Why Barclays?

[JoshuaHolySpirit]

Sorry for pulling an old thread to 2014 but just one more question,

Does Barclays CLD or close your account if you ask for CLI on other cards you already have? (does result in HPs/inquiries) = but no new accounts.

[Hammer23]

I had a $600 CLD from Barclays in my first 6 months with them when I opened a bunch of new cards along with thiers. Since then they have been great. I have went from one card with a $2000 limit to 2 cards with a total of $9000 (Rewards $4000 Ring $5000). Their customer service is always wonderful. 

I have a very active credit file with several new accounts and this has not spooked them. Just important to communicate with them. 

[takeshi74]

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@JoshuaHolySpirit wrote:

Does Barclays CLD or close your account if you ask for CLI on other cards you already have? (does result in HPs/inquiries) = but no new accounts.

There really isn't such a simple and straightforward causal relationship with any creditor and AA.  One person could possible see AA from HP's while another might not.  I would guess that above a certain theshold of HP's that they would be concerned but that theshold can vary depending on one's credit.

[chwebb1]

I've had my Barclaycard Ring for 9 months, and to be quite truthful, I've opened way too many accounts after theirs. I've yet to hear anything from them. I love the APR on that card, and their customer service is quite good. I plan to apply for the Barclaycard Arrival at the end of the year, and possibly ask for a CLI on my Ring. I definitely don't plan to close my account with them anytime soon. The stories of Barclays AA on here are way overblown. As long as you keep your balances low (I personally keep my UTIL reporting anywhere from 1-5%), I doubt that they'll get too worried as long as you pay everyone on time.

[DaveSignal]

I opened my Barclays just over 7 months ago.  I haven't opened any other accounts since then because I don't have a huge amount of cards that I want obtain in a spree.  In fact, I don't have any other cards that I currently want.  I have obtained CLIs on many of my cards though since opening Barclays.  My FICO has also dropped due to inquiries for a car loan (that hasn't reported yet) and also a number of good accounts reaching 10 years and falling off my report which dropped my AAoA by a full year.

Barclays still gave me an auto-CLI on my 7th statement.

Most other credit users who fall into the generalization of 'normal' should not expect CLD.  On the other hand, when your report fills with new inquiries in a period of a few days and you open 7 new accounts in a spree, thats kind of an aggresive credit-seeking behavior.  Why do you need all of these cards?  This kind of behavior is a red flag with any lender, but I have heard that Barclays is more sensitive.  It would put me on-edge too if I was offering my money to someone and then they started going to everyone else they knew and asking for more money. 

[celluloid17]

I've had the Sallie Mae Barclaycard for just over a month now and I love it and my experience with Barclay thus far.  Their website is phenomenal and I appreciate their rewards structure.  I had planned on apping for a Cap1 QS this week, but i'm going to hold off for awhile because I don't want to spook Barclay, that's how much I want to maintain good standing with them and I hope to expand my relationship with them by obtaining an Arrival card at some point in the future.  

[Involver]

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@celluloid17 wrote:

I've had the Sallie Mae Barclaycard for just over a month now and I love it and my experience with Barclay thus far.  Their website is phenomenal and I appreciate their rewards structure.  

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Same and agreed.  I am a very big fan of the rewards posting immediately after transactions process and the website is very well laid out and intuitive.  I like knowing which transactions yield X rewards so that I know where to maximize spending (for example, I discovered my go-to Target is coded as a grocery store).  Free TU08 FICO as well. 

I apped for a BCE after I got the Sallie Mae but my feeling is that Barclay's is only INQ / new account sensitive if either a) you use their card for initial spend bonuses and SD it or b) you don't really use it at all.  I have no fears about my card and I'm going to keep running a lot of $ through it as I hear Barclay's can be pretty rewarding with CLI for good usage.

[celluloid17]

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@Involver wrote:

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@celluloid17 wrote:

I've had the Sallie Mae Barclaycard for just over a month now and I love it and my experience with Barclay thus far.  Their website is phenomenal and I appreciate their rewards structure.  

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Same and agreed.  I am a very big fan of the rewards posting immediately after transactions process and the website is very well laid out and intuitive.  I like knowing which transactions yield X rewards so that I know where to maximize spending (for example, I discovered my go-to Target is coded as a grocery store).  Free TU08 FICO as well. +1

I apped for a BCE after I got the Sallie Mae but my feeling is that Barclay's is only INQ / new account sensitive if either a) you use their card for initial spend bonuses and SD it or b) you don't really use it at all.  I have no fears about my card and I'm going to keep running a lot of $ through it as I hear Barclay's can be pretty rewarding with CLI for good usage.

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I suspect you're spot on about what raises their red flags and inspires them to CLD or take AA.

[heyitsyeh]

Why Barclays?

Because of Sallie Mae. Consistent usage because of gas/groceries/amazon needs will hopefully make my relationship with Barclays smooth sailing steadily upwards

[jesseh]

They have pretty good customer service I think. I always call customer service with a few difficult questions before applying to check how willing they are to help their customers.

What they tend to do if you have a difficult question, is add somebody from the appropriate department (like the security dept.) to the call, turn it into a conference call. Works pretty well.

Oh, and if you're an apply fan their program may be an advantage for you.

Not really a reason to apply for a card or not, but the more information the better.