Another CC rejection question

I recently applied for a Barclaycard and found out today I was rejected.

I have two ISAs and a savings and a current account with Barclays with an overdraft.  I have a fair amount in my ISAs and a good income with full time employment.  I've been getting various offers to apply for a CC with Barclays and for about a year, have passed them by.

I recently decided to help build my credit, I wanted to apply for a credit card with a low limit (even lower than my overdraft) to use once a month for groceries and pay back in full by direct debit.  I went to a branch to talk about the feasibility of this option, and the representative told me that looking at my banking information, I was pre-approved for a card.  Multiple times, I questioned if pre-approved really meant pre-approved and he said yes I was already approved for a card.  The online application system was having problems, but I said I wouldn't mind waiting around while it got fixed it so I would know right there and then if I was approved for a card, and he told me again I was approved and there was no decision to wait for and I would get the card.  So, I submitted paperwork instead and he told me I would get the card in about 10 days.  Well, today, I got a letter of rejection.  I'm quite miffed how this was represented to me.  I think it's a significant step from "you're already approved, we don't need a decision, you'll get your card in 10 days" to "we're sorry to inform you your application was unsuccessful"      I know they sell their products, but this is, at least to me, quite the gross misrepresentation.

I'm more upset about being outright lied to than the rejection... not to mention my credit rating has taken a hit since I acted on incorrect information and now have a credit card rejection on my file... I usually don't make a fuss, but this was such a 180 from what I was told at the bank... can I complain to anyone?

Is there some kind of reconsideration line you can call? There often is for companies in the US. Chase's reconsideration line is famous for being really good and often issuing a card after a rejection, for example. Sometimes a person looking at the whole picture will manually approve you when the computer system rejects you.

Hi,

In amongst all this economic turmoil as a whole, credit is now much more difficult to get. That's no help in your situation here but I do suspect that Barclays are at fault here for messing you around. I don't think I'd ever bank at Barclays so trying to stay unbiased, I suggest writing a letter to the branch explaining what has happened, expressing your disappointment with them and that you are actively looking for a better bank to take your business to. Keep the tone professional of course. It's really the only thing you can do at this stage, so good luck with that and perhaps update here to see how it goes. I'd also suggest checking your credit report and calling up the reference agencies (I use Experian) and discussing this issue and perhaps others on your report. Check into putting the note on to say your American and aren't on the electoral roll - if it's relevant to you of course. I've found Experian nice to deal with and talk to with regards to these sorts of issues.

Whilst all this is going on, I'd say to definitely look into moving your accounts to another bank. It is one of those pain in the backside things to do I admit, however more choices are now available with perhaps better service and features. I've recently opened accounts at MetroBank for instance - business and personal and I'm liking how Virgin Money is looking to offer banking services more suited to the users/account holders.

On my very recent US trip, I've also opened up 2 personal bank accounts by just walking in and asking. 25 minutes later at Chase and Wells Fargo, accounts are active. Wells Fargo for instance said that I could apply for a pre-pay credit card with a $300 limit, I'm going to take that up shortly after I've operated the account for a short while. I wasn't expecting that little aspect at all, and I know a credit card in the US does really help with building credit. Point is, do check around by asking various banks here if you open an account if you can perhaps get a pre-pay credit card, if they say yes, double confirm and say you'll only open it if you are guaranteed to get it. Never know, it may just work like I found in the US with Wells
Fargo!

Hope this helps,

Cheers, DtM ! West London & Slough UK!

Multiple times, I questioned if pre-approved really meant pre-approved and he said yes I was already approved for a card.  The online application system was having problems, but I said I wouldn't mind waiting around while it got fixed it so I would know right there and then if I was approved for a card, and he told me again I was approved and there was no decision to wait for and I would get the card.  So, I submitted paperwork instead and he told me I would get the card in about 10 days.  Well, today, I got a letter of rejection.  I'm quite miffed how this was represented to me.  I think it's a significant step from "you're already approved, we don't need a decision, you'll get your card in 10 days" to "we're sorry to inform you your application was unsuccessful"      I know they sell their products, but this is, at least to me, quite the gross misrepresentation.

The SAME thing happened to me with Barclay. My  husband and I have a full joint current account with overdraft there and was sat at the bank and told that I was pre-approved for a credit card, the banker put my application through online and was told I was approved for a £1000 card and about 2 weeks later I received a letter of apology that in fact I wasn't approved for a card without any real explanation. Interestingly enough, my husband applied for a credit card as well at the same time, was approved (for a higher amount but I suspect that's because he earns more than me) and did end up receiving the credit card.

I ended up waiting about 6 months and successfully applied for a credit card with Tesco. If Barclay doesn't want my additional business, so be it.

I went to the branch to explain today, and was told that they don't tell people in advance if they are approved or not.  I was very adamant that this is NOT what I was told when I applied, and they only told me to call the Barclaycard line.  Now, to make this weirder, I got another rejection letter with a totally new reference number.  I asked them why I have two letters with different reference numbers and they were clueless.  I told them I really hope they haven't left two hard footprints on my credit report now, both showing a rejection when I only made a single application.  Again, was told to call the Barclaycard line.  I have tried two times now, and they keep telling me they cannot access my information on the system and to try again later.  This is getting very frustrating and I am seriously considering moving my money somewhere else, even for regular banking.

Unless this gets resolved, I will certainly not be recommending Barclays services to anyone.

Update, in case this helps anyone else who goes through a similar debacle!

I was contacted by a representative from complaints today.

The decision to decline credit is being upheld (I figured as much); however, the hard footprints on my credit report will be erased.  This being due to my application being submitted based on incorrect information given by a branch representative and a subsequent second application being submitted in error (likely a computer submission error).  So, hopefully, in a few months, my credit report will be back to square one as if this never happened.

Did the offer any explanation for the rejection?

Did the offer any explanation for the rejection?

No, nothing especially informative.  Just the usual that they obtain credit information from credit reporting agencies and if I want additional information to contact the credit agencies directly.

It cannot be the electoral roll issue; I addressed that.  Maybe I'm still considered too new to the UK.

I've always understood that we need 3 years of residence to qualify for credit.

I got a Barclay's credit card when I opened up my current account with them about a month after I moved here. I am still not on the electoral roll, and I have since gotten a loan from Barclay's, a Capital One MasterCard and an AmEx.   The reasons for giving or not giving seem very capricious, to say the least.

I got a Barclay's credit card when I opened up my current account with them about a month after I moved here. I am still not on the electoral roll, and I have since gotten a loan from Barclay's, a Capital One MasterCard and an AmEx.   The reasons for giving or not giving seem very capricious, to say the least.

My experience has been the same.  It likely has less to do with the time you've been here and more to do with incomings v outgoings.

I agree that I think it has a lot to do with the size of your bank account. I was granted a Lloyds credit card after being here for about a year (they offered it to me), the limit ended up being around what was in my savings account there at the time so my credit limit actually ended up being higher than my hubby's!

In my opinion it seems quite random.

I have a pretty good income with a decent amount left over after all outgoings as DH and I split the household expenses, and considering I have been here almost two years, what I consider respectable savings accumulated in that time.

And the funny thing is I am still getting "pre-approved" platinum credit card offers from Barclays and yesterday, a "pre-approved" offer for a Barclayloan.  Incredible.

Do you have any other lines of credit anywhere?  Like a store charge account, etc?

Indeed, Next in particular seems really easy to get a store card from--if you try to buy anything online they make you sign up for one