Cant get a credit card? Is this normal?

[Pinenuts91]

Hi just want to check before I panic.

On maternity leave, work part time, not earning much at all, studying online.

Just wanted to boost my credit score in the future ready for when I work full time and just to get everything in order.

Won't get accepted by anyone. Credit score says average can't see anything sinister.

Is it just earnings? It won't consider with household income.

Is this normal and will change once I go back full time?

Or is there something sinister going on?

Even those low income crazy interest rates won't.

A word of warning about Capital 1. In 2008 after the financial crash interest rates zoomed up sky high. I had some money on my Capital 1 credit card. I had never missed a payment and was well within my credit limit. Every month I made a payment of £200 I got an email telling me my credit limit was reduced by £200. This happened 4 months in a row for no apparent reason. I just took money out of savings and cleared the card and cancelled it. This happened to many many other people too. In 2008 other credit cards did not do this. I will never use Capital 1 again.

Money supermarket said they won't accept me anyway 😅

Amex usually have high interest rates and a punitive fee structure. Unless you're extremely diligent, can't recommend them.

Interest rates are completely irrelevant if you're paying every month, which I assume the OP is planning on if using it to build credit, if she was asking to do a balance transfer I wouldn't have mentioned them. You don't need to be "extremely diligent" it's basic CC management which anyone using to build credit should/will have. They also don't all have fees.

I always exaggerate my income when applying for any type of credit.

@MrsSlocombesCat that's fraud...

I would try an actual application. The soft searches are only an indication.

Try your own bank, they already know how you handle money, so might accept you.

If they say no, give it 3 months then try Aqua or Capital One.

Also make sure your utility bills are I your name so they report good history to your credit file.

Also look on Moneysavingexpert.com for a full guide to improving your credit history.

I've scrutinised all the links offered here. Thank you everyone 🥰 I've also found other people declined due to unemployment or lack of income from disabilities.

So I presume that as all bills come out of my account and although money comes in and everything is paid off, technically on paper my income is lower then expenditure so I am most likely too high risk.

I will focus on savings and maximising earning potential and just keep my credit score stable. Once my income increases I will then move onto a credit builder app and go from there. :) slow and steady wins the race 😅

To be fair, I can confirm without a doubt that total household income is counted when granting credit. I am a housewife, have been for the majority of our marriage (long marriage) and I've got several (4) high credit limit credit cards and have never, as yet, been declined credit. I got given an instant 7k limit by Sainsbury's when I applied over 5 years ago now and that was stating homemaker on the application.

Three weeks ago I applied for interest free credit to buy the new iPhone 16 Pro Max 512gb at £1,399 and was accepted instantly with Barclays who provide finance for Apple. So, yes ... non-working wives do and can get credit and no, you don't need your own income. If you're married, it's your income too. I have an excellent credit rating on all 3 credit reference agencies (though those scores are meaningless, all lenders have their own lending criteria) so I'd check your credit reference sheets if I was you. One thing I advise everybody - tell the truth! I've never hid I'm a housewife and no lender has ever refused me. I've build a phenomenal credit history over the past 30 years xx

That is fraud and a very dangerous thing to do. If you're caught you'll be listed on a Cifas database and will be refused any form of credit again. You may even have your bank accounts closed. There are ways they can check these things, very risky.

@Pinenuts91 do you have a husband, if he has a credit card himself the easiest thing is for him to get a second card for you, then once you have had that for a while you may well be able to get one in your own name yourself. I have no income other than household and still have 2 cards in my own name so it can be complex with who gets accepted !

My DD got Barclaycard with little credit history.

do you have a husband, if he has a credit card himself the easiest thing is for him to get a second card for you, then once you have had that for a while you may well be able to get one in your own name yourself.

Being a supplementary card holder doesn't do anything for the additional person's credit history, the liability is with the card owner.

I would try a different comparison website, I was looking for a new 0% balance transfer recently and got told by MSE’s credit card checker I wouldn’t get accepted anywhere, then tried another one (uswitch I think?) and got the same Barclaycard with 4K limit as a pp.