topic Re: What Does Barclay Like to See? in Credit Cards

What Does Barclay Like to See?

EW800 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:48:41 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I was approved for a Barclay card last week, rather surprising with an opening CL of $7K. I have read numerous threads stating that they watch accounts carefully and can be generous with the CLI's after six months of good behavior. I was just wondering if we know if they prefer to see PIF every month or if they like to see a balance being carried for the Auto-CLI's? I doubt that I will charge more than a couple of hundred a month to the card (fuel and some groceries) and will PIF every month. Would this likely be seeing that they would like to see after the first six month review?

Thanks!

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

myjourney — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:54:52 GMT

@EW800 wrote:
Hi Everyone,

I was approved for a Barclay card last week, rather surprising with an opening CL of $7K. I have read numerous threads stating that they watch accounts carefully and can be generous with the CLI's after six months of good behavior. I was just wondering if we know if they prefer to see PIF every month or if they like to see a balance being carried for the Auto-CLI's? I doubt that I will charge more than a couple of hundred a month to the card (fuel and some groceries) and will PIF every month. Would this likely be seeing that they would like to see after the first six month review?

Thanks!

Its long but very helpful info when it come to Barcaly

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Barclay-CC-let-s-put-our-heads-together/m-p/2297693#M646150

Edit I guess adding the link would help Oooops Lol

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 15:56:13 GMT

I think MyJourney meant to post this link?

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Barclay-CC-let-s-put-our-heads-together/td-p/2297693

Really useful information...

EDIT: HAHA, he beat me to it

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

CenturyChild — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:00:06 GMT

The short version,

Heavy use and Large payments (or well over minimum)

They also like to see BTs and carrying a balance on occasion.

-- I always leave a balance to report on mine even though I PIF.

We seem to get along quite well.

Definately go through that thread linked. Tons of useful info there!

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

myjourney — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:03:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think MyJourney meant to post this link?
http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Barclay-CC-let-s-put-our-heads-together/td-p/2297693

Really useful information...

EDIT: HAHA, he beat me to it

Lol I was like wow how can I help w/o the info ....Thanks for having my back tho Bravo

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Fico2Go — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:12:35 GMT

@CenturyChild wrote:
The short version,
Heavy use and Large payments (or well over minimum)
They also like to see BTs and carrying a balance on occasion.

-- I always leave a balance to report on mine even though I PIF.
We seem to get along quite well.

Definately go through that thread linked. Tons of useful info there!

They haven't been too responsive with my CLI. But I've been seeing BT checks in the mail so maybe it's time to use them.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Involver — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 16:39:48 GMT

Barclay's likes to see you use your card and pay it off responsibly, just like every other lender.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

EW800 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:16:49 GMT

Thanks to all for the great Barclay information and education!

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Dw4250 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:46:58 GMT

Universal Law of Credit Card Use In Order to Secure CLIs

1. Use your card regularly

2. Pay on time

3. PIF or pay at least above the minimum.

4. Keep your balances generally below 30% (<10% is optimal)

5. Rinse/Repeat

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

MidnightJester — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 18:26:40 GMT

Do you think they like the same thing across all their cards or slightly different behevior for their different cards? For me they way the ring card works and its benefits would scare alot of other banks to some degree. Their Barclay card "RING" is a nice temporary CASH ADVANCE and a LARGER BALANCE carrying at times type of card. Alot of banks dislike that use I think.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Themanwhocan — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 18:41:53 GMT

@Dw4250 wrote:
Universal Law of Credit Card Use In Order to Secure CLIs

1. Use your card regularly
2. Pay on time
3. PIF or pay at least above the minimum.
4. Keep your balances generally below 30% (<10% is optimal)
5. Rinse/Repeat

Hmm, I would say #4 needs modifying. What you wrote is good IF what is keeping you from geting a CLI is a low FICO score. However, someone else may have a high FICO, but the low usage on the card might be what is preventing an increase.

You probably should say something about using the card around 15% - 45% but only let one of your cards report a small amount to the credit bureaus to optimize FICO score.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Bman70 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 21:45:33 GMT

I'm just going to use my Barclays like any other card. If they don't like how I use cards, I'd rather know sooner than later, so I can develop a relationship with a bank that suits me. I refuse to second guess my usage and try to guess what they want me to do.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

changingmantra2 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 22:26:12 GMT

Two weeks ago I had a conversation with two different Barclays CSRs. The issue was that I was not instantly approved for a Sallie Mae - rather I was given the option to move some of the CL that I had from my Arrival - to establish the Sallie Mae account. "Barclays is not willing to extend you additional credit, but will approve you using the CL you already have," said one.

The other was more specific, "Your highest reporting balance was only $3800." Mind you, he did not care that I had run much more through the card- he was only concerned with what I allowed to report. I told him that I was very careful to keep my total utilization below 10% - Then he said something that made it clear to me what Barclays wants - and what was the opposite of what I have often read in credit forums, 'Barclays extends you credit, not to help you improve your credit score, but for you to use your credit line." Who knows, might have had a better chance of getting the SM if I had a history of letting 60% or so of my CL report.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Bman70 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:02:31 GMT

@changingmantra2 wrote:
Two weeks ago I had a conversation with two different Barclays CSRs. The issue was that I was not instantly approved for a Sallie Mae - rather I was given the option to move some of the CL that I had from my Arrival - to establish the Sallie Mae account. "Barclays is not willing to extend you additional credit, but will approve you using the CL you already have," said one.

