Knocked back on halifax clarity credit card

72lala

Hi All,
Was hoping someone might shed some light on why I got the knock back from my own bank when applying for a halifax clarity credit card.
I applied in my local branch which i have banked with for over 15years, they said i had an "A1" rating which is the best they give out but couldn't apply for a credit card with them. i could get a £10,00 loan no problem or increse my overdraft if i pleased.
They found this unual and recommend to apply anyway and then they could speak with the under writers to see why I would be rejected.
The under writers said that they was something on my credit file that was stopping my application so the man in the bank advised to check my credit file which I have just done through experian.
I have a 999 score with all green spots against mortage, credit card, phone, utilities etc and 1 red spot which appeared today when i got knock back from the credit card. the only other thing i can see is that i have a barclay card with just under £500 on (max credit £5200) but paid up to date.
So I am confused that the under writers said there is something on my credit file yet there is nothing on my credit report from experian.
Do they see a different file/report than what i am seeing?
I would really like this credit card as well seen as my family and I are travelling to the US in 4 weeks and this is the best way to access your money abroad.
Any information or help will be much appreciated.

chanz4

could be under utilisation on other cards

Maestro.

Honestly from what you have said it doesn't sound like there is a reason. I'd sod them and give someone else your business, who may well bite your hand off. There are other cards out there with low/no foreign exchange fees.

The_Boss

72lala wrote: »

Hi All,
Was hoping someone might shed some light on why I got the knock back from my own bank when applying for a halifax clarity credit card.
I applied in my local branch which i have banked with for over 15years, they said i had an "A1" rating which is the best they give out but couldn't apply for a credit card with them. i could get a £10,00 loan no problem or increse my overdraft if i pleased.
They found this unual and recommend to apply anyway and then they could speak with the under writers to see why I would be rejected.
The under writers said that they was something on my credit file that was stopping my application so the man in the bank advised to check my credit file which I have just done through experian.
I have a 999 score with all green spots against mortage, credit card, phone, utilities etc and 1 red spot which appeared today when i got knock back from the credit card. the only other thing i can see is that i have a barclay card with just under £500 on (max credit £5200) but paid up to date.
So I am confused that the under writers said there is something on my credit file yet there is nothing on my credit report from experian.
Do they see a different file/report than what i am seeing?
I would really like this credit card as well seen as my family and I are travelling to the US in 4 weeks and this is the best way to access your money abroad.
Any information or help will be much appreciated.

Ignore the 'score' - it's irrelevant.

Bit confused about your comment that the red mark appeared today - do you have any more detail? Experian wouldn't report on whether you were rejected so it must be something else.

tinkerbell28

The_Boss wrote: »

Ignore the 'score' - it's irrelevant.

Bit confused about your comment that the red mark appeared today - do you have any more detail? Experian wouldn't report on whether you were rejected so it must be something else.

I imagine it was the recent application flag.

marywooyeah

You're not missing anything if anything you've had a lucky escape halifax have awful customer service.

The_Boss

tinkerbell28 wrote: »

I imagine it was the recent application flag.

One recent search isnt an issue though

(although obviously this is Experian trying to justify their existence of course...)

bignose2

Hi,

I am not sure what the Halifax clarity credit card is but I seem to be suffering from a similar Halifax issue but MUCH WORSE because this is with an existing Platinum card.

From my experience today I really would avoid anything to do with Halifax. I don't bank with them, just a credit card.

I have a Halifax Platinum C/Card, have had for may be 10 years
Might have accidentally missed a payment or two over those 10 years but always always phoned to explain why.
Balance usually £2000 - £5000 each month & paid off in full so you would think considered quite a good client (I know they don't like those who pay off in full as don't get any interest but you would think considered quite good money management)

Anyway, today one of my payments was declined. Bit odd but in the past they have blocked payments to check for fraud , never had any fraud but they seem to be keen to block stuff.

Later I got a text to say my credit limit was reduced from £11,500 to £2000. Again rather odd, I had not long paid my statement balance.
Because I had bought quite a lot of stuff since last statement the balance was already over £2000 so of course this reduction in limit immediately rejected any payment I was trying to make on the card.

I phoned thinking it was some sort of silly mistake.

I was told that they review accounts every now & again & felt my limit should be reduced, said not really there decision but they review my credit score etc.

This rather panicked me thinking there must be some mistake that has screwed my credit rating. My circumstances have not changed, income fine, bank balance really healthy, no missed payments etc etc. You hear of errors that give you a black mark & wondered if this was the case.

They said I could not speak to anyone that would give me any more info. I could wait 6 months until the next review when it might! change or get all my credit scores & send them in & challenge the decision. I said I would not have anything to do with HF now anyway but would cancel the card at the first available opportunity (which I will but quite a lot of stuff auto comes of this card so not too easy)

Rather anxiously I checked with Experian & then CheckMyFile (Seems to check all agencies). All came back extremely good, a couple of small ?'s basically 2 DD loan payments failed a while ago, due to my bank having a online meltdown so could not pay any bills for 4 days even DD & phone banking (this p***S me off) the bank knew there were problems, appologised to me as no bills could be paid but these go against me, surely they should be forced in these situation to contact the companies that could not get there money to say it was there fault) Anyway these were paid by other means very quickly & seems to have little effect on my rating.

So as far as I can tell & I know myself there are no money issues Halifax has basically stopped me using the card. I could keep topping up the balance but that is not how it should work.

What really Is disgusting is that a client of probably over 10 years with this sort of payment history is reduce just like that with no warning or explanation. If considered they would know that a 2k limit would basically render my card blocked & useless, they have not tried to phone to warn me. I am meant to do all the contacting & investigation.

You really would think that a real person (not a computer) would look at my account and consider what is going to happen when they reduce the limit as well as question perhaps could this be an error.
I have perhaps 6 or more payment that are taken automatically from this card so this action could easily cause numerous rejections which in turn would effect my credit rating as well as prevent genuine people/companies from getting the money they are due.

Have to say I a furious, as well as something clearly gone wrong the lack of customer service and the manner in which this done just staggers me. Also I will have to spend quite a lot of time changing those that take payment from this card before I can cancel it.

Anyway, if you want loyalty (I know that is not really a word to be used in banking circles anyway) stay away from Halifax Credit Cards.

Just as side note, If you have been considered a credit risk or been rejected surely the banks or whoever should now be forced to advise of the agency or main reason for this rejection. In this day and age with the PPI and other numberous scandles & other lack of transparency surely we should not have to be the ones to do the investigations. I appreciate that institutions are not obliged lend us money or offer services but in some circumstances they really should have to give reasons for some actions, eg. like my situation.

YorkshireBoy

bignose2 wrote: »

...<snip>...

I think they think you're running a business venture with their 'personal' card? After all, not many people would be spending £2-5K each and every month and settling in full...other than those bankrolling their companies by putting expenses on their cards perhaps. Would I/they be right?

If you're not happy about the service you've received, there's a mechanism you could use...the formal complaint route. It might not get you anywhere, but neither will ranting on here.

opinions4u

Balance usually £2000 - £5000 each month & paid off in full

What sort of transactions are these?

bignose2

I know it was a bit of a rant but I thought forums, especially MSE, were to express opinions & experiences of good or bad service.

None of it is business.

All personal,

Few holidays,
All food bills
Car insurance for 4 cars,
home insurance,
meals out,
dental,
vets bills,
petrol
Some school fees
quite easy to run up over 2k
Sometimes is is under 1k but not often.

I think I am entitled to be annoyed, a service I have had for many years & come to expect it not longer available through no fault of mine & with no customer service, it will take quite some time & effort to advise all those who take payment regularly.