Got my Abbey/Santander credit card....had a shock

Spark

I have received today my black Abbey credit card (took time, posted application 2nd october). I thought it would be a good idea to have the Santander card, I have my bank account with Abbey and they seems to want to get rid of Mbna.
I thought I would get no more than £3000 credit limit, which would have suited me fine,probably less as I have 4 other credit cards, but to my surprise they have given me a credit limit of £11600:eek: which is way too much for what I use the credit cards for, that was most unexpected.
Has anyone got a Santander card and had a big credit limit straight away?
My idea is that if your card is stolen or cloned, they can make more transactions out of a £11600 card than on a <3000 one, so I get very nervous when I am using a card with a big credit limit.
My Abbey/Mbna credit card is £11600 as well, did they do that to match my Mbna card?
Could I ask for a reduction on my credit limit?
If I was to keep one out of the two, should I keep the Santander one or the Mbna one, as the amount of credit I have right now will probably get me rejected if I apply for any other credit cards in the future.

johnmoney05

I only got £1000...normally get £3000 on other cards.
Well, you can easily reduce it by calling them.

Spark

Well, I was expecting about what you normally have, even £1000 would have been fine for now.
Won't they be suspicious and start playing up if I ask for a credit limit decrease? Normally people ask for an increase.

jonesMUFCforever

Not all all. I closed one MBNA account because I was not using it - but they lumped the limit onto the other card which was open.
I did not want this and they were very prompt in reducing the limit to what I wanted.

Spark

If you want to close an account, do you call them or do you need to write to them?

jonesMUFCforever

I telephoned them - they acted upon my telephoned instruction - but reminded me that any CPA would still be debited and account re-opened. (I did not have any)

Spark

I didn't use my MBNA credit cards for a few months now, I don't owe anything and both my balances are 00.000.
So that means that if a mistake is made a few years down the line and my account is used, they could potentially reopen my account?:eek:

MarcoM

Spark

how did you apply for the card, in branch or via post?

Also how did you find Santander's customer service?

On another thread it seems that abbey are not paying interest in the current accounts!!!

LittleVoice

Spark wrote: »

I didn't use my MBNA credit cards for a few months now, I don't owe anything and both my balances are 00.000.
So that means that if a mistake is made a few years down the line and my account is used, they could potentially reopen my account?:eek:

That's a problem with continuing credit card transactions. Unlike bank direct debits which you can cancel, credit card ones can be very difficult to cancel if the oganisation initiating the debit decides to continue taking funds. Only give continuing powers to organisations which you are really confident in. One off payments are fine, it is the continuing debits which are a problem.

One reputable membership organisation to which I granted a continuing authority has continued to take an annual subscription despite showing the card expiry as 8/00 and where the account number has changed but they still use the original one which goes with the 8/00 expiry. The card issuer just converts their data to my current card.

simonhunter87

i have 2 credit cards with £500 and £900 credit limits and abbey/santander gave me £2000!
a lot higher than expected - but welcomed none the less

Spark

First /Abbey/Mbna applied in branch.
Second Abbey/Mbna was offered through the post by Abbey, so sent back the application.
Santander was offered through the post by Abbey, sent back application.
I have never had any direct debit with any of my credit cards. I loathe direct debit as it gives full control on my money to a total stranger who shouldn't have access to it, so I am trying to avoid direct debits as much as I can.