Smile - I hate them!

Butterfliesarepretty

I have a current account with smile (not used) I am owing £978 on it. No money going in it apart from £20 a month. My credit card limit, (they sent me a new card the other week after not issuing me with a new one in November because I had missed one payment which was an overseen error on my part) was £2300.

The other day I sent them a secure message saying I wanted a settlement figure on my current account dated from the 30th April (when i leave work and get redundancy payment). I told them I still wanted the account open after I had paid it off as I had a bank charges claim outstanding on it.

Then I get a letter yesterday from co-op bank saying about my current account they need to speak to me. I rang up and he said its because I owe them money, I told him that it had been in this state since I opened a new account for my wages and that I had never had a warning before from them. also some money was being paid into it each month of £20 to keep it topped up. So he agreed to make a note, no more letters to be sent as I intend to pay it off ten days after the 30th April.

Then I log into my credit card account with smile today and get this message!

Hello Ms Shaw

I am writing with regard to your above numbered credit card limit.

The Bank has a duty to act as a responsible lender at all times, both when we open an account and on an ongoing basis through regular reviews of account activity, credit limits (both those with ourselves and with other finance providers), and the information from Credit Reference Agencies such as Experian and Equifax. This is to monitor customers, and potentially those to whom they are financially linked, to ensure that they do not borrow more than they can afford.

Following such a review, we have now reduced the credit limit on your account to £900. This new limit is sufficient to cover your existing borrowing and allow you some additional credit to manage your account going forward. In the event that you wish us to re-consider this reduction then you may find it helpful to obtain a copy of your credit report first from Experian and/or Equifax. We may be able to review the position once you have reduced limits/balances held elsewhere or corrected any issues on your credit profile.

If there is adverse information registered on your credit profile then we will be unable to reinstate your credit limit while this information remains. In this context, our use of licensed credit reference agencies is in accordance with your account terms and conditions.

While we appreciate that customers may be disappointed by a decision to reduce their credit limit, our duty to act as a responsible lender means we must base our decisions on the information available to us at that time.

In the event that you wish to discuss the above, please contact us on 0845 602 4677. Telephone lines are open from 8.00am to 4.00 pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively you may prefer to write to Customer Feedback, PO Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester, M60 4EP.

Thanks
Personal Lending Services


So my credit card is up to £858 owing and now they slap on a minimum limit of £900. I don't get it? What should I do? I have to live on this card until I get paid on 30th April.:mad:



Ref: TR06

davetrousers

How much money do you need to get through the next 19 days then?

Food
Travel
Bills etc.

Voyager2002

The people who run the credit card don't know all your circumstances, and have taken a reasonable decision not to lend you any more money.

Anyway, you obviously need some funds for the rest of this month. An overdraft might be the most appropriate way to borrow, so contact the people running one of your accounts, let them know about the coming redundancy money, and ask them to increase your limit.

You could also try discussing this with the credit card people.

And I don't think you have any reason for hating Smile: you really can't expect the credit card department to know things that you have told other bits of the bank.

Butterfliesarepretty

Voyager2002 wrote: »

The people who run the credit card don't know all your circumstances, and have taken a reasonable decision not to lend you any more money.

Anyway, you obviously need some funds for the rest of this month. An overdraft might be the most appropriate way to borrow, so contact the people running one of your accounts, let them know about the coming redundancy money, and ask them to increase your limit.

You could also try discussing this with the credit card people.

And I don't think you have any reason for hating Smile: you really can't expect the credit card department to know things that you have told other bits of the bank.

Have tried asking my main bank A & L to increase my overdraft from £750 to £1000. They refused, so will try other ways, I need £35 a week petrol for work and just food. Going out once next thursday for a cheap meal with my friend - I have not been out for months. I never spend a lot. I owe £668 to A & L. Egg card as in signature below - not been using it recently, so been paying £45 a month in it, and I owe as above on credit card with smile and as above with my smile current account.

Is that really bad? Should I keep my spending under more control, as I will have to really budget soon, my csa payments for my daughter will reduce to £5 a week, will have to sign on and actively intend to look for a new job asap, and also spend less on food. Spend about £30 a week at moment. the debts will be paid off in total and cards cut up. Should I do a challenge while I look for jobs??

davetrousers

shawtj2 wrote: »

, I need £35 a week petrol for work and just food.

and also spend less on food. Spend about £30 a week at moment.

Does that mean you spend £5 a week on petrol and £30 on food then?

You might like to post a mini SOA. What essential outgoings do you have between now and the 30th?

Butterfliesarepretty

davetrousers wrote: »

Does that mean you spend £5 a week on petrol and £30 on food then? No sorry I spend £35 a week on petrol so thats two weeks to finishing work is £70 and can reduce my food bill to moneysaving pasta meals and get bread and make more sandwiches for work.

You might like to post a mini SOA. What essential outgoings do you have between now and the 30th?

all my bills are paid they go out the 1st of the month, got a card to make myself for my boss who is also leaving the same day as me and I will get her a small present like a piece of jewellery off ebay or something as a leaving present, bottle of wine is boring.

So not too bad at the moment, just perplexed that they let me have the new card and I suppose I took it for granted that I could use it but guess it will help me save money. Going to switch my A&L main account to a nationwide account when I leave work and start afresh with just a cash card to minimise my spending.