Astounding attitude

AliceBanned

I've been on the phone to First Direct, who I have a credit card with, with a balance of only £450, for half an our, jumping through various hoops and being asked too many personal questions which inferred I'm a bad girl for being in debt. I know they have to check their facts, but I already have paid a card down with them to much lower than it was, as well as other credit cards, and only requested £800 increase so that I could shift debt from another card. Another question was 'so you have been moving debt from one card to the other? Why are you in debt?'. They then decided I was stuck in revolving credit (even though the debt is reducing) and refused the application.

Err no actually I'm reducing my debt and have been for some time, but I can't magic it away overnight. I don't need the FD credit card after I've paid it off so will close it. In the past it was a simple call and they might have an offer, I was only asking, to avoid 29% interest on a £2500 balance with another card. It was clear when I answered her questions that I have over £800 disposable income per month. Yes I am £7k in debt not as much as I was when they offered me a higher balance. The woman I spoke to even asked me why I wasn't asking to borrow £2500 so that I could pay off the remainder. I said I have enough to pay the rest, I have a good income. I also had to explain that I used to earn less and have higher outgoings. Why give all that info when after a long time of holding on and more questions, they are going to turn around and say I am not managing money properly. Correction: I wasn't managing money properly. Then she had a nerve at the end to tell me about Equifax. I told her I'd been offered a mortgage of £180,000 recently so not quite sure why I need advice about my credit file.

Sometimes being in debt feels so humiliating, that's the last thing you need.

I read a fact recently that 17 million working age Brits have less than £100 in savings. Go figure, First Direct..and perhaps add a bit less condescension to your processes. People aren't thick just because they are in debt. It's a national problem.  Or if you are going to judge, don't tell people their credit file looks fine, ask them a million questions and then say 'err you are stuck in revolving debt, why?' Not if you want to keep good customers.

sourcrates

Why are you in debt ?

Strange question from a Banking Institution whose entire business model revolves around people borrowing money from them.

The answer is usually because you don`t have sufficient funds yourself, but if you say that to them, you get "so, your in financial trouble then".

I love banks, they throw money at you when you don`t need it, refuse to help when you do.

Willing2Learn

Just passing through and thought I should leave @AliceBanned a comment to say how well you have done to reduce your level of debt by two thirds since your LBM 

AliceBanned

Willing2Learn said:

Just passing through and thought I should leave @AliceBanned a comment to say how well you have done to reduce your level of debt by two thirds since your LBM 

Thanks so much Willing2Learn. I’m feeling quite despondent after that phone call. It was so condescending and like having everything I’ve done to sort my situation out thrown in my face. As it was a long conversation and not just a simple rejection it felt more personal. I was being asked to justify myself and I really don’t think banks have the moral high ground. Just makes me more determined to never ask them for anything again. Apart from a mortgage. I’ve had it with debt and not even there yet, no savings.

John_

Banks are required to consider whether people are in persistent debt now, and these questions are as a result of that. Asking why you are in debt is a very valid question, as there’s a big difference between having taken on a debt for a replacement car, or some new windows, and using it because your monthly outgoings are more than your income.

Fireflyaway

Maybe in a roundabout way it's a good thing? Better to pay off your debts and close down the credit accounts? You have done amazing and you don't need them. 

AliceBanned

Fireflyaway said:

Maybe in a roundabout way it's a good thing? Better to pay off your debts and close down the credit accounts? You have done amazing and you don't need them. 

It’s true. Thanks FireflyawAy I’ve been focused on debt busting for so long that things like balance transfers and my credit file have become an obsession. 😬

AliceBanned

John_ said:

Banks are required to consider whether people are in persistent debt now, and these questions are as a result of that. Asking why you are in debt is a very valid question, as there’s a big difference between having taken on a debt for a replacement car, or some new windows, and using it because your monthly outgoings are more than your income.

Thanks that’s true but she spoke to me like I was clueless and I didn’t like the fact that it took nearly half an hour of prodding to then say ‘no’ anyway. It felt s bit clumsy and some of her comments were loaded to say the least.

AliceBanned

It also should have been clear it’s not revolving debt because said I was paying off the rest from my income. I can’t pay it all before the interest period starts. I could easily get a 0% card elsewhere but I wanted to stick with current cards as I didn’t expect it to be a big deal since that card had had a much bigger balance in the past. Yes there is a bit of shuffling but that’s not revolving debt and she was not looking at the facts if she said it was. I’ve worked to hard at it to be spoken to like that.

ratrace

AliceBanned said:

Sometimes being in debt feels so humiliating, that's the last thing you need.

Hey Alice, dont let them get under your skin you are doing a great job use the above as extra fuel to keep you motivated, Never again for me too i have learnt my lesson, its so easy to get into debt in seconds but takes years to get out, keep going to are doing great

AliceBanned

Thanks Ratrace. Will feel so good to have paid them off!