How long does it take to receive a credit card?

A question about : How long does it take to receive a credit card?

Hi

As anybody got any idea roughly how long you wait for a c.c, we are going away 4th Aug and was going to apply hoping we would have received it by then, do you think I am hoping too much?

Best answers:

• Having had a high number of c/cards in my time I'd say you've got no chance of getting one by 4th Aug if you haven't already applied.
  I would say you are looking at the very minimum 2-3 weeks, and a maximum of up to 8 weeks depending on who you apply to. Average I'd say is 3-4 weeks.
• Thank you for your advice, looks like I will have to borrow off one account then and pay it back when I come back.
• It is IMPOSSIBLE to apply for and receive a card within 24hours whether you are given an instant decission or not as cards are not despatched until the company receives a signed copy of the credit agreement by return of post. On top of that you have delays for admin, CRA checks etc.
• Yes, of course you will need to wait for the T & C's, I should have been clearer in the original posting, possibly 3 days for T & C's to arrive then a day to process so if he applied now he could have the T & C's by the weekend and send them back, they could probably get a card to him by Wednesday or Thursday next week.
• could you get a credit card from your bank?
  they can give you a form, usually give you a decision there and then, you can read T+C's, sign dotted line, they can check ID in branch and shouldnt take more than a week to get your card.... well thats the theory! I applied yesterday (natwest)
• If you are accepted straight away without having to provide additional information then you can get a post Office card in less than I week and barclaycard too in my experience.
• I got a Nationwide credit card in about two weeks but the pin took another week after activating the card.
• I was instantly accepted for a Halifax card some weeks ago, but still no card yet.
• I think it normally takes around 3 to 4 weeks from the date you make the application (ONLINE) if you are lucky enough.
• Oh yes they do !!
  Yes, verification can take place on line by the CRA, but that works for the minority rather than majority and is there to establish your ID for fraud purposes and to check your history. That does not mean acceptance for ANY card.
  You will still have to sign and submit a signed copy of the Credit Agreement before a card will be issued as it forms part of the contract between you and them. Without it, you have no contract and NO card.
• Hi exel1966, you do not need to physically sign a contract anymore. I would suggest you google "electronic signature". It is a perfectly legitamate form of signing a Consumer Credit Act Agreement now, it was introduced in the last year in statue. You also usually do not have to prove your identity to apply for a credit card, I have never once been asked to do so and I have 4 cards from major lenders (at the moment) 2 of which I got after giving an electronic signatures, which simply means ticking a box, the cards then turned up in the post a week later after getting an "instant decision", which again many companies do. Give it a go, apply for a Natwest card, or a GE Money card, you will soon find out. The only time I have been asked to provide ID was when applying for a current account or saving account.James
• Hi exel1966Please read this:https://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file23061.pdfwhich contains amongst other things the following:1.5 Since the close of the White Paper consultation period, we have been working with key stakeholders to put this policy into practice. The result is the attached Order under section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 to amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) and associated secondary legislation to remove legal obstacles that currently have the effect of preventing credit agreements from being concluded or notices and documents associated with an agreement from being provided by electronic means.5.1 The changes will benefit both business and consumers.5.2 The removal of impediments to electronic contracting will open-up new markets for the credit industry – and will enable them to lend with confidence that agreements made in this way will not be held to be unenforceable on the basis of the communication mediumI hope this makes it clearer.James
• Having had in the region of 30-40 different cards over the years (7 currently for stoozing purposes) I have NEVER received a card without being forwarded a copy of the credit agreement to sign and return to the organisation concerned.
  Those cards have come from all the major high-street banks, MBNA, Citi, Egg, BOS, BOI, RBOS, AMEX, Morgan Stanley to name a few whether in their own guise or that of another name.
• Hi exel, it only came in to effect pretty recently and as you know nothing stands still for long. In our age of electronic communications it makes sense, and when you tick the box to state you are aware you are signing a Consumer Credit Act agreement, it is just as valid in a court of law as one signed on a piece of paper. That why I have a problem with James' fingerprint idea, I was going to write to the CRA's and ask them their opinions as Equifax seem to like the idea but I am not so sure. If everyone is moving toward electronic signatures they wont have the forms to send out to put your fingerprint on. Plus unless there is a database of fingerprints to match it against as yours how can a llender be sure, I think it would make them say "sorry we are not taking the risk" James