Switching, not adding cards

Scribble

After moving about a little bit and going self-employed, I doubt I'm eligible for any *extra* credit cards... my bank threw limit increases at me for I guess being a good customer and staying in my job with regular salary increases for over two years.

I realise what I may have to do is effectively transfer my whole dealings across to a new lender if I want to, for instance, try to take advantage of a balance transfer for a 0% period, canceling my old account.

I presume this is possible, although of course if I try to do online applications that do not take such a plan into account I may risk being rejected on credit checks. So I guess it's a phone/in-branch thing to do. But how would such a case be handled? Would it be a case of if you said you were going to close the other one and didn't, they'd remove any further spending, remove promotional APRs, raise APRs, whatever or would the application simply be based on wether I can take a second card on?

And would decreasing my unused credit limit help, or does this make you look less worthy? (I'd look at taking the balance down as well to give about a 60 spent/40 free split).

Thanks all... it's one of many questions I'm hoping to answer over the next few weeks so any advice is very much appreciated

Bokkens

From what you have said I am not sure what you means as you mention accounts and credit cards.
If you want to move your bank account to a new bank have a look at Martin's advice and phone them and they will do all the switching of DD etc for you,you can still keep the original account open if you want to.
As for credit cards moving the debt from one card to a new card at 0% is fairly easy as well.
Read Martin's advice and select a card that will suit you phone them up give them your details and they will complete the application on the phone.You normally then have to wait for your card and PIN number to arrive in the post when it does you phone customer services and activate your new card and tell them you want to Balance transfer "xyz" amount from your old card to them.
If you want money to go into your bank account you will need to apply for a card that does this see Martin's articles for a list.
Hope that helps if not post again for more information
Good luck

Scribble

Thanks for the reply. When I say account, I mean the Credit Card 'account'...

Yep, it's definitely the latter I would be after. My main issues is that I expect I'm slightly less eligible than when my last limit was set, and realise that I may already have the maximum I can borrow covered... therefore, I may get one or more rejections on record for applying for extra credit I can't have when in fact I don't even need my current limit - just a different card because mine is rubbish!

So I'm wondering the best way to approach a creditor (and even the best creditor to approach) and say "I don't want a card with my old bank any more, I want one with you" instead of saying "I want a second card with you".