Help Please - Barclays cancelling my Hilton credit card for no reason

Mcn4lly87

Start of April I receive a vague letter in the post stating my Hilton Honors Barclay card was being cancelled in 60 days. There was a section for reason which was redacted with symbols and not readable.

So I ring Barclays speak to a nice lady who can’t understand it either and logs a complaint. She can see that it is being cancelled there is abit more text for the reason but essentially doesn’t give a reason.

The next day my complaint gets closed with no phone call, letter or explanation. I ring them back and they say within a week I should hear why.

Two weeks later still no reason, letter or call. So I ring them and explain the situation only to be told they cannot tell me why. They advise to ring the next day and talk to complaints team.

Next day I ring complaints team who say they will not tell me,  or do they have too and it’s there right to close accounts when they want to.


The reason I am !!!!!! off with this is the fact I have been with them several years, not once missed a payment or gave them reason to do this. My credit limit is close to £20k and I utilise always less than 50% of this always paying it off in full each month.

When they close my account it will have negative impact on my credit score as my available credit will be zero effectively. 

Are they allowed to do this? Any advice on what to do next?

jbrassy

Perhaps Hilton wanted to end its association with Barclaycard? The card hasn't been available to new customers for a few years.

DullGreyGuy

Yes, as long as they give you due notice and it's not for an unlawful reason (eg because of your sexual orientation). The Financial Ombudsman state that for current accounts (which arguably are more disruptive) they consider 30 days reasonable notice.

Barclays stopped offering the Hilton card to new customers in 2018 and at some point they are going to want to shut down the old product... though I'd expect them to transfer you to another product in most cases rather than close accounts... that's what they did with the Barclays Premier CC

MorningcoffeeIV

Mcn4lly87 said:

Are they allowed to do this? Any advice on what to do next?

1) Yes 

2) Apply for another card and ignore the subsequent drop in your credit score.

CliveOfIndia

As usual, succinct and sensible advice from @MorningcoffeeIV

Don't go fretting over it, it's a commercial decision, nothing personal.  With a good credit history (ignore your score) like it sounds you have, just apply for another card and move on.  Until the card is actually closed it won't even show on your credit report (and it probably won't show up until a couple of weeks after closure).  But even when it does show as closed, your positive history with the card will remain.

MEM62

Mcn4lly87 said:

When they close my account it will have negative impact on my credit score as my available credit will be zero effectively. 

You do not have a credit score and the fictional number provided as a 'score' by the CRA's is meaningless.  Consider it for entertainment purposes only. 

Mcn4lly87 said:

Are they allowed to do this? 

Yes, they can withdraw a product from you at any time.  They are not obliged to offer you a service. 

Mcn4lly87 said:

Any advice on what to do next?

Apply for another card elsewhere.  
 
   

Mcn4lly87

Thanks all. New card applied for got a similar credit limit with MBNA

Marchitiello

Just for the record, I do not think the OP closure was related to the Hilton card being closed to everyone as Barclaycard would have clearly communicated this and most probably offered an alternative card option (I have a Hilton card and whilst when it was an open card for everyone you could not product swap into it, now the app does offer the option to swap it to any of the other available Barclaycards).