Santander Credit Card Application

Umski

Hi folks,

I recently applied 'online' for the Santander standard CC with 15mths 0% on BTs wanting to BT >10k from Virgin - first thing that surprised me was that the decision wasn't instant so much for doing it online!

So I wait for a few days and get the letter this morning - this time the surprise is that the Credit Limit isn't disclosed until I accept the card - nice! So I call up the 'Application Services Team' who are about as helpful as a chocolate teapot that tell me I need to write to the underwriters' team :mad: All seems a bit underhand to me - every other card I've had in the past has been up-front about the limit when you apply - and I've been through a few since getting an offset mortgage! I told the chap that I won't accept the product without knowing the facts up-front.

So the question is - are there any ways of finding out the limit other than by writing to them? At the moment having read some of the other posts on the Santander CC I am tempted to avoid it rather than going in 'blind' on the limit and risking missing the cut-off for paying off Virgin. Am sure Barclaycard would do me a deal on a BT if I speak to them nicely as I've had that one for >10yrs

Any other experiences?

Cheer

dizzyblonde82

I am also in the same position, I called yesterday as I don't want to open another credit card if the limit isn't going to let me do what I need to do and the customer services were not helpful at all!

simpywimpy

I got a santander zero card but the credit limit wasnt given until the card arrived. It is a pain as I didnt get quite enough credit for what I originally wanted it for

Sloganjerry

Same here. I did fill in an amount for an intended balance transfer and before I read this thread I assumed that they were approving this amount when they accepted me. I've signed and returned the form so I'll let you know. I guess you've nothing to lose by going through with the process. Surely the search will have been recorded by now and you can spread your debt or simply cancel the card. Iwas always under the impression that it's the amount of debt you owe in relation to your income that builds your credit score rather than the actual amount of cc's you have.

dizzyblonde82

Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the card once you have posted back the signed agreement?

Umski

Hmm, so similar feelings then. I am tempted to just stick 2 fingers up to Santander for being sneaky, but Sloganjerry has a point about going through with the process now - I guess I can spread the load a bit with Barclaycard if the limit is rubbish :think: but then I'm loathed to pay Santander a BT fee based on this experience :mad:

Smithurs

.....at least you were accepted. My application was declined! I just dont know why. I have checked my credit report and all seems good. Maybe I'm just not all that profitable. What annoys me is that I will hopefully get a mortgage this year and I am guessing that this will now affect my credit score. Is there anything I can do to sort this out (apart from appealing of course)? It seems completely unfair that they can reject my application for seemingly no good reason and possibly affect my ability to get a mortgage. If a person or normal business had a detrimental affect on my finances in that way I'd take them to court..... The daft thing is, is that I have more money in my current account with them than the credit limit I've requested.....I think I may just have to refuse them my credit and bank elsewhere!

alo6

how long you guys wait, i applied on the morning of the 13th.

Umski

alo6 - I applied early last week and got the letter Saturday so prob 4 working days...

Smithurs - from my understanding of mortgage applications they don't treat it in the same way as credit cards/searches as it is credit against a property - this is what I was told when I was applying. So it shouldn't have an impact - they are more concerned with your ability to pay and existing debts - hope that's a bit more reassuring Vote with your feet if you have lots of cash - I did the same to Barclays when I was going to go overdrawn for a couple of days when I paid my deposit - they refused to extend my interest free OD so I left :cool:

downcdebt

hmmm that is not good to hear about santander. I have also just applied for a credit card with them for the 0% balance transfer (my virgin 0% comes to an end this month). The first time I applied online - heard nothing for over a week, then called to be told that they are taking 10 days to process the application, so left it a few more days, then called, only to find that they had NO knowledge of my application what so ever. GRRRR

Then I applied again (having to give all the same details they lost) over the phone and I was told that they couldn't tell me if I had been accepted or not and I would be contacted and told in a couple of days. A couple of days passed and I called again today to be told, still no answer.

Bit worrying to hear about how they dont tell you the limit before you accept the card. very sneaky. Ideally i wanted to transfer 6k. I assume I will be no different from anyone else and wont know if I can do this until having signed for the card. Wonder if it is worth applying for another card instead? I already have a few so I am not sure how many options I realistically have (Think my debt is too large for Barclaycard 0% - from reading the small print).

I dream of the day I am debt free...... ;-)