NatWest warning

RG2015

I got a message in NatWest online banking saying that I qualified for an increase in my credit card limit to £xxx.

I then followed their links and applied for my limit to be increased to this amount. I then got a text saying that my request had been declined but they were able to increase my limit to a smaller figure. Now on my credit card management section in online banking it says that on xx/xx/2017 I had a credit increase request declined..

I am annoyed that NatWest have made an offer and then not delivered on this. However, I am now concerned that my credit rating will be adversely affected.

CakeCrusader

I did this with Barclays (they didn't send a text though). I tried to increase my limit online by £200, and it said 'no'. A few days later I received a letter in the post telling me they were increasing my limit by £400.

Are you able to give them a call??

RG2015

I decided not to ring them because it is pointless arguing with NatWest customer services. I may though make a complaint if my credit rating has been adversely affected.

[Deleted User]

There's no impact on your credit files.

sourcrates

RG2015 wrote: »

I decided not to ring them because it is pointless arguing with NatWest customer services. I may though make a complaint if my credit rating has been adversely affected.

Your credit file only records your payment history, nothing else.

So called credit scores fluctuate all the time, and should never be taken as a serious indicator of your credit worthiness.

RG2015

Thanks for the reply but doesn't my credit file also include a record of hard searches?

[Deleted User]

It does, which only have a minimal, very short term impact, if you're a borderline case.

Did they carry out a hard search?

GingerBob_3

So you've been mugged with a hard search? This tells other lenders you're applying for credit (that's the theory). Well, I suppose you are, but they've blagged you into it because they invited you to do so. I wonder if they explicitly told you about the hard search as part of the invitation? Another practice that should be banned. My list is getting very long!

RG2015

I am not sure if there was a hard search but I had already ordered a £2 report to check another issue so I hope to find this out.

The real mugging is for NatWest to say that my credit card history qualifies me for a specific figure and then to decline this when I apply for it.

[Deleted User]

It's very unlikely they'll have done a hard search for a CLI, but may as well check it out anyway.

Remember you have 3 files they could have searched.

RG2015

Yes, thanks but I believe that NatWest invariably use Experian which is the one I have ordered.