Using a Large Limit CC

[jbsilva21]

Just wanted to get some opinions on actually using a large limit on a credit card. I had a shocking experience with Barclay and wanted to see what others have expierenced with any other users. My family and I went to the Philippines to visit and I used my Barclay Jetblue card a lot and I think it scared them. I have a 15k limit and I normally charge around 3k-4k per month and pif. Well here is what I used the card for

$6500 airfare 

$2100 hotels

$1500 for some meals and shopping

$700 for scuba and boat charter.

Once I got back to San Diego I tried to use the card for our hotel as we were staying a few days. DENIED. Luckily I have some other cards but this really shocked me. I called them and was told there was a security hold on my account. Before leaving I notified them that I was traveling and was assured that I would not have any problems using the card. Am I going to get a CLD for actually using the card that much? Do other cards do this? Even after calling them I have not been able to use the card. 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like poor CS on their part.  You calling them and informing them of your travel and planned increased spend means you did your part.  They did not do their part in making the necessary adjustments or notations on your account to prevent this problem from happening.

You will not be hit with a CLD.  The only way that would happen is if you had a late payment or some negative item introduced on your credit report (from any creditor, not just this one) and then it's game on for all creditors to react how they see fit, which could include CLDs, closing accounts, etc.

If you were routinely using 20%-25% of your CL on a high limit card, bringing that up into the 60's because of a vacation or something isn't a big deal at all.  ESPECIALLY if your normal behavior is PIF.  Even if you completely maxed out your card, which you didn't, it would be extremely rare for a creditor to hit you with AA, especially if they didn't at least give you a cycle or two to see how your payments on that balance went.  They extended you a $15,000 limit for a reason;  You are allowed and even expected to use it.

[K-in-Boston]

That is very poor customer service and I'm sorry that happened to you.  I have not had any issues with any of my creditors with huge spikes in spending.  Even when I have had fradulent charges on one of my Amex cards that they called me about after approving it ($20k of Lufthansa airfare), they overnighted me a new card and assured me that any charges that they recognized as auto-billed would still be honored using the old card number.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not ideal behavior on their part. For what it's worth, I went to Canada and never could get the Barclaycard to work. Denied three or four times for small purchases, under 100 each. This after calling them from the US. They are at the top of my AA list right now.

On a related note, most of their cards are inferior-- in my view of course -and a card that cannot be relied upon while traveling is no card at all. I can't say how many people I have been with when their BC was declined, but it's more than a handful. Must carry a spare Amex or Something. I have NEVER had my CAP1 card declined anywhere, for any amount. Same with amex. And discover. Discover calls fast, like within a few minutes, but never declined at pos. 

Just some random thoughts...

[Grimakis]

Unfortunately, I only spend about $100 a month on my largest CL card($30k), but AMEX has a tool that allows you to check whether or not your anticipated purchase would be allowed or now.

Not sure if other issuers have a similar tool.

[K-in-Boston]

The Amex tool is due to the NPSL on charge cards and the flexible spending ability on revolvers to go beyond the preset spending limit. OP shouldn't need to check if they can spend $11k on a $15k limit card.

[Anonymous]

This is definitely unusual for other vendors and a little concerning. I've never had a problem being up close to my limit with Chase or AMEX, whether I was spending overseas, online, or domestically. Probably worth putting your spend with another vendor in the future if they can't make it right.

Looks like I need to start to consider a different primary Europoean card that has Chip+PIN functionality. I'd be furious if they shut me down on vacation after taking the time to give them a travel alert.

[jbsilva21]

Well I got the issue resolved and they could not really or didn't want to give a logical explanation. I am going to just pay off half now and bt the rest to my Citi DC. I will just sock drawer this one. Thanks for everyone's input and no more Barclaycard for me. I did the same to BoA when the just closed my account when I was rebuilding.

[Anonymous]

Glad to hear you got this resolved!  It's unfortunate that they didn't really have a sound answer for you, though.  The last thing you want to have to worry about is this issue repeating itself sometime in the future.

[jbsilva21]

Oh trust me. I will not rely on them again. I will use if for dinner or gas or groceries once a month just to keep it active for now. Honestly the only reason I keep it is that it is one of my oldest cards. Citi and Amex have never let me down. Even when I was rebuilding they didn't close or cld or anything. I never missed payments with them and only paid late by a couple of days but still no action by those 2. I really want to get in with chase but they just won't. I even went through and f/r with Amex years ago but i understood given the financial hardship I was in at the time.