Barclaycard

biowoman

Hi,
I've only joined here. I just have to get this off my chest as it has really infuriated me.

I applied for a Barclaycard credit card which arrived on the 1st of March. I registered the card and was told the limit was £1050. I was asked when registering the card what the purpose was for applying in the first place to which I answered that I was going on a 2 week trip round Germany and was planning on using it to pay for accomodation and travelling costs rather than carrying cash. The balance was planned to be payed off on returning.
The lady made a note on the account that the card would be used in Germany, for security reasons.

I was away from the 3rd-16th. In the middle of the week I attempted to remove some money for accomodation to which I had the card returned saying insufficient funds.
I contacted the number on the card and could only access the fact that there was only 5euros left on the balance. I knew that we hadn't used even half the allowed balance.

On returning home on the 17th I found a letter from Barclaycard telling me that the limit had been reduced to £330 due to information required from my Credit report. Now this I know is not true as I have got my Experian Credit report and have a score of 955 out of 1000 and a GOOD rating. There is no visible reason for them reducing the balance.

And also the fact that the letter was sent during the time I was away, I had no way of knowing the credit limit had been dropped and there was a very good chance I could have gone over the new limit without being aware and suffered charges. I haven't even had a first statment it such a new account.

The credit report was good before I applied for the card and is still exactly the same. There are NO changes to it.

Surely they cannot just change the limits without a valid reason and is there anyway I can find out from them what the reason behind the change is? I really cannot understand this. I've never had this problem before.

Obviously, if there is an issue with a credit reference agency I would be very keen to find out what it is. When the opportunity arises to get a mortgage (still living at home at present) a black mark, if there is actually one, is going to effect my application. Although according to Experian there is no mark! :mad:

Can anyone suggest any ideas on how I can find out what would have caused this.

I'm very much looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thanks

Debbie

battyboimatt

Yes they can just cut your credit limit, they did to me a few weeks back from a good limit to one of £300, You were lucky I didnt get a letter at all, and lucky for me I only had £250 on the card, I got the same letter saying its due to my credit report, like you its clear and I recenty got a Citi card 5.9% LOB so I know its a pile of poo poo, what is odd with mine, Is I called to cancel in Jan and was promised loads of things and they incresed me limit as well, so I wrote a strong letter to them on the 20th Feb, funny enougth I got a letter today saying I write further to my letter of 20th Feb, Thank you for your patience while out investigation contiue, they will get back to me by 16th April lol, It's because I asked them to listen to my call that I made to cancel to provide what was offered to me as they have to record there retention calls, I will be canceling this card after they have completed the investion so when I phone up and they ask why, I can tell them, even if they gave me a million pound limit with 0/1% Apr they could shove it as far as it would go, Id never go to Barclays again, there staff are rude, couldnt care less and just overall are crap, and to add to them, my other credit cards have all just uped my limit as well, so i know its not my credit file.

biowoman

Yeah, I told them I wasn't happy either and I would be cancelling the card as soon as I had cleared of the balance. Luckily, like you my balance was under what they had dropped it to so NO BIG FINES!!! I think thats why they do it, wait till you get close or over what their going to change it to and then say, oh, your over your agreed limit and now you owe us lots of money...

The guy on the phone, probably in India or somewhere, said he was sorry I wasn't happy and would log an official complaint. i told him to go ahead as I would also be sending in a very heated letter of complaint to the company.
I was warned off barclay's just after I'd applied and now I can see why. I certainely will not be recommending them to anyone.

If they carry on like that they'll have no customers left.

Thanks for the reply.

Dylanwing

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=811619
Seems a common theme. I was recently accepted for the Football Barclaycard with 0% interest on my season ticket. In light of these posts I have rapidly renewed my ticket, just in case, although after defeats to Plymouth and Cardiff, maybe Barclaycard would have done me a favour lowering my limit!