The other was more specific, "Your highest reporting balance was only $3800." Mind you, he did not care that I had run much more through the card- he was only concerned with what I allowed to report. I told him that I was very careful to keep my total utilization below 10% - Then he said something that made it clear to me what Barclays wants - and what was the opposite of what I have often read in credit forums, 'Barclays extends you credit, not to help you improve your credit score, but for you to use your credit line." Who knows, might have had a better chance of getting the SM if I had a history of letting 60% or so of my CL report.

What was your credit line? If 3800 is 10% that must be a big one. It would make sense to split some of it off for a Sallie Mae if that's the case.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

EW800 — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:15:38 GMT

I am planning on using my Barclay Card for fuel purchases and probably some groceries, then PIF every month. Hopefully that will be enough for them to show me some love in six months. Like someone said earlier, I won't change my charging habits just to make them happy, however hopefully this pattern will make them smile. My CL is $7,000, however I will only be charging perhaps $350 a month or so. They may not like that so much....

Afterthought... I hppe they do not lower my CL because i don't charge a ton.... Has anyone had experince with a good size CL with Barclay, but don't use more than maybe 5% of it?

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Stralem — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 23:55:44 GMT

Heavy usage.

Balance carrying.

Paying more than minimums.

Balance transfers from other cards.

People who do this tend to get the fat auto CLIs with Barclays (in my case, a nice $2K auto increase).

People who just park balances (no usage) or always pay in full (no interest?) don't get as much love. This has been well discussed.

But I don't think it's a good idea to change your spending habits just to get a credit line increase.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

changingmantra2 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 00:34:06 GMT

@Bman70 wrote:
@changingmantra2 wrote:
Two weeks ago I had a conversation with two different Barclays CSRs. The issue was that I was not instantly approved for a Sallie Mae - rather I was given the option to move some of the CL that I had from my Arrival - to establish the Sallie Mae account. "Barclays is not willing to extend you additional credit, but will approve you using the CL you already have," said one.

The other was more specific, "Your highest reporting balance was only $3800." Mind you, he did not care that I had run much more through the card- he was only concerned with what I allowed to report. I told him that I was very careful to keep my total utilization below 10% - Then he said something that made it clear to me what Barclays wants - and what was the opposite of what I have often read in credit forums, 'Barclays extends you credit, not to help you improve your credit score, but for you to use your credit line." Who knows, might have had a better chance of getting the SM if I had a history of letting 60% or so of my CL report.

What was your credit line? If 3800 is 10% that must be a big one. It would make sense to split some of it off for a Sallie Mae if that's the case.

CL was $18,400 from having recently combined two cards - I was talking about total untilization. Interseting thing is that that $3800 was on a card with a signficantly lowere CL. Who knows what they are "looking" for. I just use it and pay - and I have gotten a CLI every six months on ever Barclasy card I have ever had.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Fico2Go — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 01:54:14 GMT

@changingmantra2 wrote:
Two weeks ago I had a conversation with two different Barclays CSRs. The issue was that I was not instantly approved for a Sallie Mae - rather I was given the option to move some of the CL that I had from my Arrival - to establish the Sallie Mae account. "Barclays is not willing to extend you additional credit, but will approve you using the CL you already have," said one.

The other was more specific, "Your highest reporting balance was only $3800." Mind you, he did not care that I had run much more through the card- he was only concerned with what I allowed to report. I told him that I was very careful to keep my total utilization below 10% - Then he said something that made it clear to me what Barclays wants - and what was the opposite of what I have often read in credit forums, 'Barclays extends you credit, not to help you improve your credit score, but for you to use your credit line." Who knows, might have had a better chance of getting the SM if I had a history of letting 60% or so of my CL report.

Yes I've heard many times that having a highest reporting balance isn't a factor in getting CLIs. Seems like I'm not completely wrong afterall. If I were an underwriter I too would be looking at the highest reporting balance has how much a user can potentially utilize credit that could earn me interest from carrying balances.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

TRC_WA — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 03:15:50 GMT

@Stralem wrote:
Heavy usage.

Balance carrying.

Paying more than minimums.

Balance transfers from other cards.

People who do this tend to get the fat auto CLIs with Barclays (in my case, a nice $2K auto increase).

People who just park balances (no usage) or always pay in full (no interest?) don't get as much love. This has been well discussed.

But I don't think it's a good idea to change your spending habits just to get a credit line increase.

... and I won't.

I got my Barclay card last September with a $1200 limit. I bought an iPhone 5s, spent 3 months paying it off... then spent the next 3 months charging $100 and PIF. I got a $1000 auto increase at statement #6 along with a letter thanking me for my responsible card usage.

The last 3 months I've used it the same way... $100 to $200 a month and PIF.

I am expecting another increase when the card hits 1 year old... and as someone else said, Barclay is like that girlfriend who is always checking your cellphone behind your back. She loves you, but doesn't trust you. That must be why they have SP my credit every month.

Re: What Does Barclay Like to See?

Reighn9 — Sat, 14 Jun 2014 03:52:49 GMT

I got my Barclay card 3 months ago with a $650 CL, my 2nd lowest card, I called customer service who sent me to the credit department who wouldn't approve an increase because the balances on my other cards were too high. I tried to explain the payments hadn't reported yet. This card had been offered to me pre-approved with an approval number as a visa signature card. I have been using the card and PIF. With that low of a limit that's the only way to pay.