Is there such a thing as a listening bank lol

hansbee

Hi everyone, i'm new to the forum, but i can see im not alone with it all, i also have made a start canceling ppi, and am in the process of trying to get back 2.300 from the bank of scotland for bank charges.
The question i have, is there a human being out there working for a loan company or bank that i can talk too, my credit rating is not so hot, but this is not down to not paying just i am late sometimes cos i am little in over my head. But i am managing to pay out over 1200 pounds a month on various loans and credit cards, and i know im being stung by the credit cards in particular, eg phoned mbna today, they stuck my interest up form 16 to 27.9 in the five years i have had this card ive prob paid them about 5.000 in interest, 1,500 more than the credit limit i have, and today they refused to put me back down to 16% this is total greed, any way i digress. I am looking for a company that wont just go by equiafax but will also look at the evidence i have eg bank statements which show that i can and do pay, so i could if possible get a consolidation loan.
I am probably living back in the dark ages when you could talk to somebody, just hoping that there mite be a company that still works like that.

hansbee :beer:

ALIBOBSY

Sadly I would say all banks as well as big companies just see us all as numbers on a page and attempt to screw as much cash off us all as possible. Mind you I suppose at the end of the day they are in business to make money not friends. My understanding is most if not all banks/financial institutions use mostly automated decision systems which use you credit report and your application to produce a "score" if you are above their "score" you get an offer if below no offer (in some cases different offers dependant how highly you score with them). Even bank managers don't seem to have much if any descrestion regarding these decisions. I have heard of people writing with further info to challenge when they have been turned down for a credit card or loan, some sucessfully some not. You can get so called sub prime loans but that wouldn't improve your interest situation. As far as I can see borrowing to consolidate other debts is on the whole bad news. I would read Martins articles on the credit card shuffle to restructure your debts. Also read up about cutting down on your costs etc and get things paid off ASAP starting with the highest interest rate as per Martin's articles. I am in the process myself and have paid off so much this last year. Their are people on here who have got through paying off thousands and thousands so read, read read and good luck:)
ali x

Dylanwing

Is there a listening Bank? - In a word NO.
Can't you see the logic - You are struggling, therefore you become a bad risk, therefore they charge you more, therefore you struggle even more, then they put the rate up again and eventually default thus proving that you were a bad risk.
More seriously, the debt-free board is good, if you decide consolidation is the right approach, do a search on Moneysupermarket, and that may point you in the right direction for a lender likely to accept you. It's a bit hit and miss, but luckily in my case it hit well. And if you do consolidate - Cut up the cards!

hansbee

Thanks for the replies guys and taking the time to do it, oh yes im all over martins tips at the Mo, egg is going to be getting a letter, along with lloyds credit cards, also found out that i am proabably on a band to high for council tax, which ive been paying for the last 14 years on my house, haha if eveyone pays me back all the money they shouldnt have had off of me i probably wont need a loan, will be able to sort out a few cards, and for sure i will purchase a brand new pair of shinny sharp sissors, no more i say lol :rotfl: