It's a definite. I work in finance. You get fewer points if you don't answer that question. Sometimes, a call is needed to the employer to make sure you work there. If there is no way of confirming this, you won't get what you've applied for.

You would have been asked that when you applied for the card. It's on every application form. It seems like people on here are half asleep when they fill in these applications!

I've applied for both and never had to provide a work phone number.

Tell them that all calls to this line are recorded and monitored for quality and training purposes and your supervisor can listen into the conversation at any time...

I can't think of any companies that have application forms for credit which don't ask for a work number. As I said, you do score fewer points by not answering. It maybe that your credit history is good and they don't need to check your employment. Someone will no or a poor history will be checked.

What if you don't have a work number? I didn't for the first 3 months of my current job and didn't in previous jobs either.

You leave it blank. You get fewer points though and more likelihood of being turned down.

Given who started the thread, I don't believe a word if it anyway.

Could you not just put your mobile number in, if it asks for a work contact?

Back on topic for the OP, if you put a number on a form, don't be surprised if they use it to contact you, especially if you owe them money.

Agreed; they have long history of bizarre threads, although this does at least raise a few interesting points

Thanks for the sensible and helpful replies guys and I also hope this was of use to some others too.

You could, but if they do a check on your employer and it's not your employers number you'll be declined.

I suspect they are calling the OP at work as he/she isn't taking their calls at home. If the OP owes them money and hasn't made arrangements to pay what is due, then they will chase him/her any way they can.

You're correct if that's the case.

I have the credit card company calling me too. They're not chasing me for money, they're asking to raise my credit limit.

Luckily I gave them my alternate mobile number. The one I never answer.

They still send texts but I never answer anything on that phone.

What on Earth is the "BIB"?

Google it. Bit in bold.

Bit In Bold.
Referring to the part of the quote that's now in bold.

I already said this.

Bully for you.
If you look at the post times mine is just after yours so I was clearly typing it whilst yours was posted. It wasn't there when I started.

Thank you both. I did Google it but didn't get that answer. I got something about internet banking!

Why don't you ring them and discuss the reason they are calling you?
Do you have an outstanding balance?
If so,
Are your payments up to date?
If so express your displeasure.
If not, get it sorted by arrangement.

I've worked in the financial industry for 30 years, never provided a wok number, never heard of a call being made to an employer to check someone works there and never known not giving a work number as going against someone applying for credit.

You've obviously never worked for a Chinese bank then.

You've had your eyes closed when looking at credit application forms then. Once again,and this is getting tedious, not every person has their employment checked. But as I said, not putting your work number down means you get fewer points for your application.