Any chance?

thevinternet

Hiya, just a question about applying for a new CC.

I want to try and get a BT deal, as I have 3 CCs at present - one American Express with a balance of £3500, one Egg at abut £400 and a Barclaycard at £400. I'm currently paying £50 a month interest on the American Express, so I really want to bring that down or swap it!

However, Virgin turned my application down last year, so I'm weary of applying again and getting lots of searches on my file.

I currently have 14 searches in the last 12 months, HOWEVER only 6 of these are for 'credit', the rest are for things like car insurance, id checks etc.

Will the CC companies be able to see the difference between the two types of searches?

If so, is 6 in 12 months still too many to apply again?

Thanks for your help.

ps my last search was October last year.

Moggles_2

I currently have 14 searches in the last 12 months, HOWEVER only 6 of these are for 'credit', the rest are for things like car insurance, id checks etc.

Searches associated with ID checks and car insurance online quotes are classed as unrecorded enquiries. These are shown for your information. They are not seen by other lenders.

anotherpaul_2

thevinternet wrote: »

one American Express with a balance of £3500

In case you're planning to BT the Amex balance, a lot of card issuers seem to be unable to BT from them. I tried with my Ulster Bank card and they couldn't do it. Someone else here had the same problem (with a Halifax card, I think).

So, if that's the plan, you probably need a card that will do transfers to current accounts.

PROLIANT

MBNA underwriters dictate that more than 12 searches in a 12 month period are classed as too many.

wildbri

take care MBNA are no charging 4% for money transfers...... bri

Moggles_2

wildbri wrote: »

Take care. MBNA are now charging 4% for money transfers.

There seems to be some variation in dates and percentages. Some forum users received notice of a change last year. Others have been quoted 4% or 5% BT fees from 1 April this year.

Note: this is for existing customers. Whether MBNA intends raising the BT fees for new customers as well, remains to be seen.

Currently, the introductory 0% plus 2.9% fee is still being advertised.

thevinternet

anotherpaul wrote: »

In case you're planning to BT the Amex balance, a lot of card issuers seem to be unable to BT from them. I tried with my Ulster Bank card and they couldn't do it. Someone else here had the same problem (with a Halifax card, I think).

So, if that's the plan, you probably need a card that will do transfers to current accounts.

Thanks for everyone's answers and help so far. :T

My card is a bit weird frankly! It's Lloyds TSB but also Amex, about 18 months ago they persuaded me to swap it over and now I have something called the Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo card. The account has both a Mastercard and an American Express number. So does anyone know if I'd be able to transfer the balance from this card please? Thanks! xx

thevinternet

*hopeful bump* xx

jackorkie

I'm trying to find a card that will let me do a balance transfer from a british airways Amex card, my interest rate has shot up to nearly 50%.

Instead of having 16 numbers on the front of the card there are only 15 - which seems to be the problem as systems will only accept 16.

Can anyone help ??!!!!!

anotherpaul_2

thevinternet wrote: »

The account has both a Mastercard and an American Express number.

You'll probably be able to transfer from that using the MC number. I was advised that by another card company (when trying to make a BT), but unfortunately my card only had an AMEX number.

As for who to apply to... I've had a lot of trouble getting cards recently. I'd probably try Halifax - they seem to be actively offering BTs to existing companies at the moment. I'm an existing customer, so I don't know if they are offering new cards too.

If it's a Lloyds TSB Amex duo card, don't bother applying to Lloyds. You probably won't be able to BT to them.