cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Income on Applications for Credit

tag
bigman023
Frequent Contributor

Income on Applications for Credit

Just wondering if there is a rhyme or reason on when it's ok to include spouse's income when applying for credit.  Or is it generally, use only your income, unless it is specifically stated that its OK to use spouse's income.  That 'other income' box I see on most apps is really not that clear on what is, or not, considered as other income.

5/2009 EQ-504(FICO), TU98-567(FICO), EX- 503 (FAKO)
10/17/11 EQ-633, TU04-652, EX-681 All lender Pulls
10/17/11 TU98-678
12/21/2012 TU98-677 (39% Util)
01/21/2012 EQ - 661 (37% Util) SW Alert
Message 1 of 34
33 REPLIES 33
Repo-ed
Senior Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

i put my own, and under report it.
5/2012: 560 credit scores across the board
12/2014: 750+
3/2017: 780+
11/2019: 833
2/2023: Experian via Chase United Explorer CC pull - 891
Message 2 of 34
bigman023
Frequent Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

OK, I just read somewhere that one can no longer use spouse's income because  of the new law, Dodd-Frank. This law supposedly takes away the ability for housewives to apply for credit using husband's income. It became law in 2009. What I find weird is that in 2011, I was actually told to use spouses income when I applied for GE cards in 2 different stores. Maybe the rule only applies to cards issued by banks.

 

Im really wanting a high limit credit card this year, and was looking for a way to boost my chances.  DW & I both make over $55K, our mtg paymnt is $1320, which may be hurting my debt - income in the eyes of a CCC's UW. I guess Ill know for sure in a few months.

 

Thanks for your input.

5/2009 EQ-504(FICO), TU98-567(FICO), EX- 503 (FAKO)
10/17/11 EQ-633, TU04-652, EX-681 All lender Pulls
10/17/11 TU98-678
12/21/2012 TU98-677 (39% Util)
01/21/2012 EQ - 661 (37% Util) SW Alert
Message 3 of 34
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

Certain posters here like to argue about the legality of using household income.

 

HOWEVER, IME.... it's a good FICO that gets you a high limit. I've reported HHI and my Indi Income and regardless of the income I report, I still get the limits and increases that I want typically because my FICO is decent (700-740).

 

The CARD Act/Dodd-Frank only says an issuer cannot ask specifically for household income.... but that an applicant may choose to use household income on an application...

 

so partake in your freedom as an American and use HHI :-)

 

or if you're prude, scared, and can't handle credit.. use indi income...

totally UP TO YOU... per the CARD Act.

 

And for those nonbelievers, check the spec language of the CARD Act; you may be surprised.

 

:-D Best of luck!

Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 4 of 34
bigman023
Frequent Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

interesting observation...

5/2009 EQ-504(FICO), TU98-567(FICO), EX- 503 (FAKO)
10/17/11 EQ-633, TU04-652, EX-681 All lender Pulls
10/17/11 TU98-678
12/21/2012 TU98-677 (39% Util)
01/21/2012 EQ - 661 (37% Util) SW Alert
Message 5 of 34
youngandcreditwrthy
Senior Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

hahah thanks? :-)

Marriott PR$25k | BCE $24.5K |BankAmericard Visa $25k| BOA Better Bal $17.5k |Wmt Discover $12.5k | BR Visa $17.5k | Amex Delta Gold $10k | Discover IT $10k | Paypal Extras MC $15k | Amazon Store $10k|Smile Gen $7.25k | Dillard's $10k | West Elm $4k| Express $3.05K | Mypoints.com Visa $4.5k | Freedom Visa $1k| Amex Surpass $1k
Message 6 of 34
FloridaState12
Established Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

Legality aside, I think it's a little disingenuous to provide inflated income. This is YOUR card so you should provide YOUR income. If I put $250k income as a 21 year old kid living at home,  would you say that's an accurate depiction of my income? I wouldn't think so.

But all that's my opinion. I really don't know if you're legally allowed to use household income or just individual income. 

Photobucket
Message 7 of 34
Epcot
Valued Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

If it just asks for income, I state my own.

But on my last app with Chase it said something along the lines as: 'Please put in the total available income/assets/cash that I have access to in order to repay any debts to Chase'

Starting Score: EQ 717 EX 724 TU 736
Current Score: EQ 849 EX 835 TU 841
Message 8 of 34
bigman023
Frequent Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

My personal opinion is that HHI should be allowed if you reasonably have access to those funds. Housewives are a good example. Also, when UW is considering debt to income ratios, I think its reasonable to use HHI, especially if both spouses share responsiblity for bills, ie mortgage. 

 

Is it legal? Maybe, maybe not. Im here looking for more clarrification on the issue, as I always want to do whats legal. But my personal opinion is what it is. I will probably end up asking whatever card issuer I decide to app for.

 

 

5/2009 EQ-504(FICO), TU98-567(FICO), EX- 503 (FAKO)
10/17/11 EQ-633, TU04-652, EX-681 All lender Pulls
10/17/11 TU98-678
12/21/2012 TU98-677 (39% Util)
01/21/2012 EQ - 661 (37% Util) SW Alert
Message 9 of 34
djrez4
Established Contributor

Re: Income on Applications for Credit

You guys are touching on a recent change to regulations promulgated under the CARD Act.  Last year, housewives or house husbands technically couldn't get credit cards because they couldn't report that they have ny of their own money.  The CFPB changed the rule at the end of last year to include income you have access to - basically, household income.  So, where before it was technically illegal to report HHI on a credit app, it's ok now.

Message 10 of 34
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.