Retiree declined Barclaycard Rewards card

cymruchris

cabbie37 said:

It's just (frankly) that I am offended that I got declined and want someone in authority to feel awkward in explaining the reasons...

Not everyone gets every credit card they ask for - no matter what their status or made-up credit score is. There will be times when you don't meet the minimum criteria, and will be turned down, no matter how positive you think your credit file looks. Nobody in authority is going to be feeling awkward at declining your application. It happens every day in the hundreds, if not the thousands. It just means at this moment in time you didn't quite make the grade and were declined.

There is a small thing happening if you'd noticed, that virus thing, which as a result means that many (if not all) lenders have significantly tightened up their lending criteria. Some banks are not offering credit limit increases, others are really battening down the hatches on new applications. It may be that if you'd applied a year ago, you might have been accepted, but in these troubled times you haven't been. You might have been close to acceptance but just not quite close enough. It does happen that eligibility checkers say 'you're highly likely to get it' or even 'you're pre-approved to get it' and can still go on to be declined.

 Being declined a card during a pandemic is not a reason to be offended. 

Gerry1

Zellah said:

The OP might wish to apply for the 118118 card, as that is similar to the Rewards card and ironically the OP *might* get accepted for it if he’s unemployed- it’s a sub prime card. 

118118 Money are every bit as bad as Barclaycard.  You'll be immediately booted out if you're 70 or over.

Virulent ageism is alive and well in banking.  Sadly, it's legal, unlike most other types of discrimination. 

CRISPIANNE3

Surely if you are on a pension that is guaranteed income unlike someone  who is working. Strange times we live in. 

jbrassy

Gerry1 said: 

118118 Money are every bit as bad as Barclaycard.  You'll be immediately booted out if you're 70 or over.

Virulent ageism is alive and well in banking.  Sadly, it's legal, unlike most other types of discrimination. 

I can't comment on how 'bad' 118 118 Money are, but I imagine their credit limits are going to be pitifully low given it's a sub-prime card. Like I said, your best alternatives are Halifax Clarity and Starling Bank.

Thrugelmir

No business has an obligation to take you as a customer. Lenders have target makets for their customers. You don't fit into Barclaycard's. Sounds a first world problem when there's plenty of other card providers available. 

[Deleted User]

Gerry1 said:

Zellah said:

The OP might wish to apply for the 118118 card, as that is similar to the Rewards card and ironically the OP *might* get accepted for it if he’s unemployed- it’s a sub prime card. 

118118 Money are every bit as bad as Barclaycard.  You'll be immediately booted out if you're 70 or over.

Virulent ageism is alive and well in banking.  Sadly, it's legal, unlike most other types of discrimination. 

A bank can lend to whoever they like, it's not discrimination or ageism, they could only offer cards to people called Fred, who applied on Mondays and drove a Ford Mondeo if they wanted to - it's a corporate decision based on the risk they consider acceptable. If they don't want your business you can go elsewhere to someone who will.

born_again

cabbie37 said: It's just (frankly) that I am offended that I got declined and want someone in authority to feel awkward in explaining the reasons...

I doubt that you will get passed a front line call center rep who will just say Sorry (if lucky) but system say no. As a non customer they can even ignore a complaint, although they can log your comments.
Believe me, no one in power would feel awkward saying why.

Grumpy_chap

Silvertabby said:

someone in a job that could be axed at any time is a better bet than a pensioner with a guaranteed income?

Banks seem to work in mysterious ways.

Silvertabby said:

We took out a personal loan for car purchase just a couple of weeks ago.  £12K at 2.8% a

That and then applying for the CC may look like you are desperate for credit.  Pragmatic advice for anyone of any status is to leave a few months between applications.  Yes, life does not work like that, but banks seem to.

cymruchris

Grumpy_chap said:

Silvertabby said:

We took out a personal loan for car purchase just a couple of weeks ago.  £12K at 2.8% a

That and then applying for the CC may look like you are desperate for credit.  Pragmatic advice for anyone of any status is to leave a few months between applications.  Yes, life does not work like that, but banks seem to.

That's not the OP

cabbie37

Oh, and the other thing I should perhaps have mentioned is that I have been a Barclays account holder for 50 years...