Hawaiian Air-Barclays

[xangoboy]

So I just tried calling them.  Rep kept me on hold for almost 15 minutes, trying to transfer me to another department.  He said the other dept. wouldn't be albe to access it for another hour or so, and if I could call back in an hour or so. 

Wonder if it's some kind of security verification thing. 

[xangoboy]

Pretty annoyed about this. 

I called a second time and a nice woman says they need to transfer me to the security department.  They transfer me and we get cut off as soon as she says, "hello." 

I call back a third time and male answers (same guy from call 1).  He says I need to call back in 10 minutes, because he needs to send an email to the fraud department and then someone needs to become available. 

I call back a fourth time and the same nice woman answers from call number 2.  She remembered me and transferred me to the same woman in the security department that I got cut off from.  We go through the security questions, etc.  She says I passed, and now I need to get transferred back to the credit department and find out my credit line.  I'm thinking I'm already approved.  So she transfers me to the department that is only open M-F.  So I hang up and call back a fifth time.

The fifth time I called back, I got the same male from the first time I called and from the third time.  He says that he needs to review the application, and takes down all my info again.  He asks me to explain what happened in 2011 with my lates.  I told him, "I know it seems liek a lot of late payments."  He says, "actually no it's not."  So I went to explain what happened.  He then asks me to explain why I have SO MANY BALANCES ON MY CARDS (um..balances on only 3).  Believe it or not, he was more concerned about why I had a $73 balance on my capital 1 card (with a $2k limit) than about my $1,400 balance on my CU card (with a $7k limit).  So I went and explained to him why I had the balances (capital 1 was the interest and a charge from a thai restaurant posted right before my statement closed), my CU card was for a car repair and it's actually a $0 balance (but statement doesn't close until 19th), and my creditone is because I bought a new computer (it's $0 now, but I paid it after my statement closed).  In any event after an exhausting explanation, and him agreeing with me and praising me about my current credit pracitices and being responsible, he says, "Unforunately, we're unable to approve you because of your balances and that's just Barclay's rules."  He said, "If you get your balances down and maybe let the negatives age more, then we may consider your application in the future."  I said, "How long should I wait."  He said, "I'm not a credit expert, so i really don't know, just more time."  I said, "Tomorrow is more time, does that sound long enough?"  He laughed, but said there isn't anything he can do. 

I checked my utilization on TransUnion, and it's actually 22% not 26%.  Soooo...if it's really about my balances and utilization, how low does it have to be? 

I really want this card, because of the bonus miles.  My Bank is discontinuing the Hawaiian Air Debit card, so I won't be able to earn anymore miles, and this card would enable me to do that. 

Should I call them again?  Or should I just wait 6 months or so? 

[Santi78342]

They should have approved you just for making you jump through all those hoops! But yes! Call again! And even if you're denied again, call some more! It has taken some people 3 or 4 recons to get approved. You just need to get the right person on the phone! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Read your thread ... frustrating. Surprised they didn't approve you?!

[xangoboy]

Thanks for the support guys.  I'm gonna go to bed and then call tomorrow, see if I get someone better.  I wish it was a woman CSR...I tend to do so much better with women.  In any event, I'll update everyone tomorrow. 

Thanks again everyone!

[xangoboy]

Well no dice. 

I called to recon a 2nd time.  This guy did the same thing praising me about my credit habits and being responsible since 2011, and that my score is actually good and within their approval range.  Then he said, they like how I have no balances on my smaller cards, but they are confused as to why I have a balance on my credit union $7k card.  I explained my situation again, and that it's paid off and actually $0 but it doesn't report until a few weeks from now.  He said he understood, but Barclays is a VERY conservative bank compared to other lenders.  He said, they want to see me have a lower balance on my CU card.  He said (this is verbatim)  if I do that, I'll find that Barclay's will be my highest credit line EVER (ummm..ok?).  He closed with saying that this is the 2nd time I've called for a reconsideration, and that I've reached the MAXIMUM amount of reconsiderations for my application ,and that even if he wanted to approve it, he couldn't, because it's been reviewed too many times (never heard that before). 

In any event, do you guys think I should forget about it, and apply later on? 

Thank again everyone! I appreciate it!

[Santi78342]

Try again! 

[happypill]

Wow, what an ordeal.  It sounds like you are right on the cusp of approval.  I really don't know if you should try again, or just wait 4-6 months (isn't Barclays 120 days?) and apply again.  What I can see is that, for anyone considering a Barclays app, getting everything in order, such as reducing balances, in advance is very important.

[xangoboy]

I actually decided to hold off on it, and reapply in 6 months.  I'm going for NFCU and a care credit account once my $0 balances reflect (which should be in a couple of weeks). 

So that's where I'm at.  Hoping next time around, things are better for Barclays.