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Let's just discuss the BT thing......

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baller4life
Super Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......

I personally feel more comfortable using a CU in the future to carry a balance. But, that's just me.
Message 11 of 62
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......

Pizza,  great topic.     It is puzzling why they offer it to you and then slap your hands when you take them up on it.

 

Case in point for myself.   I was approved for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred at the beginning of October this year with a CL of 15K.   The card came with 15 months of 0% interest for purchases and balance transfers.   So after I thought about it for a few days,  I took AMEX up on the offer and transfered 7K to this card for the 3% fee they charge.   The transfer took about 5 business days for them to process and they did process it.    Then 2 business days later when logging into my account to check my cards because a statement has just cut on my SPG,  I noticed a message was posted that charging was suspended.   I immediately realized that I had been hit with the dreaded FR.    I called in and a nice person told me what was needed and emailed the IRS form.  I asked her if there would be an issue because my 2014 taxable income does not show what I claimed my income to be now.  She said it would not be a problem as life happens.   My 2014 income was about 7K less than I am making now and that is why I asked.   I did not lie to AMEX on my application.   I filled it out with the requested information for the 2014 tax return they requested and faxed it in.  Meanwhile,  I borrowed some cash from my NFCU LOC and paid off the balance on this AMEX card,   swallowing the 3% fee it cost me.    I waited one week and when I did not hear back from the AMEX review team,  I phoned in a left a message with the person doing my review.   The next day about 8:30 AM AMEX returned my call and told me the review was complete and my credit limits had been restored to what they were,  15K on the Blue Cash and 3K on the SPG.  

 

I dodged a bullet but it made me realize what Pizza has wrote about.   From now on,  I will NEVER leave a balance on my AMEX cards from one statement to the next.   I will even do a cash advance on my NFCU credit card to pay off AMEX if need be.

 

Thanks for the post Pizza!!!

Message 12 of 62
pizza1
Community Leader
Super Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@Anonymous wrote:

Yes, Barclays can still AA on me anytime. It's certain that there are a lot more AA reports on Barclays and Amex than other lenders. I don't have credit report monitor subscription with CRA anymore so I can't tell of Barclays is keeping an eye on me or not. Probably do if they give me auto CLI and send out BT check.

 

Here's my theory: Banks do track your payment and ulti overtime across your entire credit profile even though FICO scoring don't take that into account. From there, they may bucket you to either a) chronic high ultil but always meet obligations or b) almost always low ultil.

 

For case a), they can assess that the person probably has low risk of defaulting and they can make good money as the person carries balance.

This is probably true for most American, but not for most myfico member. I have to admit that before I knew about this forum I paid more credit card interest than I will ever gain back in cashback for the next 5-10 years.

 

case b), however, a BT or a spike in until will be flagged as risky behavior and AA will be swift.


@pizza1 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
I am not sure if I can agree, pizza. For me, in general, BT is just like car or mortage refi. A way for them to do business. There are cards that are created exclusively for BT (Chase Slate 0% APR $0 fee, or maybe PSECU 3.99% APR $0 fee), and there are lenders that send out BT check frequently (PNC, Barclays). Barclays even gave me a CLI AND a BT when I called in and said that I want to do a BT with them (and I actually carry > 70% Ulti for a while).

Each of the banks probably have a different take on risk and whether you do BT to their account. I think it's too early to conclude that they all hate BT. Though for Amex it might be true, they say that you can do BT to their card but they only provide tools to do it on the application page, after that you will have to call in.

this is why we are discussing this.  To have others chime in on their experiences.  With you being at 70% util....dont think for one seond Barclays isnt keeping an eye on you.  You may "ok" right now, but there have been reports here with peeps in your similar circumstances that once that BT was paid off, or near paid off, they got AA. 

 

Im just trying to keep my research going and noting things along the way.  Appreciate your input too! Smiley Happy


 


Agree with that as well!  

 

For me...since my BK7 a little over 2 yrs ago, Ive maintained a 1% overall util reporting on my CRA's at all times.  I think that helped me also in my aggressive rebuild.  BUT...Now that my creditors are use to my 1% util....wonder what would happen lets say if my util increased to 20%?? I bet I get flagged, because thats not the norm for me that they are use to seeing.  I could see that...

Message 13 of 62
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@Anonymous wrote:

Pizza,  great topic.     It is puzzling why they offer it to you and then slap your hands when you take them up on it.

 

Case in point for myself.   I was approved for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred at the beginning of October this year with a CL of 15K.   The card came with 15 months of 0% interest for purchases and balance transfers.   So after I thought about it for a few days,  I took AMEX up on the offer and transfered 7K to this card for the 3% fee they charge.   The transfer took about 5 business days for them to process and they did process it.    Then 2 business days later when logging into my account to check my cards because a statement has just cut on my SPG,  I noticed a message was posted that charging was suspended.   I immediately realized that I had been hit with the dreaded FR.    I called in and a nice person told me what was needed and emailed the IRS form.  I asked her if there would be an issue because my 2014 taxable income does not show what I claimed my income to be now.  She said it would not be a problem as life happens.   My 2014 income was about 7K less than I am making now and that is why I asked.   I did not lie to AMEX on my application.   I filled it out with the requested information for the 2014 tax return they requested and faxed it in.  Meanwhile,  I borrowed some cash from my NFCU LOC and paid off the balance on this AMEX card,   swallowing the 3% fee it cost me.    I waited one week and when I did not hear back from the AMEX review team,  I phoned in a left a message with the person doing my review.   The next day about 8:30 AM AMEX returned my call and told me the review was complete and my credit limits had been restored to what they were,  15K on the Blue Cash and 3K on the SPG.  

