Barclaycard - closing accounts and your credit report

nickmack

I had a Barclaycard until about 14 months ago. The balance was paid off in full and I asked for the account to be closed. I received a letter saying the account was closed and my balance and limit are now both £0

Now, I can see on my credit report they are still updating the details as of last month, and the account is showing at £0 balance and a £3500 limit.

I called up and asked why they were still updating my details and why a £3500 limit was showing when the account was closed and limit set to £0 over a year ago. All the drone could tell me repeatedly was 'the account was closed'. I asked for a call back from someone who could give me an answer. It was promised, but never came.

I called again a few days later and put it to them, either they have not communicated the information correctly to the credit reference agencies or the agencies have not updated the report.

They then told me to contact the credit agencies and tell them the account was closed. I told them, that was their job and I expected them to provide accurate information. I was then told, it's policy for Barclaycard to list the old credit limit on the account.

Has anyone else closed a Barclaycard account and has access to their credit report (Experian in particular)? Can you confirm whether you still have your old limit showing? Is it marked as settled?

I'm concerned Barclaycard have not marked the account as settled if they insist on retaining the limit on the report. Other card providers I've closed accounts with have set the balance/limit to £0 and marked the account as settled.

doveman

On my reports, settled accounts do still show the credit limit that was available at the time they were closed and an end date which shows when the account was settled.

I actually think it might be a good thing that prospective lenders can see how much credit I've had and responsibly managed in the past.

HeadInSand_2

My Experian report shows my closed BarclayCard along with the old limit and listed as settled.

nickmack

I don't really have a problem with Barclaycard showing the old credit limit, but if they're going to do so, the account should show as settled. Otherwise it looks like you have unused available credit.

YorkshireBoy

I once had a similar issue with LTSB. I had closed the credit card account, but they had not updated Experian for 3 months (although Equifax was fine). Consequently I had £15K of available credit showing PLUS used credit of £13K when my real balance was £0.

I sent a fax to their underwriting office, highlighting their failure to comply with section's x and y (can't remember the actual ones now but one may have been 6 or 7 [information must be accurate]) of the DPA, and giving them 7 days to MANUALLY update Experian or I would go to the Information Commissioner.

Guess what? It was done that very afternoon.

nickmack

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I sent a fax to their underwriting office, highlighting their failure to comply with section's x and y (can't remember the actual ones now but one may have been 6 or 7 [information must be accurate]) of the DPA, and giving them 7 days to MANUALLY update Experian or I would go to the Information Commissioner.

I can feel a similar communication coming on very soon!