Barclaycard accepted then rejected?!

mrsmcdade

I recently had my APR increased on my existing credit card so shopped around and decided on the Barclaycard life of balance card.

I applied, was accepted and recieved the card yesterday. I phoned to arrange the balance transfer and was told that the card had now been cancelled

After phoning three different numbers and being transferred around I was told that they have changed their criteria and I am no longer eligible for the account. When asked for further details they said their internal criteria was confidential.

I'm hesitant to apply for anything else now as there'll be an accepted card showing on my credit file.

Has this happened to anyone else?

Rafter

Seems fairly shoddy that they can cancel an offer so soon after issuing the card and presumably giving you the credit limit you needed.

I suggest a formal written letter of complaint pointing out you will now end up out of pocket because of paying more interest on your existing account and potentially being unable to get a card elsewhere as a result of your Barclaycard application. Also how it can be seen to be 'treating customers fairly' to make and offer, issue a card and then cancel the offer before the opportunity to make use of it. Tell them that you want them to re-instate the offer or you would like your complaint escalated to the Financial Ombudsman service.

Good luck

R.

BenL

My 1st thought was that there is something untoward with your application or previous history.

After an application is approved a lot of companies will perform overnight checking of HUNTER and CIFAS records which check anomolies of address, salary, jobs etc against previously applied for products.

You might want to check your credit files for any "markers"

Moggles_2

I'm hesitant to apply for anything else now, as there'll be an accepted card showing on my credit file.

Not if the card has been cancelled.

I would certainly have a look at your credit files. 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

To help you further, we would need to know which credit cards you have at the mo or have held recently.

mrsmcdade

I have one Bank of Scotland credit card with a credit limit of £7,500 and a balance of £4,500. I also have a £800 overdraft but this is rarely used.

I just found it very strange that they would issue the card and then check details. Why not come out and say that I'd failed security or something rather than they'd changed their criteria if that was the case? Or am I just being naive in thinking they'd be honest?

LBG_worker

This is strange - a possible explanation could be that your application was referred. This means an underwriter has to look at the information about you and decide if you should be accepted or rejected. It could be possible that they have made an error and sent both accept and reject letters to you. Now that they have officially rejected you - ask them to review your case and give you a valid reason for them refusing you credit.

Moggles_2

mrsmcdade wrote: »

I have one Bank of Scotland credit card with a credit limit of £7,500 and a balance of £4,500. I also have a £800 overdraft, but this is rarely used.

Do you bank with NatWest or the Royal Bank of Scotland? A 0% for 15 months BT card is available to existing bank account customers at the mo. (HSBC has a similar deal for current account holders, but customer service is not so good, IME)

http://www.rbs.co.uk/personal/credit-cards/g1/platinum.ashx#tabs=section2

If you're not eligible for the above, Virgin has a straight forward, no-strings deal which offers 0% for 16 months to new customers. A 2.98% BT fee applies.

http://uk.virginmoney.com/credit-card-v3/

Alternatively, you'd get until 1 October 2010 from Egg. There's a 3% BT fee.

http://new.egg.com/visitor/0,,3_84106--View_1763,00.html

mrsmcdade

LBG_worker wrote: »

It could be possible that they have made an error and sent both accept and reject letters to you. Now that they have officially rejected you - ask them to review your case and give you a valid reason for them refusing you credit.

They haven't even sent me a rejection letter - it was only when I phoned to balance transfer that they said my account was now closed.

I've requested a copy of my credit report so hopefully that will shed some light on it and will write to Barclaycard as soon as I have some tangible evidence from them that my account is closed.

LBG_worker

Worth writing to them - I have a barclaycard and the call centers are based abroad and it is a nightmare trying to get them to understand anything you say! the customer service has been shocking - you may have had a lucky escape!