 

I dodged a bullet but it made me realize what Pizza has wrote about.   From now on,  I will NEVER leave a balance on my AMEX cards from one statement to the next.   I will even do a cash advance on my NFCU credit card to pay off AMEX if need be.

 

Thanks for the post Pizza!!!


Helpful data! Thank you!

Message 14 of 62
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@pizza1 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

Yes, Barclays can still AA on me anytime. It's certain that there are a lot more AA reports on Barclays and Amex than other lenders. I don't have credit report monitor subscription with CRA anymore so I can't tell of Barclays is keeping an eye on me or not. Probably do if they give me auto CLI and send out BT check.

 

Here's my theory: Banks do track your payment and ulti overtime across your entire credit profile even though FICO scoring don't take that into account. From there, they may bucket you to either a) chronic high ultil but always meet obligations or b) almost always low ultil.

 

For case a), they can assess that the person probably has low risk of defaulting and they can make good money as the person carries balance.

This is probably true for most American, but not for most myfico member. I have to admit that before I knew about this forum I paid more credit card interest than I will ever gain back in cashback for the next 5-10 years.

 

case b), however, a BT or a spike in until will be flagged as risky behavior and AA will be swift.


@pizza1 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
I am not sure if I can agree, pizza. For me, in general, BT is just like car or mortage refi. A way for them to do business. There are cards that are created exclusively for BT (Chase Slate 0% APR $0 fee, or maybe PSECU 3.99% APR $0 fee), and there are lenders that send out BT check frequently (PNC, Barclays). Barclays even gave me a CLI AND a BT when I called in and said that I want to do a BT with them (and I actually carry > 70% Ulti for a while).

Each of the banks probably have a different take on risk and whether you do BT to their account. I think it's too early to conclude that they all hate BT. Though for Amex it might be true, they say that you can do BT to their card but they only provide tools to do it on the application page, after that you will have to call in.

this is why we are discussing this.  To have others chime in on their experiences.  With you being at 70% util....dont think for one seond Barclays isnt keeping an eye on you.  You may "ok" right now, but there have been reports here with peeps in your similar circumstances that once that BT was paid off, or near paid off, they got AA. 

 

Im just trying to keep my research going and noting things along the way.  Appreciate your input too! Smiley Happy


 


Agree with that as well!  

 

For me...since my BK7 a little over 2 yrs ago, Ive maintained a 1% overall util reporting on my CRA's at all times.  I think that helped me also in my aggressive rebuild.  BUT...Now that my creditors are use to my 1% util....wonder what would happen lets say if my util increased to 20%?? I bet I get flagged, because thats not the norm for me that they are use to seeing.  I could see that...


Interesting thought. I could see that, too...

Message 15 of 62
pizza1
Community Leader
Super Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@baller4life wrote:
I personally feel more comfortable using a CU in the future to carry a balance. But, that's just me.

SOO agrre here!!  I never see any posts about AA from a CU...its very rare for that to happen. 

Message 16 of 62
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@baller4life wrote:
I was cld one month after bt to Barclays. The "escalating debt" as they called it made them nervous. SMH. I had always pif them. And once I decided to utilize a 0% offer I got penalized to the tune of $11k between Ring and SM.

Baller,   I hear what you are saying.   Same thing happened to me November 2013 after I balance transfered a mere 1.5K onto my Apple Financing card with a 5K limit.  I only did it to build a relationship with Barclays.   Anyway,  Barclays closed the card on me because of that and the other new cards I had obtained.  

 

Now,  Barclays has me blacklisted because of that closure even though the balance on the card was paid off 3 days after I found out they closed it.    I know I am blacklisted because I applied for the Sallie Mae a couple of months ago and they denied me and didn't even pull the credit report. 

 

Message 17 of 62
creditguy
Valued Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@baller4life wrote:
I personally feel more comfortable using a CU in the future to carry a balance. But, that's just me.

Absolutely agree, I know not all CU's are equal but I will say NFCU has been nothing but a pleasure to do business with. Very generous and doesn't bother you once you get past the membership stage and even that was no problem. I encourage everyone I know to do business with them or any good CU they know of. 

Message 18 of 62
creditguy
Valued Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......


@Anonymous wrote:

@baller4life wrote:
I was cld one month after bt to Barclays. The "escalating debt" as they called it made them nervous. SMH. I had always pif them. And once I decided to utilize a 0% offer I got penalized to the tune of $11k between Ring and SM.

Baller,   I hear what you are saying.   Same thing happened to me November 2013 after I balance transfered a mere 1.5K onto my Apple Financing card with a 5K limit.  I only did it to build a relationship with Barclays.   Anyway,  Barclays closed the card on me because of that and the other new cards I had obtained.  

 

Now,  Barclays has me blacklisted because of that closure even though the balance on the card was paid off 3 days after I found out they closed it.    I know I am blacklisted because I applied for the Sallie Mae a couple of months ago and they denied me and didn't even pull the credit report. 

 


Wow what a joke. Barclays is so weird. They are in my SD and going to the chopping block eventually, They have zero appeal to me anymore and stories like yours does not help their image with me. 

Message 19 of 62
DantGwyrdd
Frequent Contributor

Re: Let's just discuss the BT thing......

Here's my experience (from less than two months ago): I did not one, but two BTs into my Discover which got my util on it to about 75% on a CL of $2000. About a week later I requested a CLI via the link and they gave me a $2000 increase.This is also more or less the same story as the story of how my Discover CL went from $1000 to $2000 with the difference that that time I didn't even have to ask for a CLI--did the BT, statement cut, made a payment of about 3x the minimum, CLI came in within a week or so.

 

Also, they advertised the BT option to me rather agressively IMO as I got at least one email and it was also in that area above "Pending Transactions" where stuff like "open a checking account and get $50" is when it's there among other things.

Message 20 of 62
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