Credit cards and how you use them are significant factors in determining your eligibility for a loan. Simply owning a credit card will affect your credit file, as well as making purchases using it, and paying off the balance. They can be very telling about you as a borrower – do you pay your monthly installments on time? Are you responsible with money? Can we trust you not to default on payments?
Forming good credit card habits is a great way to make sure you are as creditworthy as you can be. It’s easier than it seems too; the notion of having a credit card can be intimidating as the threat of debt is a real concern for most. However, managing your credit card balance can be a breeze.
What's Included?
Getting a shiny, new first credit card
First off, chances are if you don’t have a credit card, you don’t have a credit history. Without a credit history, it is difficult for lenders to assess you. This means that lenders may reject you. Taking out a credit card is the quickest and most painless way of solving this problem. They are pretty easy to get approved for and are one of the most controllable ways to manage your credit. Applying for one as soon as possible will work in your favour.
It is always better to have a longer credit history. This will give lenders a lot to evaluate when considering whether or not to approve you for loans and mortgages. Therefore, if you don’t already have a credit card, you should probably consider getting one! Shop carefully: always try to find the credit card with the lowest interest rate (APR) to ensure you pay back less every month, and don’t end up paying way more than your original balance.
The delicate art of balance juggling
If you already have a credit card or two, the trick is to ensure the balance on the card is as low as possible – even better if it’s zero! Credit cards are often seen as “free money” to the irresponsible, which is how late and missed payments happen. Lenders like to see a borrower who does not miss payments and whose credit card balances are not nearing the limit. This shows you as being responsible and trustworthy. It can improve your chances of being approved for larger loans and mortgages significantly. Having a total credit limit usage (across all your credit cards) of under 30% is a good aim, but under 10% is favourable to lenders.
The potential pain points
This must be making credit cards sound fantastic, but some undesirable effects can happen when applying. When lenders offered you a new credit card, it can be difficult to say no. This is especially true when chances are, you’ll be approved for it. Remember: every time you apply for a credit card, this shows as a hard search on your credit file. Any lender that looks at your file after this application can see it. What’s more, it will stay there for 12 months.
A few are no issue. However, if there are too many hard searches present on your credit file, this could indicate to a lender that you are desperate for money. Worse, it could tell lenders that you cannot manage the credit you already have. Not the impression you want to give! It is hard to determine exactly how many credit cards are “too many” for a lender. However, it may be best to try and raise the limits of the credit cards you already have as opposed to applying for various new ones.
Like most things in life, good things come in small doses. Getting a credit card that you’re able to easily manage the balance on, with a high credit limit, can do wonders for boosting your creditworthiness. Always remember: Your whole history is available for the lenders to view. As long as you are responsible with your credit, having a few credit cards under your belt can only put you in a better position for your future financial endeavours.
Credibble offers two fabulous solutions
If you’re preparing to take a mortgage, never apply until you’ve tried our unique and FREE Credibble Home app. Our smart technology will tell you what you need to fix so you avoid rejection. The app predicts when you will be able to buy, for how much and tracks your month-by-month progress to mortgage success. We’ve even added your own mortgage broker, so you get the best deals available.
More focused on your credit rating? Well, get started for free with Credibble’s 24- Factor Credit Check to truly help you improve your creditworthiness and how lenders view you. (Remember: lenders don’t use your credit score! We’ll show you what lenders look for and how to get your credit report in the best shape possible).
Last updated by Robert Edwards, April 2022
