Bank of Scotland Credit Card

jt90

Hi All,

I am 19, full time student and employed part time.

I applied for a Bank of Scotland 'One' Credit Card in June. I was given a limit of £1750 which was ideal! I made a bit of a blunder when I was making my first payment... to cut a long story short I selected the correct day for the payment but the wrong month... oh dear!!. This error resulted in a Late payment fee which was credited back as the bank realised that I had made a genuine error. In addition, they also restored all of my benefits i.e. the 12 months interest free. Due to the late payment, the credit limit was reduced to £950, which, in a way, I was quite happy about as I would be able to control my spending better!

Today, I spoke with someone from credit cards whilst in my local branch. I had called to ask if my credit limit could be increased to £1500 so as I could take advantage of my 0% interest rate and use the money to have a good christmas. My request was declined, the reason being that I have not had the account long enough. They also said that I have requested for the credit limit to be increased on 'numerous occasions.' - something that I find alarming as I have never requested an increase. (Any Ideas?)

After speaking with a staff member in the branch, they said that they have a charity card that has 6 month interest free! To be honest, I really wasn't bothered about applying for, however, the person in the branch explained the benefits and I fell for it, hook, line and sinker! (I'm meant to be a salesman as well!!)

The application was processed and I was ACCEPTED for a charity card with a credit limit of £2100! Most people would be pleased with such a limit, however, I am not! All i wanted from BOS was to have my existing credit limit upped to to £1500 not another £2K :eek:. I telephoned credit cards again and advised them of my new card. They were not interested...

In my opinion, the above is not good lending practice and encourages people to get into debt.

Any ideas on what to do?

Cheers
JT :cool:

Jemma-T

jt90 wrote: »

Hi All,

I am 19, full time student and employed part time.

I applied for a Bank of Scotland 'One' Credit Card in June. I was given a limit of £1750 which was ideal! I made a bit of a blunder when I was making my first payment... to cut a long story short I selected the correct day for the payment but the wrong month... oh dear!!. This error resulted in a Late payment fee which was credited back as the bank realised that I had made a genuine error. In addition, they also restored all of my benefits i.e. the 12 months interest free. Due to the late payment, the credit limit was reduced to £950, which, in a way, I was quite happy about as I would be able to control my spending better!

Today, I spoke with someone from credit cards whilst in my local branch. I had called to ask if my credit limit could be increased to £1500 so as I could take advantage of my 0% interest rate and use the money to have a good christmas. My request was declined, the reason being that I have not had the account long enough. They also said that I have requested for the credit limit to be increased on 'numerous occasions.' - something that I find alarming as I have never requested an increase. (Any Ideas?)

After speaking with a staff member in the branch, they said that they have a charity card that has 6 month interest free! To be honest, I really wasn't bothered about applying for, however, the person in the branch explained the benefits and I fell for it, hook, line and sinker! (I'm meant to be a salesman as well!!)

The application was processed and I was ACCEPTED for a charity card with a credit limit of £2100! Most people would be pleased with such a limit, however, I am not! All i wanted from BOS was to have my existing credit limit upped to to £1500 not another £2K :eek:. I telephoned credit cards again and advised them of my new card. They were not interested...

In my opinion, the above is not good lending practice and encourages people to get into debt.

Any ideas on what to do?

Cheers
JT :cool:

Banks are in flux at the moment and since the UK tax payer is paying for all those cards and credit limits you expect I think the banks need to be much more careful.

I hope you do have a nice xmas but I don't want to pay for it. Maybe better to save next time or get another job.

binaryuniverse

jt90 wrote: »

Any ideas on what to do?

Yeah. Don't use it.

jt90

Jemma-T wrote: »

Banks are in flux at the moment and since the UK tax payer is paying for all those cards and credit limits you expect I think the banks need to be much more careful.

I hope you do have a nice xmas but I don't want to pay for it. Maybe better to save next time or get another job.

I am also paying tax, which as you say, funds the credit limits. I do not require another job as I would not earn anything near what I do, if I worked in a supermarket or bar.

Yes savings are another option, however, I am planning on replacing my car within the next 6-12 months so I would would rather to continue to save my money for that as I don't want 'you' paying for it. To be fair a car is a greater expense than Christmas.

Whilst, I also appreciate you telling me not to use it, The answer I was really looking for is how to approach the bank regarding the matter?

Cheers
JT :cool:

TrickyDicky

Ask them to close one of your cards?
Dont use more than you can afford?

I dont see how any of this is a problem for you..

marksoton

jt90 wrote: »

The answer I was really looking for is how to approach the bank regarding the matter?

Simple, you don't. You stop worrying about the bank and concentrate on your own inability to control your spending.

The ultimate responsibility for spending on the card rests with you, you can't abdicate that.If you are that worried you can't control your own spending cut the card up. If things are that bad you are not the sort of person to whom a credit card is suited.

nzseries1

Apart from being told that they've rejected multiple increase requests when they haven't, I think you've been treated rather well.

You were lucky to get your promotional offer reinstated and charges refunded.

alo6

jt90 wrote: »

Hi All,

They also said that I have requested for the credit limit to be increased on 'numerous occasions.' - something that I find alarming as I have never requested an increase. (Any Ideas?)

i had the same problem, i put it down to when your in your online banking and you even open the page to request a new limit it must flag it or something . i went into the page a good few times but never actually submitted a query to apply for a new limit and they said the same to me.

i was going to do it online so went into the page then decided i would rather phone them up and 'janice the helpfull obviously depresed telephone operator' said to me "but you have already tried to raise your limit today".

might be wrong, might be right.

Jemma-T

alo6 wrote:

when your in your online banking and you even open the page to request a new limit it must flag it or something .

No, I think the banks are now using their brains as they understand they don't have enough money for everyone who'd like it.

It's a good thing for everyone longterm.

withnell

Why not ask for the 2k limit to be reduced to just under 1k? Gives you the deal you wanted