adam2606 my salary is paid to Finansbank and that is the first place I applied for a cc. I went through the whole application process, with them knowing full well I was a foreigner, only to have them say after 3 weeks, "sorry, we don't give cc's to foreigners". I had a letter from my company stating how much I earned and that I was employed by them signed off and all by the managing partner no less...still, no go...

I'm waiting to get in touch with the someone from Akbank so hopefully I might have some joy there. Will let you all know.

What I find interesting about this thread (besides laughing at all the hassles you are all having - joke) is that it used to be quite easy to get a credit card as a foreigner, although I have at times had problems getting my limit increased. I wonder if this tightening up, if it is indeed tightening up, has anything to do with the general credit crunch around the world.

hi OZ,

this is nothing to do with global crunch. Local banks here encouraging cc for locals not for yabancis. Each Turk has 3 cc average.

We discussed this a year back I think it was. Before it was easy to get cards i.e. I got one without asking for it through Garanti where we have our wages paid, same happened with Turks back then. Then foreigners started reporting that banks were asking for a deposit equal to their credit card limit (some observed it was because they were a flight risk!). Perhaps when I leave this company they'll request my card back - not a bad thing

raja, you are spot on and oz thanks for the sympathy

The woman at HSBC told my friend that it's unfortunate that their requirements for foreigners (having a security deposit and having a guarantor blah, blah) are so onerous given they practically hand out cc's to Turks who walk in from the street. She did say that they were aware of the issue and are 'working' on it to try and improve the cc services for foreigners but it is going to take time.

Ten years ago when I applied for cc from Yapi Kredi I was rejected on the grounds that Im a foreigner even though I was married to a Turkish. Through the help of a friend I managed to get one and the limit was 500 YTL and later increased to 600 YTL till today.

HSBC is fine they increase your limit annually I think. Got the cc thru a friend's recommendation too.