Barclaycard query

mayforher_2

Hiya everyone

I'm still trying to get my head around credit cards. Just when I thought I had it sussed, something weird happened again!

So I have a Barclaycard. my 0% offer has run out and my interest is due to go on. about 3 months ago i applied for a few cards to balance transfer and got rejected. so be it, i'll just hammer this card then no probs.

I got a letter from bc saying that they have reviewed my credit file etc etc and they are increasing my interest from 16.9% to 25%. it said on the letter, if you don't want this interest increase you can pay off the balance but you need to call. I called yesterday and said "i dont want my interest to be increased, can i just freeze my card (thinking that this is what i would have to do) and pay off the balance at 16.9%? Yes madame, of course you can, no problem. That has been done for you.....so i asked if my card had been frozen and he said no...my interest rate has just stayed at 16.9% and i can still use my card - so why have they sent me a letter saying it would increase?!?! very confused!

Also, I have a limit of £3400 but i've been ploughing money into it and reducing my limit (never do this, i recently found out!), but ive now got £700 available on my card, and owe £2700 on it now - when i went to see if i would be able to get another credit card to do a 0% BT etc, it said i was only eligible for the poor credit rating cards with the 39% etc - when will i become eligible to transfer over to another card do you reckon? ever? or should i just keep checking every 3 months? i dont want to keep applying obviously so i just do that fluid checker but i was really hoping that since my card was at £3800 and ive managed to get it down to £2700 in a few months that i might be able to!

sorry for the rambling! hope someone can answer me!

bengalknights

You have to wait a minimum 6 months for searches to drop off

What bc have done is froze your account at 16.9% however if you use the card (sneaky trick) they will revert everything to 25%

DevilPigeon

I wouldn't trust the Fluid soft check at all, I found the Nationwide soft check to be far more reliable/accurate.

No idea what's going on regarding your BC though, I would have thought (like you) that the card would be frozen until the remaining balance was paid and then automatically closed... Maybe BC had the discretion when you phoned them to leave things as they were...?

BugsyBrowne

You have refused the price hike but if you use the card again it will be charged at the higher rate.

mayforher_2

I asked BC if that was the case, i double checked several times and said if i use my card, will my interest rate go up, and he said no - i can just use my card as normal and interest will stay at 16.9% - i dont bloody trust them though!

BugsyBrowne

mayforher wrote: »

I asked BC if that was the case, i double checked several times and said if i use my card, will my interest rate go up, and he said no - i can just use my card as normal and interest will stay at 16.9% - i dont bloody trust them though!

We have told you what will happen think about it.

Comyface

bengalknights wrote: »

What bc have done is froze your account at 16.9% however if you use the card (sneaky trick) they will revert everything to 25%

I didn't know that, is that common knowledge? Cheers loads for that info, it does seem sneaky if they don't make it extra-clear upfront.

mayforher_2

BugsyBrowne wrote: »

We have told you what will happen think about it.

Sorry? Do you work for Barclaycard? Surely if they have told me that they will not increase the interest then they can't? It doesn't actually say anything on the letter about freezing my account to pay it off, I just assumed that's what I would need to do. Why would the guy I spoke to say no repeatedly if actually they will do? Surely then I can just argue it and get a transcript of the conversation? I obviously don't want to do that and I don't really want to use my card either so i'll probably just leave it and pay it off but what id i have to use it for an emergency and my interest rate goes up?! surely i can fight it?

mayforher_2

Comyface wrote: »

I didn't know that, is that common knowledge? Cheers loads for that info, it does seem sneaky if they don't make it extra-clear upfront.

well surely when i asked for the 3rd time and he said "you can use your card as normal and your interest rate will stay at 16.9%" then that's just lying to me!!

DevilPigeon

mayforher wrote: »

I asked BC if that was the case, i double checked several times and said if i use my card, will my interest rate go up, and he said no - i can just use my card as normal and interest will stay at 16.9% - i dont bloody trust them though!

If that's what they say on the phone, you need to get it confirmed in writing, either email or letter... If they're not prepared to do that then don't use the card.

mayforher_2

hm the sneaky devils. i will do that - i'll write to them. But i've written to them before and they never reply! terrible customer service.

Also, on the credit rating etc - I have just used the Nationwide soft check and they said they would give me a card for 0% interest for 20 months with a credit limit of £500.00. i'm due to go on mat leave in December but only hope to have about £500 left on my card by then - is it worth getting that card, transferring £500.00 from the barclaycard etc or should i just leave it until im about to go on mat leave and try and apply again and see what they offer me then? i just thought maybe if i get the card now, thats £500.00 less i'm paying interest on! minefield...