Credit Card Question

Late 1960's my husband was asked by a friend of ours (female, a teacher), who earned more than him to sign the form to act as guarantor so that she could purchase a three piece suite on HP.

No, but I do remember after getting married, my bank demanded to know my husband’s full name and his occupation. (1974)
I closed that current a/c and went joint with dh, as we’ve been ever since.

And my mother was once absolutely incandescent, when she phoned HMRC to ask about her tax rebate. Bloke on the other end told her this was her husband’s money, not hers!

No but when I moved into my first home the electricity board required my father to guarantee my account.
I still have a copy of the letter Dad wrote to them saying that, although he was willing to do so, as I was a graduate with a full time job in the civil service he couldn't understand why they considered me untrustworthy. 1977.

I was also sent an Access card, certainly before I got married so that was before 1972. I was never asked (or would have agreed) to get my Dad or my husband to sign anything.

Although I do remember when we applied for our first mortgage that we went to a building society branch in our High Street as the Manager sat on the Chamber of Commerce with my Dad, Job done. Also got a bank loan for a car from the branch of the (then) Westminster Bank where my parents had their business account. They were friends with the Manager and I know they always bought him a "good" bottle of Scotch at Christmas. How things change!

Callistemon Ours was Bristol & West.

Even Barclays

I also was with the Royal Bank of Scotland I remember around 1976 being sent an Access card through the post. I used it responsibly so there was never a problem. I married in 1974 and my then husband did not have a card sent from his bank, Barlcays.

No.

Access Cards were sent out by the banks in the mid-70s and the first time I tried to use it I was accused of trying to steal my purchase. I have never bought anything in Selfridges since.

M0nica

Callistemon21 you were unfortunate. In 1969, our buiding society worked on 3 times husband's salary and half the wife's

We needed just a bit extra for deposit and, of course, because I was working, we could find that extra!

It was Abbey National, M0nica.

I might add, that the offer was actually more than we wanted to risk, so we took less and scaled down the house we bought.

Callistemon21 you were unfortunate. In 1969, our buiding society worked on 3 times husband's salary and half the wife's

I remember my Mum coming home with a form to sign for her to get a vacuum cleaner on the ‘never-never’.
Dad signed of course especially after she said she would forge his signature if he refused.

There has never been a time when a woman HAD to have a man's countersignature for either a bank or a credit card. Banks and credit card companies COULD require it and many did. They could also require it from some women and not others. In 1974 it became illegal to require it.

We married in ‘72, when I was 21 and I’m sure I had a card in my own name a few years before that, without needing my Dad’s signature.
I think only a third of my salary was considered towards our first mortgage.

Daddima

I saw a headline saying that it is now just 50 years since women were allowed to have a credit card in their own name, without having to have a signature from a husband or father. Now, I remember Royal Bank of Scotland sending me an Access card ( a ‘ flexible friend’, if I remember correctly) around 1971/2, which I didn’t apply for, and certainly didn’t get a man’s signature. Does anybody remember getting a man to ‘vouch’ for them?

No.
In fact I had a Barclaycard well before DH had one.

However, they wouldn't take my salary into consideration when granting us a mortgage 😡

I got my credit card shortly after they were first introduced in 1966/7. I was over 21 and no one asked me to get my father to sign anything. My first monthly credit limit was £36. I was 23 and earning about £1,000 a year.

In the late 1960s, after I married, I was at various times asked to get my DH to sign for things. I always refused and either the service I wanted backed down or I walked out of the shop and took my custom elsewhere.

I don’t remember that but I do remember a colleague getting her first mortgage, previously denied to her as she did not have a husband or father to be her guarantor.

No! I’m 66 and had my first CC in my twenties, so too young maybe, but my Mum worked at Access when I was in my teens and I’m pretty sure she had a CC in her own name and no “vouching” from my dad.

I had my first credit card in 1978 and didn't need a man's signature . I just asked at the bank and they gave me one.