Is this genuine?

Steven8786

I received a letter purporting to be from Barclaycard and wanted to see if anyone else has had the same experience. Bit of background info first though.

I applied for a Barclaycard Credit Card a few days ago and on the 5th got an email advising me my account had been approved and my starting limit would be £1000 (though I have yet to receive the card itself).

Alarm Bell #1 - Today I got a letter, on the envelope it had "URGENT - PLEASE OPEN IMMEDIATELY"

Alarm Bell #2 - Opening the letter, it was dated the 4th November (the day before I got the acceptance email)

Alarm Bell #3 - The address on the letter was "Dept KOD 51 Saffron Road, Leicester, LE18 4US. Tel: 01604 269395". I've googled the address, starting from 51 Saffron Road and this is, indeed listed on Barclaycard's website and a quick look on Google Maps confirms that bit. This is what's weird.

The tel number is an 01604 number and after a quick google search of that it turned out that I'm not the only one to receive such a letter. I also cannot locate this number on Barclaycard's website.

Alarm Bell #4 - The letter itself talks about how they've reviewed my account and decided to close it. It talks about things such as making sure direct debits are cancelled etc. but this is for a credit card. Surely a closure of a credit card account would be more specific.

I have tried the number and had an argument with a very annoying person reading from a script who was about as helpful as a dead fly, so my suspicions have only risen (don't worry, I've not provided any serious information to them, which in itself is a bit more worrying).

Has anybody else had such issues like this in the past? Is it real or fake? I've tried Barclaycard directly but unfortunately the department I needed had closed so I've sent them an email.

If it is genuine, then I have to question the professionalism of the way they operate in regards to this letter.

BugsyBrowne

Steven8786 wrote: »

I received a letter purporting to be from Barclaycard and wanted to see if anyone else has had the same experience. Bit of background info first though.

I applied for a Barclaycard Credit Card a few days ago and on the 5th got an email advising me my account had been approved and my starting limit would be £1000 (though I have yet to receive the card itself).

Alarm Bell #1 - Today I got a letter, on the envelope it had "URGENT - PLEASE OPEN IMMEDIATELY"

Alarm Bell #2 - Opening the letter, it was dated the 4th November (the day before I got the acceptance email)

Alarm Bell #3 - The address on the letter was "Dept KOD 51 Saffron Road, Leicester, LE18 4US. Tel: 01604 269395". I've googled the address, starting from 51 Saffron Road and this is, indeed listed on Barclaycard's website and a quick look on Google Maps confirms that bit. This is what's weird.

The tel number is an 01604 number and after a quick google search of that it turned out that I'm not the only one to receive such a letter. I also cannot locate this number on Barclaycard's website.

Alarm Bell #4 - The letter itself talks about how they've reviewed my account and decided to close it. It talks about things such as making sure direct debits are cancelled etc. but this is for a credit card. Surely a closure of a credit card account would be more specific.

I have tried the number and had an argument with a very annoying person reading from a script who was about as helpful as a dead fly, so my suspicions have only risen (don't worry, I've not provided any serious information to them, which in itself is a bit more worrying).

Has anybody else had such issues like this in the past? Is it real or fake? I've tried Barclaycard directly but unfortunately the department I needed had closed so I've sent them an email.

If it is genuine, then I have to question the professionalism of the way they operate in regards to this letter.

Yeah basically you have been accepted then they have declined you.

stephane_2

Totally genuine...you will not get the credit card

Rupert_Bear

Steven8786 wrote: »

I received a letter purporting to be from Barclaycard and wanted to see if anyone else has had the same experience. Bit of background info first though.

I applied for a Barclaycard Credit Card a few days ago and on the 5th got an email advising me my account had been approved and my starting limit would be £1000 (though I have yet to receive the card itself).

Alarm Bell #1 - Today I got a letter, on the envelope it had "URGENT - PLEASE OPEN IMMEDIATELY"

Alarm Bell #2 - Opening the letter, it was dated the 4th November (the day before I got the acceptance email)

Alarm Bell #3 - The address on the letter was "Dept KOD 51 Saffron Road, Leicester, LE18 4US. Tel: 01604 269395". I've googled the address, starting from 51 Saffron Road and this is, indeed listed on Barclaycard's website and a quick look on Google Maps confirms that bit. This is what's weird.

The tel number is an 01604 number and after a quick google search of that it turned out that I'm not the only one to receive such a letter. I also cannot locate this number on Barclaycard's website.

Alarm Bell #4 - The letter itself talks about how they've reviewed my account and decided to close it. It talks about things such as making sure direct debits are cancelled etc. but this is for a credit card. Surely a closure of a credit card account would be more specific.

I have tried the number and had an argument with a very annoying person reading from a script who was about as helpful as a dead fly, so my suspicions have only risen (don't worry, I've not provided any serious information to them, which in itself is a bit more worrying).

Has anybody else had such issues like this in the past? Is it real or fake? I've tried Barclaycard directly but unfortunately the department I needed had closed so I've sent them an email.

If it is genuine, then I have to question the professionalism of the way they operate in regards to this letter.

With respect you are regarded as a bad risk and I am sure this is genuine. However could have been handled alot better by BC.

Steven8786

Thanks for the advice everyone, at least then I can stop worrying about possibly being the victim of some attempted scam, though I've still emailed Barclaycard to try and verify the reasons why I'd get a letter informing me the account would be closed dated the day before I had received the acceptance email. Thanks anyway.

chexum

You're not alone:
Barclaycard Acceptance then cancellation
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/38163614#Comment_38163614
Barclaycard Unwilling.........
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/37209416#Comment_37209416

They'll probably be no help at all in discussing this with you. What may have happened is that the online application checks Equifax at first, and when it gets to a human for approval (after being approved - weird, huh), they are checking Experian (and with them, National Hunter), and/or they may carry out further offline checks, for example, to try calling your employer to confirm the details you have given.

If they uncover anything they don't like (old account with undesirable conduct, details given by/about employer not matching, credit application history with "interesting" changes), they terminate all relationship with you.

Some people with Natwest/RBS have a similar experience, the dreaded AVU (Application Verification Unit).

This may look like suspicion of fraud which sounds harsh, but it could just mean they cannot confirm your ID without any doubt - as they can't be sure you are the person in control of your phone/address, they may not be able to communicate with you safely, so their only choice is to not do it at all.