Upgrading Barclaycard Initial to Platinum

xkpa

Hello. I am holding Barclaycard Initial since July 2014 and last week I called them to close the card, because the limit was only 250 pounds and never increased since then.

Before the call I tried to increase the credit limit, but without any luck - I was told to try in 2-3 months again.

I was transferred to the retentions department and the advisor told me numerous times not to close my account, because if i close it now, i will not be able to apply for Barclaycard product in the next 6 months.

At the end I asked him if it is possible to upgrade my Initial card to Platinum, he said yes, but the limit and APR will remain the same. So I requested him to upgrade the card, received text message from Barclays that they are dealing with the upgrade and will contact me soon. So far, it is still showing Initial card in my online banking.

What do you think - is it possible to receive some good offers in the near future because of that upgrade (like balance transfer offers)? Anyone have similar experience with them? Thank you in advance. Cheers

[Deleted User]

xkpa wrote: »

the advisor told me numerous times not to close my account, because if i close it now, i will not be able to apply for Barclaycard product in the next 6 months

I can say from personal experience that this is not true.

solentsusie

xkpa wrote: »

At the end I asked him if it is possible to upgrade my Initial card to Platinum, he said yes, but the limit and APR will remain the same.
Cheers

Not sure what the point of the 'upgrade' of the card is if the APR stays the same.

Were you given any indication of why they would not review your limit. Barclays are normally pretty good at giving increases if you have been running your account well.

Enfieldian

If the credit limit and APR have remained the same exactly what have they upgraded for you?

Initial offer occasional balance transfers anyway.

xkpa

I thought the same - what's the point of upgrading if limit and APR remains the same, but then I thought may be Platinum is seen as not so much of a sub prime card. They reviewed my credit limit increase request manually, it took them 6 days and I can see soft search from Barclaycard in my credit report, but they said no - please try in few months. So i will wait 2-3 months and will try to increase it again. Thank you for the replies.

stclair

The change won't take place until your next statement is generated.

System

You don't like the physical card?
Does it say initial on it?

Otherwise, what is point of upgrading if the limit / APR are the same

xkpa wrote: »

I thought the same - what's the point of upgrading if limit and APR remains the same, but then I thought may be Platinum is seen as not so much of a sub prime card.

solentsusie

Heng_Leng wrote: »

You don't like the physical card?
Does it say initial on it?

Otherwise, what is point of upgrading if the limit / APR are the same

The card just says Barclaycard on it, no indication of it being an "Initial" account. Personally it seems like a pretty pointless 'non upgrade'. I don't see any point in Barclaycard doing this if there is no APR reduction...

The Platinum card does say 'Platinum' on it though and is silver and white rather than blue and white.

20aday

[Deleted User] wrote:

I can say from personal experience that this is not true.

When I called the Customer Loyalty Unit earlier on this week the advisor also told me if I proceeded to close my account then I'd also be unable to re-apply for a new card for six months...

Doesn't matter as I've closed it anyhow.

mrsammyp

I originally had a barclaycard initial but later on got given the choice of changing it to a platinum or freedom card. I then called them every 6-12 months and had the interest rate decreased each time until it fell inline with similar cards.

solentsusie

mrsammyp wrote: »

I originally had a barclaycard initial but later on got given the choice of changing it to a platinum or freedom card. I then called them every 6-12 months and had the interest rate decreased each time until it fell inline with similar cards.

That is the point of the Initial card, to build your credit rating by getting a lower mainstream APR and increasing your limit from a very low one.