Barclaycard rejection despite banking with Barclays for 5 years

Wheatbox

Query for Forum

I hope this is the correct forum for this query. A friend has been rejected for Barclaycard, even though he has banked with Barclays for 5 years and never been overdrawn. He is employed full time and has never been in debt. The rejection letter stated that he should write in if he wanted to know the reason why (no email or telephone option given). He posted the letter six weeks ago and has heard nothing. It seems unjust not to be given a reason in the rejection letter, and an added anxiety not to receive a reply.

He wants a credit card purely to build up a credit history to improve his chances of being accepted for a mortgage. 

1. Should he persist in trying to find out the reason before applying for any other credit card?
2. Does a request for a reason affect his credit rating?
3. How can he safely check what is on his credit file?
4. Is there any merit in talking to someone at Barclays bank, or is Barclaycard a separate entity?

 Thank you

bradders1983

You dont get extra points for banking loyalty on a credit application.  As per 3) he needs to do this first off, easy to do if he Googles it.

Coveredinbees!!!!

I think Barclaycard have been tightening up on who they give cards to as plenty of people have had their limits slashed recently. Mine was cut from 10k to 1k but I cancelled my account anyway.

D3xt3r5L4b

 1. They’ll never give the “exact” reason, so no. 

2. No. No one has a universal “credit rating”.

3. Use any of the available free services. MSE Credit Club, ClearScore, TransUnion. Ignore the scores and ratings and just look at the data. 

4. No. They’ll just give some excuses as they don’t be trained in knowing the ins and outs of lending. 

cymruchris

It depends on what he has on his credit file. Things like - is he on the electoral roll, does he have any other credit accounts/mobile phone contracts/catalogue accounts? Does he have any recorded missed or late payments? I bank with Barclays, and in my first 4 years they wouldn't give me a card either - but I did get a card from sub-prime providers such as Vanquis, Aqua and Capital One. They are all tightening up on who they lend to at the present time, but your friend could try their eligibility checkers, as they may give him a better chance of success. Interest rates don't matter as long as he pays off the card in full every month.

To benefit his credit profile - that's the behaviour he has to demonstrate ongoing. Not to carry over a balance paying interest, and not to make any cash withdrawals. First step - check the credit history for any nasties - second step try the eligibility checkers with the companies I've mentioned, choose only ONE card and then apply.

Wheatbox

Thank you all for your really helpful comments, much appreciated

MABLE

Coveredinbees!!!! said:

I think Barclaycard have been tightening up on who they give cards to as plenty of people have had their limits slashed recently. Mine was cut from 10k to 1k but I cancelled my account anyway.

It was only because the card had not been used. I got the same letter.