Barclaycard are so unprofessional. Sent card out then declined application.

Mr_LoL

They basically sent me a card yesterday. Today I receive a letter stating my application has been cancelled. How bizarre. I applied 6 months ago for the same Barclaycard initial card. Then I got a decline letter.
I wish they would do ALL their checks before sending out cards and getting their customers hopes up. Any other bancks or credit card companies do this so I can avoid them in future?

chattychappy

I've read a number of posts with the same story - and it always seems to be Barclaycard.

I wouldn't worry about applying for other cards.

Amazing that Barclaycard still haven't got their act together. They must lose alot of goodwill this way.

DUTR

Mr_LoL wrote: »

They basically sent me a card yesterday. Today I receive a letter stating my application has been cancelled. How bizarre. I applied 6 months ago for the same Barclaycard initial card. Then I got a decline letter.
I wish they would do ALL their checks before sending out cards and getting their customers hopes up. Any other bancks or credit card companies do this so I can avoid them in future?

Do you think they are missing your custom?

Mr_LoL

DUTR wrote: »

Do you think they are missing your custom?

No I just want to save myself the hassle. Its quite ridiculous they go through the hassle of making cards, setting up limits and then declining customers the very next day. I even had my online account set up. Its wierd though. Last time I applied I got a decline letter. No cards or anything like that. :mad:

DUTR

Mr_LoL wrote: »

No I just want to save myself the hassle. Its quite ridiculous they go through the hassle of making cards, setting up limits and then declining customers the very next day. I even had my online account set up. Its wierd though. Last time I applied I got a decline letter. No cards or anything like that. :mad:

IIRC I got my pin number before the card arrived, I suppose it's just a matter of pressing a button for the card to be created then attached to an account, when I applied for my clarity card, they sent it with a imit of nearly £9k, !!!!!! they think I'm gonna use the card for who knows, but I promptly instructed them to reduce the limit to something sensible.

chattychappy

DUTR wrote: »

Do you think they are missing your custom?

I know that's not what the OP meant. But I do feel this carry-on by Barclays is counter-productive. Companies spend hard cash on building their brand - eg by sponsoring sport, advertising etc.

Most people can accept a CC decline. But it is annoying if you get told you're getting an account which they then change their minds about. Whilst Barclays in this particular instance have obviously decided they're better off without the business, that's not to say they wouldn't want to sell other products to the customer or a CC at a later time. Then there's the publicity from threads such as this.

Seems they are undoing some of their PR efforts.

Mr_LoL

Well doing a bit of googling this seems to be quite a common pratice for Barclaycard. I know they are well within their rights to reject custom but to do it like this infuriates me.

shaunq

so this has just happened to me too.

Applied for the cashback card, accepted, sent card and PIN. Activate card, add additional cardholder. All fine. I use card once online. Try to use it the next day online, declined. Try in store, declined. On calling them I'm told account has been closed. Apparently they run a two stage application process and further information had resulted in them closing the account. I assume this is the default on my file from 2007 which is about to lapse. There's nothing else i can conceive would cause a problem. I spoke to someone in the UK eventually who said they are changing from this ridiculous two stage application process to a single stage next year but apart from that he wasn't apologetic, in fact didn't seem to care.

I was incredulous that they would approve, let me use the card and send me my additional cardholder all while carrying out some further checks. Madness, unprofessional and furthermore i can't think that it benefits anyone. As I said to them, I'd rather be rejected outright than go through this farce.

On reviewing the T&Cs it seems they can only cancel an account without providing 2 months notice in grave circumstances, which I can't see have been invoked here. Is it worth complaining? Don't know what I hope to achieve but I am frustrated, annoyed at being messed about and don't think they should be able to treat people like this.

Shaun

chattychappy

They are always entitled to decline transactions so they've covered themselves.

I think you've done the best thing you could in the circumstances - post on here!

I don't think a formal complaint would get anyway - the FOS doesn't like CCs treating customers unfairly, but in the absence of a specific loss on your part I think there is no remedy available to you.

I suppose you could write to them, requesting reconsideration. But frankly if I were you I would put my business elsewhere.

giblet10

That's the way Barclaycard operate unfortunately. As others have said, put your business elsewhere.

Maestro.

I suspect one of the reasons they do it is so they can dispatch cards quickly. When I applied for mine on a Monday (evening!) I was gobsmacked that I had the card in hand on Thursday, especially given that I don't live near any big cities, and post to our area is often delayed on the basis that we're an "island" (we're not).

The obvious side effect of this dispatching cards nearly immediately is that some customers will be in for a shock when the company actually decides to revoke the account.

I have to say, knowing that barclaycard have a habit of doing this left me nervous for a short time afterwards (I got their best cashback card with only 18 months of credit history, two cards already and several recent searches - I was genuinely surprised) but it's been about three weeks so far using it, so I think I'm in the clear!