TURNED DOWN FOR BARCLAYCARD INITIAL CC !! Want to complain!

A_little_stressed!!

Can anyone help me? I have been turned down for a barclaycard initial credit card, aimed at those with no credit rating looking for thier first card! I do not meet the required criteria! But I thought the whole idea of it was for people with no 'criteria' !!!! I earn £12,801 after tax, & I'm 20 surely I can't be so unwanted by any CC company. I've never had any debt etc & I have checked my credit report.

I want to write them a letter protesting, and make them reconcider me, here is the beginning of my draft, any ideas? Or is their a website with templates for a perfect letter of appeal?

I am writing to you regarding my recent application for a ‘Barclaycard Initial Credit Card.’ My application was turned down, and I would like to know why. The card states that it is for those who are looking to build their credit history, and those who are looking for their first credit card, yet I somehow do not match the required criteria. I earn £12,801 after tax (higher than my application earnings due to recent wage increases.) I do already have a Natwest credit card, which I have had for 5 months, that I regularly spend on and always pay off in full and on time. I am looking to change to a Barclaycard as I would like to manage my account online which Natwest do not provide, and possibly changing to a Barclay’s bank account. I have no debt, nothing bad on my credit rating as I have checked this, I have never been overdrawn, and I have never missed a payment

any help would be great!

mrcow

Are you on the electoral role? It could have been an automatic decline.

CLAPTON

have you tried phoning them and asking why?

how much is the credit limit on your natwest card?

A_little_stressed!!

Thanks everyone for your help so far
I am on the electoral role, I haven't phoned them coz I thought a letter might be more persuasive! & my credit limit is £400 with natwest.

i just want a bit of credit over xmas so i can slowly pay it off next year (hopefully with 0% interest) i know i cant force them to let me have 1, but i can give it a go!!:cool:

mrcow

A_little_stressed!! wrote:

i just want a bit of credit over xmas so i can slowly pay it off next year (hopefully with 0% interest) i know i cant force them to let me have 1, but i can give it a go!!:cool:

The APR on the Initial card is 27.9%. There is no 0% offer on this card.

Sorry to be blunt but your idea is crazy. Why would you want to borrow money at that kind of rate?

This is a money saving site. Why not spend some time on the Christmas boards here and look at ways to save money over Christmas (not get yourself into expensive debt for 2007).

CLAPTON

how much are you planning to spend at xmas...couldn't you save for it now...still two months to go and no interest to pay

PBA

I'd imagine the computer flagged up something that it didn't like, and automatically declined the application. If you send that letter in and get an underwriter to look at your application I'm sure they'd be able to approve you, assuming that everything you put down is correct.

sdj25

Also, when applying - put your earnings before tax. That way it seems like more, and after all - that is your salary, you're not lying!

Paul_Herring

sdj25 wrote:

Also, when applying - put your earnings before tax. That way it seems like more, and after all - that is your salary, you're not lying!

... unless of course they ask for 'net pay.' TBH most applications ask for gross income to begin with.

A_little_stressed!!

mrcow wrote:

The APR on the Initial card is 27.9%. There is no 0% offer on this card.

Sorry to be blunt but your idea is crazy. Why would you want to borrow money at that kind of rate?

This is a money saving site. Why not spend some time on the Christmas boards here and look at ways to save money over Christmas (not get yourself into expensive debt for 2007).

I didn't realise there was no 0% on this card, but once I'd seen the paperwork I would have made sure I paid everything back on time. I get loads of christmas money from many relatives, I just don't think they'd appreciate it if I asked for an advance!! (If they were feeling stingy I do have savings I can pay it off with so would never wait 4 the interest!)

The whole idea of this is to keep borrowing and repaying on time, building a reputation as good borrower so I can get a loan if I ever needed one, or eventually a mortgage.
This time next year i want my spending on cashback creditcards only, I also want to take advantage of storecards introductory discounts, which I am also currently turned down for. (then cut up into lots of bits!)

Maybe I'm doing this all wrong, but this is how I have been told to work my way up the 'credit-rating ladder' any advice is much appreciated!:o

CLAPTON

have you tried asking natwest for an increase in your credit limit..this might help to improve your credit rating

and i'ld still phone barclaycard to ask why they refused you

have you checked all three credit record agencies just in case something odd is on your record?