Barclay Arrival denied because too low utilization on existing Barclay reward card

[Anonymous]

My wife and I applied for Barclay Arrival in the weekend. We both got the application pending review message. My wife got an approval email shortly after. I checked my app status online and saw it was denied.

So I called the back door number to recon twice but no luck. Both CSR said my accounts are too young but also said that I already have a Barclay reward card that they gave me in august 2013 and they can see I have almost never used it. (this was my credit builder card and I have put it in the sock drawer many months ago)

They told me they like to see more history from me and see me use the Barclay reward card more for 6-8 months before they will give me a second card.

Needless to say, I thanked them and cancelled my Barclay reward card right away as it seems to hurt me more having it.
My wife didn't have any business with Barclay when she got approved.

So no more Barclay for me. I'm sticking with chase who have given me 3 cards last year (CSP, freedom, united)

Here is the stats
Me: 755 TU (FAKO)
Income: 70k
AAOA: ~ 1 year
Oldest card: ~ 2 years
Always paid in full, no baddies

Wife: 720 TU (FAKO)
income: 30k
AAOA: 1.5 years
Oldest card: 3 years

[baller4life]

You tell em! Barclays can go kick rocks! Their loss!

[Anonymous]

I had a similar experience with Barclay when my first card with them was relatively new.     I wanted to close my card, but I did not - and am happy I did not -  I get regular auto CLIs - ($1200-$1500) and I am certain that my 1.5 year history with the bank helped me get the Arrival a few months ago.  

They are very good with extending credit and credit line increases, but you have to actually use the credit they extend to you before they will increase credit lines and/or determine a "need" for another  card.  With that account, you had a great opportunity to demonstrate just that over the next 6-8 months.

[Anonymous]

---

@baller4life wrote:
You tell em! Barclays can go kick rocks! Their loss!

---

Why is it their loss?   OP might well have been unprofitable for them, given the initial bonus.  From their viewpoint, he hadn't used one of their cards, how do they know he will use the new one.

[FinStar]

Sorry to hear but I think based on their underwriting criteria, some of the reasons seem to tilt the scale as to why you were not approved.  Since you have other options, this would be a non-issue.  Congrats on your wife's approval though!

[FinStar]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@baller4life wrote:
You tell em! Barclays can go kick rocks! Their loss!

---

Why is it their loss?   OP might well have been unprofitable for them, given the initial bonus.  From their viewpoint, he hadn't used one of their cards, how do they know he will use the new one.

---

+1

Exactly, no loss to them really.

[myjourney]

Sorry you canceled

(FYI)  A lot of lenders are the same way about not using the credit then requesting more lines and Chase has been known to be one of them.

This is what can happen when you SD a card 

[CreditMagic7]

Not knowing much about Barclay but that particular reply from them is to be expected and applies to some other lenders also where concerns recently issued cc's. I have a US Bank Plat. i requested a simple cli for at 1 year anniversary and got refused even in recon TWICE for exactly same reason plus dinged with a wasted HP to boot. I not put any action thru it for maybe 4 months but they likely frowned on my other NEW TL's when they pulled TU.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@baller4life wrote:
You tell em! Barclays can go kick rocks! Their loss!

---

Why is it their loss?   OP might well have been unprofitable for them, given the initial bonus.  From their viewpoint, he hadn't used one of their cards, how do they know he will use the new one.

---

+1. 

Also OP you opened a card in Aug 2013 and already have it sockdrawered "many months ago"?  What did you do, SD it right out of the envelope?

[baller4life]

@longtimelurker and Finstar. Their loss meaning a potentially good customer certainly not a financial loss because I know they couldn't care less. "Their loss" is simply an expression not to be taken literally. Geesh!! You guys make me not want to post anymore. Many of you carry such a challenging and confrontational tone. It was merely MY opinion!