If I ask my existing CC provider for a BT deal, will they do a credit search?

Fingerbobs

Title says it all.


If I phone my existing credit card provider and ask about availability of BT deals, are they likely to run a credit search on me to decide what they can offer?


Would they be obliged to tell me if they were going to credit search me and give me an option to back out?

[Deleted User]

If you're applying for a new BT card with them, then yes, of course they will

MEM62

It is probable that they are running a check on you periodically anyway as part of the on-going servicing of your account. Are you sensitive to them running a search? If so, why?

Fingerbobs

Not sensitive really, but I'm avoiding unnecessary searches at the moment to allow my credit history to "recover" a bit as there is a possibility I may want to take out a mortgage later this year.

I phoned all my existing card providers, and no 0% fee-free deals were forthcoming, except by opening a new card.

jimmo

The latest offer I have received from Halifax is for a choice of balance transfer or money transfer. For a money transfer it definitely says that there will be no credit search but for a balance transfer it is strangely silent. To me that means one thing.
Why are you thinking of phoning your CC provider? 3 of my cards, Hfx, B'card and MBNA regularly inundate me with offers online, by email and by post. If your provider hasn't made you an offer its a pretty sure thing nothing is available. I've also read on here of people who've phoned their provider and were searched during their call.

chattychappy

My experience is that they don't search you if you take up an offer they have made to you on an existing card.

Several years ago I phoned around my existing CCs to see if they could better any of the offers that were on my account. Barclaycard did, but I didn't take it up. They said nothing about a search.

I wouldn't worry if you do get a search. Different lenders take different views, but I would have thought 2 or 3 in any 3 month period aren't going to be a problem. Searches are not like missed payments, going overlimit, always paying minimums etc.