I am sooo angry..barclaycard..help

fightclub_3

I have a credit limit of £1900 and a bad past credit past, for years I have payed my debt back and on time and was chuffed to get a credit card through Barclaycard. For the last year I have payed at least min payment sometimes the whole balance and without fail on time and was hoping this would look favourably on me trying to build my score up.

I was up to my limit last month for the first time last month due to my pending wedding and due to my partner losing his job. I payed £350 on my card last month intending to pay the balance of my wedding dress next week.
Last night I checked my payment progress to find out they had reduced my limit due to a credit check!!! So my wedding dress fund had gone, I had received no letter until today to say that this was to help me manage my finances!!!

I rang and complained in tears last night and asked why they had increased my limit 6 months ago, and they coyldnt answer this, I am even on 6k more in salary than 6 months ago and havent increased my borrowing!

After a screaming match with them he agreed to refund my money in to my bank account apart from a min payment but only if I agreed to pay £12 as I will now go over my limit! I felt backed in to a corner as I needed the money for my wedding dress!

Help whats the best way of approaching this, do I file a complaint and what should I mention. They are playing with lives and only received the letter today, too late!
i was so upset, and surely they shouldnt be credit checking me at this stage it should be based on how I was running my account.

Any comments much appreciated!
From an upset bride who isnt enjoying the run up to her wedding at all!!!
:mad:

stephane_2

It is very sad what has been happening to you especially at the eve of your wedding, but unfortunately there is plenty of people even ones with excellent credit rating have seen their credit limit reduced. Unfortunately once the bank has decided then there isn't much you can do. You could try to appeal but I really feel that it would be wasting your time. If you have been managing your accounts well in the past year then you might be able to get a CC from another provider

fightclub_3

Thanks, its really poop, I am never horrible to people on the phone but I was really upset, now my perfect track record with them is damaged, so will try and complain to see if they will oversee the £12 and the overlimit! I can only but try!
So much for the goverment trying to get financial organisations to lend again!
I hope that we can forget about everything on our wedding day and enjoy it, cant even manage a honeymoon...hey ho! I'm sure we'll be fine!
x

chuckley

its the times man... they just see u as a risk regardless.

HSBC did the same but charged all customers £25 for the privilege.

just_about

Barclaycard seem to be doing exactly the same to a lot of people. There are loads of such post in this orum stating exactly the same, sad but true !!

Barclaycard are just going from bad to pathetic, with no consideration what so ever to the inconviniences this is causing !! Am sitting on the same ridiculous limit with a high apr card, inspite of not missing a single payment with them for almost 3 years !!

However regarding the £12, if you speak to their call centre and explain your situation, and give it another try you might still be succesful in them getting to refund that !! Barclaycard are somewhat linient in a refund if can politely explain your situation that you are getting charged for no fault of your own !!

nickmack

fightclub wrote: »

For the last year I have payed at least min payment sometimes the whole balance

I had received no letter until today to say that this was to help me manage my finances!!!

Help whats the best way of approaching this, do I file a complaint and what should I mention. They are playing with lives and only received the letter today, too late!
i was so upset, and surely they shouldnt be credit checking me at this stage it should be based on how I was running my account.

Congratulations with your imminent wedding, despite this set back, hopefully it all goes well.

The first sentence of yours I quoted above could be a reason for reducing your credit limit. If you make the provider little profit because you sometimes pay in full, they may be reducing your limit to give them an opportunity to allocate the exposure to another customer who will make them more money.

The reason why they don't pre-notify you, is to stop you using up that remaining credit before they can reduce it.

Although this decision came at a very stressful time, rather than making a complaint, I would concentrate on organising and enjoying the wedding. As already mentioned, credit limits being changed are a frequent occurence.

The only matter I really object to about these situations is the reasons that are given such a 'credit check'. Usually, the cardholder is referred to the Credit Reference Agencies for an explanation, but often circumstances have not changed. It's simply a distraction to hide the fact you don't make them enough money.

worried_jim

Happened to me. I had my Barclay card as an emergency and hadn't used it. I had a limit of £1250 and I used it for £228 and instantly received a letter before the statement to say that they had reviewed it and had reduced the limit to £260. Can't blame them though as my credit is a shocker but it did impact some of my long term plans.

Rupert_Bear

I know it does not help but we have never had our limits reduced on any cards. With BC we have one limit at £5,000 and only used it for a promotion and spent £360.00. With the other card have limit of £4,500 and a bt rate of 2.9%. There is outstanding on that card £1100.00.

The only issuer who said they would reduce my rate if I did not use the card in the next month was Citi Cards. I did use the card for £6.00 and have kept the limit the same.

Also we applied for a £25k loan from Lloyds recently and were accepted immediately.

CannyJock

fightclub wrote: »

After a screaming match with them he agreed to refund my money in to my bank account apart from a min payment but only if I agreed to pay £12 as I will now go over my limit!

Can they not refund part of the £350 to avoid the £12 fee and putting the mark on your account that you've exceeded your credit limit (which could lead to further limit reductions).

ILW

fightclub wrote: »

I was up to my limit last month for the first time last month due to my pending wedding and due to my partner losing his job. I payed £350 on my card last month intending to pay the balance of my wedding dress next week.

:mad:

Some lady in last weeks papers bought her wedding dress on ebay.
For 99p

INT1

How sad, they should be helping you before your special day, perhaps ask them to reconsider increasing the limit with an underwriter?