If I threaten to move bank accounts, will they give me the credit card I want.

enigma368

Hi,

I am a Lloyds TSB customer and have been for two years. I have had a basic credit card with them for a year now, and have never been late for, or missed a monthly payment. In fact I pay it off entirely most months, including this month.

However, despite this, everytime I apply to upgrade to the Airmiles DUO credit cards, I get rejected. I have checked my credit report and it is spotless - the only thing letting me down is that my credit history in the UK is only 2 years old (I previously lived in Ireland). I'm sure the repeat applications don't help either but I really feel I am qualified to receive the card(s).

I should stress that I am not looking for an increased credit limit on my card, just an airmiles card with the same limit to replace my existing one, so that I can earn miles on my purchases.

Anyway, I was thinking of writing to Lloyds TSB and saying that I would move my £35,000+ a year salary and direct debits to another bank if I continued to be treated like this, i.e. denied the better credit card. I would also downgrade my account from silver to classic, denying them the monthly fee.

So my question is, do you think this would have any effect or would I simply be wasting my time? If I'm going to be wasting my time, I will just move my salary right now and get on with it.

Rafter

Worth a try - there is probably a 'rule' in their systems that say that new UK citizens can only get full cards after 3 years - but as you are an EU citizen that would probably fall foul of EU discrimination rules and the free passage of goods and services - so give it a try and complain to a real person who can hopefully override the systems.

R.

enigma368

Whenever I talk to them, I just get through to robots who just look up my account on their computer and tell me I'm not eligible. I mean I'm not asking for a credit limit increase so how can it be a risk? Does anyone know if there's a retentions department or anything similar that I could try phoning?

BTW a friend of mine who moved from Ireland same time as me, got the Airmiles duo cards after one year in the country and that was while he was still a student. The only difference is he opened a student/graduate account with them but I opened a regular account (even though I am also a graduate).

kindofagilr

Or you could ask then why you arent eligable for it? then if it is becasue you have only lived here 2 years then you would know that the other banks might be similiar?

EDIT just seen your respose, sorry I am no help now lol

withnell

enigma368 wrote: »

Whenever I talk to them, I just get through to robots who just look up my account on their computer and tell me I'm not eligible.

You have the right under the data protection act to have the decision reviewed by a human - ask for the case to be refered to an underwriter

Moggles_2

I have had a basic credit card with them for a year now.

If you've had the card for a year now, presumably your previous applications were made less than a year after this account was opened. If that's so, the outcome is not all that surprising, tbh.

If these are the only credit facilities held in your name here in the UK, I would check your credit reports to make certain both are reported to the credit reference agencies. For help, see page 1 of the *How to obtain credit reports* sticky. Once you know what lenders will see, you are in a better position to improve their opinion

firsttimestudent

Did you put down your old LTSB credit number in your application, and are they aware that you want to switch cards, not to get another new card?

I had a Classic credit card with LTSB previously, after 7 months using them I requested to change to Airmiles Duo. I had to fill in a paper form (as it was a small branch), wrote down my Classic credit card number in the form, and a week later got a letter telling them that it has been approved, once my new card (Airmiles Duo) is produced my old card will be closed etc.

Just make sure they're aware that you're a current card user!

exel1966

enigma368 wrote: »

Hi,

I am a Lloyds TSB customer and have been for two years. I have had a basic credit card with them for a year now, and have never been late for, or missed a monthly payment. In fact I pay it off entirely most months, including this month.

However, despite this, everytime I apply to upgrade to the Airmiles DUO credit cards, I get rejected. I have checked my credit report and it is spotless - the only thing letting me down is that my credit history in the UK is only 2 years old (I previously lived in Ireland). I'm sure the repeat applications don't help either but I really feel I am qualified to receive the card(s).

I should stress that I am not looking for an increased credit limit on my card, just an airmiles card with the same limit to replace my existing one, so that I can earn miles on my purchases.

Anyway, I was thinking of writing to Lloyds TSB and saying that I would move my £35,000+ a year salary and direct debits to another bank if I continued to be treated like this, i.e. denied the better credit card. I would also downgrade my account from silver to classic, denying them the monthly fee.

So my question is, do you think this would have any effect or would I simply be wasting my time? If I'm going to be wasting my time, I will just move my salary right now and get on with it.

Why phone ? Why write ?

If you want to discuss it simply go into your branch and talk to someone. Your gain far more information doing it that way.
Ask exactly what your Lloyds internal score is and they'll tell you. Try and find out why you've so far been denied.
It's far easier discussing it face to face.

noah271007

Perhaps it is something to do with your internal score with Lloyds TSB?? They do run a score between 1-9...1 being low risk (excellent) and 9 high risk.

They never offer credit products to customers who are in the risk banding of more than 4 i believe.

marksoton

I agree you should go into a branch and speak to them face to face.

How they internally score i have no idea. But they offered me a platinum card with no credit check ( I had been a customer for a long time though. )

But more strangely than that i recently got a third credit card with another provider and two days later the personal loan they were prepared to offer to me increased by £2000 !

opinions4u

enigma368 wrote: »

I am a Lloyds TSB customer and have been for two years. I have had a basic credit card with them for a year now, and have never been late for, or missed a monthly payment. In fact I pay it off entirely most months, including this month.

While they like people who make all their payments on time, they will also be assessing your profitability potential. If you're not paying much interest they're not making much profit.

That doesn't mean for a second that you should try to pay interest in an attempt to boost your internal score with them.

However, despite this, everytime I apply to upgrade to the Airmiles DUO credit cards, I get rejected. I have checked my credit report and it is spotless - the only thing letting me down is that my credit history in the UK is only 2 years old (I previously lived in Ireland). I'm sure the repeat applications don't help either but I really feel I am qualified to receive the card(s).

It's not what you feel, it's what the bank feels.

I should stress that I am not looking for an increased credit limit on my card, just an airmiles card with the same limit to replace my existing one, so that I can earn miles on my purchases.

It's more than possible that they don't want to extend you a further line of credit though. You could do with asking if they would reconsider your application if you were to reduce / close your existing facility.

Anyway, I was thinking of writing to Lloyds TSB and saying that I would move my £35,000+ a year salary and direct debits to another bank if I continued to be treated like this, i.e. denied the better credit card. I would also downgrade my account from silver to classic, denying them the monthly fee.

So my question is, do you think this would have any effect or would I simply be wasting my time? If I'm going to be wasting my time, I will just move my salary right now and get on with it.

It would have absolutely no effect whatsoever.