, but responsible use improves your credit score.

MakeCrisps · 29/07/2021 08:53

Loads of advantages to using a credit card for everyday spending. Additional insurance on purchases, a month's free credit, time to get money transferred to cover things without having to think about whether funds are in the current account, time to return things before you have to pay for them...and cashback.

I put absolutely everything on the credit card, but in 30 years of having one I've never paid any interest. It's always paid off monthly. That's how most people I know operate.

BarbaraofSeville · 29/07/2021 08:57

Using it for day to day spending is only worthwhile if you pay it off in full each month. We don't know if OP is going to do that

Well most people do clear their credit cards each month (I've read that it's about 70/80%) so chances are that they will.

Original poster

hopeishere · 29/07/2021 09:38

@BarbaraofSeville

Using it for day to day spending is only worthwhile if you pay it off in full each month. We don't know if OP is going to do that

Well most people do clear their credit cards each month (I've read that it's about 70/80%) so chances are that they will.

Yes it will be paid off in full each month.

OP posts:

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 29/07/2021 09:49

I'm the secondary card holder on our credit card and it's a pain tbh. If they are ever spot checking a transaction for fraud etc. they will get in touch with DH or send a code to him to proceed with an online purchase which is a complete nuisance if I am not with him!

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