Asking for lower credit card limit

Doitin

My credit card company, Santander, keeps increasing my card limit. I don't want this, and would prefer to set my own lower limit. However on contacting them today, I was by the call centre guy that he would have to make the request in writing, pass to underwriters and it would also be put through credit check agency.
This seems unfair: Santander automatically increase my credit limit, but I have to go through a process to see if they will "allow" me to reduce it.
Will this have any impact on my general credit limit, and if so, should I even bother to reduce credit limit?
It's hardly responsible lending to make it as difficult as possible for a customer to reduce their own credit limit on a particular card.

The main reason for setting my own limit is general security if the card is lost or stolen.

izools

They have an obligation to prevent further automatic increases if you ask them. They should have no "process" to see if they will "allow" each individual decrease.

You have a legal right under the new government guidelines to request they leave your limit as is and prevent further automatic increases and they have an obligation under these guidelines to implement a system that complies with this guideline.

Raise a formal written complaint.

Doitin

Yes, I've asked to be removed from automatic increases, it's the deliberately awkward decrease procedure I object to, and any possible negative impact on my credit score as a result of being responsobil!

izools

Don't worry, there will be no negative impact on your credit score.

If Santander are compliant with the government guidelines / regulations, you will still be entitled to ask for an increase if you want / need one, they just won't thurst one upon you

Hazzinho

Increasing the limit helps you as your balance to limit ratio is reduced on your credit report. the only negative is if you can't help yourself and spend to the limit. I don't care when my balances increase.