Going back to an old card provider

[Deleted User]

I posted this question here about CCs but actually it's just as applicable to current accounts and more.

My question is this:

Do banks/credit providers - aside from making decisions based on credit records - blacklist former customers who have been 'problematic' in previous years?

I used to be with Barclaycard (9 years ago) but left them (5 years ago) because they made quite a few mistakes with my account. I was quite a handful - lots of letters of complaint, kicking up quite a stink (thanks to MSE) - but now I would like to apply for a credit card with them.

Despite having an excellent credit rating and pretty 'regular' credit report (no adverse information or missed payments), their pre-application check declined me. I have a good salary and miminal monthly commitments.

So, do banks/lenders blacklist former customers if they're been problematic previously? Either awkward, or irresponsible, or 'toxic' etc...or would they treat a new application exactly like that: as a new application?

XXXX

Deleted_User wrote: »

Do banks/credit providers - aside from making decisions based on credit records - blacklist former customers who have been 'problematic' in previous years?

Everyone complained when there was issues concerning their account, you would not have had it resolved as you wished if your complaint was unreasonable.

I do go back to use banks previously left off by me from time to time, never a problem. Beside, what is the point for banks to refuse potential customers for trivial issue from forgotten time? If so, they are not worthwhile to go back for. :j

battyboimatt

I wouldnt say, they should only be keeping records for 6 years anyway I mean I defaulted on Barcaycard when i was young and daft but now years on I have 3 cards with them, Hhilton honros, Barclaycard Gold, and Thomas Cook

Moggles_2

I doubt whether cc companies keep records of all their former customers since the year dot. It's your credit history with all your providers over the last 6 years that counts, with particular emphasis on the most recent 12 months.

If you weren't too impressed with Barclaycard previously, why return now? As a longstanding card holder, I would say that not a lot's improved, rather the reverse unfortunately :rolleyes:

You say you have an excellent credit rating. All the same, I'd have a look at the *Credit Rating: how it works and how to improve it guide*, especially Martin's *Manage and Improve your credit score* article, to check there's nothing working against you which could be easily put right

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/credit-rating-credit-score#improve

property.advert

I maintained an account with Lloyds and their handling of my account was atrocious. I even had to threaten to sue them in the High Court. Some time later, I wanted some student accounts. They opened the account, hundreds of miles away from the former problem branch but a few weeks later, I was asked to go into the branch and they wanted to close my account.

The more important point was that the people in the new branch had no reason to want to refuse my business and the old branch were not party to the current arrangement. However, that is is as far as I got with the information trail. I suspected a centralised department which acts on information put forward by any of their branches and gives the new branch no leeway to make up their own mind.

If it happened today, I would take it much further and sue if necessary as the original problem stemmed from one of their staff.

So yes, I do think that under certain circumstances, you can find yourself considered "toxic". As banks merge, this issue is going to become more and more prevalent and elad, at some levels, to the "great unbanked".