Credit card

[geordie22]

Is it legal to take a credit card out and register it at an address other than tour own?

[Busker]

I should think the answer is not if it is legal or not, but whether the Credit Card Company will issue one in these circumstances. They need to establish you credentials before they issue a card so they are hardly likely to find you on the electoral register for more that one address, the bank account details will only show one address etc. You would probably be automatically rejected if you give an address other than your own.

[erimus1]

There's nothing in law that says that you can't do this, but in general it would ask as to why you are doing this - if its for some sort of fraudulent activity, then this would be ilegal. Check out the Theft Act for details on various types of theft, including 'obtaining a money transfer by deception', etc. But do note that, if there is no 'dishonest' i.e. you are paying, and intend to continue to pay your bills, there is no theft, and so no ilegal act has occured.

[Busker]

Just to mention, I did not answer on the assumption that you were doing anything dishonest - why should I. But there are many reasons that you may wish to have anything sent to a different address. There is nothing illegal at all, but for anyone who needs to, but cannot, confirm that address that is the difficulty. It is of course quite acceptable to use another address and if you quote your current address as a former address to establish your good-standing, what would be the problem.

[WendyS]

If you are buying goods with a credit card over the internet, very often they will only despatch them to the address which the card holder has registered, but whether it is illegal or not to register a different address from your own, I'm not sure. For example you might legitimately be applying for a new credit card if you were temporary living with an elderly sick parent and caring for them, and wanted to have the card sent to that address. I suspect you would need to write to the card issuing company and explain the reasons why the address would be different. It's the unexplained issues which usually cause them to suspect fraud may be taking place.