Barclaycard

Stoneman_2

Do credit card companies perform a credit search on you when you apply for a balance transfer as an existing customer?

The reason I ask is that I emailed Barclaycard recently to enquire why they were offering a 6.9% life of balance to existing customers on their website when their customer services said that no promotional offers were available.

Their reply was:

"Thank you for your e-mail regarding the Balance Transfer.

After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that we are unable
to offer you any balance transfer rate at present. However, please apply again at a later date when the decision can be reviewed again.

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact
me again".

It was only an enquiry, but going by their reply, it looks like they have treated it as a request.

I'm worried now that if a search was performed that it might leave a bad mark on my file.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Bismarck

Don't see why it would.

A BT is a different thing to a new application...if I had a search recorded every time I asked for BT rates then I dread to think how many I'd have.

OK, I've enquired over the phone but don't think it's "recorded" as such.

Re BT, I've nver actually asked Barclaycard, just done it online for the 6.9% LOB...no problems...

Stoneman_2

I left a bit out that might relate to the story.

About a month ago I was made aware of the offer and because my limit on the card is only £1900, I phoned them to ask for a limit increase (where a search is performed).

I was refused, probably because I had just been accepted for a Virgin card and other activity. I thought that I would just transfer what I had available at 6.9% and completed the balance screen online. I didn't here anything for about 2 weeks, so contacted customer services. I was informed at that point that the transfer wasnt accepted as there were no offers available at the time?

There was no mention of 'assesing me', but maybe Barclaycard don't see me as a good risk!!

I hope that you are right about the searches.

egghead

if you read the small print on the offer for customers 6.9% it does say, subject to status, so its proberly only offered to certain customers?

not all?

Stoneman_2

I guess your right Egghead, but I've never been refused before.

I was originally a Goldfish customer that was taken over by Barclays, so that might be something to do with it. Also, I have had a Barclaycard in the past and they gave me a low limit.

Its the randomness of being accepted etc that gets me. Barclaycard only gave me a limit of £800, where a week later NatWest gave me £3200!!!

I've paid off the Goldfish / Barclaycard now and will close the account, as I don't see it as a worthwhile card to keep. No point asking them for limit increases and balance transfers if they don't like me!

Stoneman_2

Bismarck wrote: »

Don't see why it would.

A BT is a different thing to a new application...if I had a search recorded every time I asked for BT rates then I dread to think how many I'd have.

OK, I've enquired over the phone but don't think it's "recorded" as such.

Re BT, I've nver actually asked Barclaycard, just done it online for the 6.9% LOB...no problems...

Bismarck, when you say that you just applied online with no problem, did you get an immediate response, because it does say that it can take 7 - 10 days and I didn't get any reply from them.

Stoneman_2

I had an email reply from Barclaycard which stated that the offer was open to all customers, but the offer was not available to me. Guess it must have been my 'status' then.

They confirmed that no credit check was performed.

Simon_Preston

It could be due to you being a Morgan Stanley customer. When you got shifted over to Barclays you get treated as a new customer so you can't use the 6.9% offer until about 3 months have passed. I tried this myself and got denied about a month ago. However, rang up on Christmas day (Got through lovely and quick) and they allowed me to do a nice 2k transfer there and then.

Give em a ring and see if they'll do it. Probably good to go now.

MABLE

Stoneman wrote: »

Do credit card companies perform a credit search on you when you apply for a balance transfer as an existing customer?

The reason I ask is that I emailed Barclaycard recently to enquire why they were offering a 6.9% life of balance to existing customers on their website when their customer services said that no promotional offers were available.

Their reply was:

"Thank you for your e-mail regarding the Balance Transfer.

After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that we are unable
to offer you any balance transfer rate at present. However, please apply again at a later date when the decision can be reviewed again.

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact
me again".

It was only an enquiry, but going by their reply, it looks like they have treated it as a request.

I'm worried now that if a search was performed that it might leave a bad mark on my file.

Has anyone else experienced this?

They do not do a credit search. However they do obtain on a regular basis a credit score from Equifax and may even be from other credit refs agencies as well.

. About two years ago I applied for a transfer and was refused. When I questioned it was because of the credit score obtained from Equifax and they said my internal score with BC was very high but the external one was low.

In my case I had had alot of searches in a short space of time. Now I am always receiving good offers from BC.

connan13

I too have had problems with Barclaycard since they took over Goldfish. some small, some more significant.

a, they changed my name on the card by omitting my first name.
b, they changed my gender by calling me Mr and despite numerous call to them ( at my expense) it is not rectified.
c, I also wanted a credit limit increase. I have a small mortgage, no debt and twice the amount I requested in cash ISA. I just wanted to have added customer protection by using the card for a large purchase for the house. they refused it with no explaination.
d, I can't redeem my reward points on line as I use to. again no explaination from Barclaycard just a patronising repeat of the instructions.

Conclusion: I don't ask much from a credit card but these multiple irrritations are poor customer service and there is enough competition out there so that I will close this account.

rubbish service from Barclaycard.

m

Somerset

Stoneman wrote: »

I was originally a Goldfish customer that was taken over by Barclays, so that might be something to do with it. Also, I have had a Barclaycard in the past and they gave me a low limit.

Its the randomness of being accepted etc that gets me. Barclaycard only gave me a limit of £800, where a week later NatWest gave me £3200!!!

Snap !! I'm ex-Goldfish too. I used to have a 11K limit with them but dropped it to 2.5K (my choice-used a Conran cashback instead). When Conran became Mbna, I asked to increase my Goldfish to 5K but was refused... no reason. Anyway after the Barclaycard take-over I tried to increase the Goldfish to 4K - refusal, generic credit report/account management response which was !!!!!!!!. This time I tried to find out why - Indian call centre hadn't a clue what I was asking and said they'd try again and it would give reason - NOOOO. Finially got UK person and she said (don't know if it's true or not ) Barclaycard have acquired no history for the Goldfish customers so can't assess their credit-worthiness !

So I applied for a 5% cashback Amex instead and was given a 4.6K limit.

Atm I've got about 4K sitting interest free on the Mbna card - will pay off when offer expires. Both Amex and Barclaycard have zero balances as fully paid off each month - Don't know whether it's worth keeping the Barclaycard or not (2.5K limit) ??? I only really tend to have 2 cards (main & spare) and use cashback cards when available. But maybe with the credit crunch it's better to keep what you have as it seems to be getting more difficult to get accepted ??? Btw apart from an up-to-date mortgage and the Mbna 4K sitting interest-free I have no debt.