Do French banks have age limits for credit cards?

A reader reports being turned down due to being 70

Some French credit cards have an age bar attached to obtaining them

It is true that some French credit cards have an age bar attached to obtaining them.

A reader from Lot wrote to say that as Barclaycard had ended credit card services to residents without a UK billing address, he applied for a credit card from Banque Populaire.

He was refused because he was 70. “Had I applied before, it would have continued until death. I could accuse them of being ageist,” he said.

“I needed a card to hire a car in the UK. Most UK hire firms require one so they can place a forward demand of £1,000 on it in the case of an accident or puncture.”

A Banque Populaire spokeswoman said:

“Credit cards of the Facélia type in our bank, an international payment card with renewable credit, require the person taking this out to be aged 18-69.”

Other criteria include living in France and not being on any credit blacklists.

Debit cards have no such restrictions, she said.

Have you experienced a ban on any financial products due to age in France? Tell us about it atnews@connexionfrance.com

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