CreditCards Blog

letter today from Barclaycard reducing my limit. I`ve always overpaid and recently started paying extra, could it be because I don`t use it regular or are they all doing this? At least it will be less to clear then cut up!

Seems ot be happening alot, sky card run by barclaycard have done the same thing, what with this and ever increasing APR's that seem to get forgotten in the news etc when talking of doom and gloom.

I've recently had an increase from Halifax without asking for it. It must depend on individual banks and the risks they're prepared to take and what their customers have outstanding on credit cards (in total).

My daughter called me today, she has had a Halifax credit card for about 7 years always used it and paid off over several months generally taking advantage of interest free or low interest offers on it.
Credit limit of 6750, but in August she owed just over 2000 and somehow she was a day late with payment (a genuine oversight which was promptly put right - she always makes more than minimum payment).
So she called Halifax and explained and made a payment of 200 at that time but the guy did say the special interest rate would be removed from the balance now. On consideration and with another card available a couple of days later she transfered the remaining balance leaving the Halifax card clear.

Today she gets a letter saying as she had missed a payment her limit would be reduced, she panicked and thought she must have had some money owing somehow on the card again although she was convinced it was clear. So once again called Halifax only to be told that it was relating to the missing August payment. She did ask if they had over reacted considering her payments in 7 years had been more than adequate at all times and always in time, that she could understand a reduction of limit by a bit but from 6750 down to 500 was a bit extreeme, the operator basically just said tough, so she has cancelled the card now. Seems so silly to lose the business, I know they have to be careful but it was a genuine miss calculation of dates which she has learnt by and not due to financial difficulties.

she could understand a reduction of limit by a bit but from 6750 down to 500 was a bit extreeme, the operator basically just said tough, .

WTF? There has to be more to the story than you've provided us with.

This happened to me from Barclays for no apparent reason. After a lenghy phone call i was told they re-adjust there credit scoring continuously!

I've had a similar experience with Sky Card. After transferring the majority of my c/c balance to another card, Sky Card decided to reduce my limit, which put me arrears and over the limit by 154. The have now demanded that I pay the "arrears/over limit" (which I can do), but it just really sucks as I am not the one that put myself in this position! I find their behaviour quite unreasonable but don't think I have a leg to stand on if I dispute it!!

This happened to me from Barclays for no apparent reason. After a lenghy phone call i was told they re-adjust there credit scoring continuously!


mine is the same,no missed payments. told there doesn`t have to be a reason so guess which card is being cleared?

Barclaycard are doing this to quite a few people. So dont worry.

WTF? There has to be more to the story than you've provided us with.

Not necessarily. Another company did similar to that to me a year ago.

WTF? There has to be more to the story than you've provided us with.


I can assure you I have given you a 100% true account of the situation, never before a late payment, all payments overpaid and balances cleared frequently through the time the card was held. Still in same job, although obviously wage has increased over the last 7 years, but this was never discussed.

This is why we were so stunned at the amount of the reduction.

I can assure you I have given you a 100% true account of the situation, never before a late payment, all payments overpaid and balances cleared frequently through the time the card was held. Still in same job, although obviously wage has increased over the last 7 years, but this was never discussed.

This is why we were so stunned at the amount of the reduction.

Same situation with me and Barclaycard - statement should be totaly clear of any residual interest in December - so I am going to have great delight calling them and cancelling! I was always told down to credit scoring etc - like you my wage has increased over the last ten years since opening and my Equifax/Experian is also looking excellent.

I think Barclaycard has been stung 'badly' and panicing . I read story's like this all over this board and also how badly some are being treated .

But like they can - we can move away!

I can assure you I have given you a 100% true account of the situation, never before a late payment, all payments overpaid and balances cleared frequently through the time the card was held. Still in same job, although obviously wage has increased over the last 7 years, but this was never discussed.

This is why we were so stunned at the amount of the reduction.

Barclaycard gets regular score from Equifax this could be the reason as to why they are reducing your limit.

Barclaycard gets regular score from Equifax this could be the reason as to why they are reducing your limit.

That was confirmed by Barclaycard also they use a system from Experian which predicts (they say) the chances of default and/or going bankrupt.
Good job my other credit providers dont think like this with me!!!

Barclaycard gets regular score from Equifax this could be the reason as to why they are reducing your limit.

This is Halifax not Barclaycard, in fact also have a barclaycard and after the Halifax balance was (as wasnt going to pay full interest rate) to them they wrote to increase the limit.

Credit rating is still excellent with no problems at all.

Seems just Halifax need to cut the risks somewhere and are not looking seriously at accounts and how they are run, but see a late payment and panic.

That was confirmed by Barclaycard also they use a system from Experian which predicts (they say) the chances of default and/or going bankrupt.
Good job my other credit providers dont think like this with me!!!

I'd love to have a look at that system! Wonder exactly what it uses?

I'd love to have a look at that system! Wonder exactly what it uses?

well I did send and recieve a S.A.R - and there was nothing untoward...so could'nt work out there logic.

I've had a Co-op card for sometime but rarely used it. Recently called up to get my online account opened up (locked myself out) and the rep noticed my card had expired and not been renewed as I wasn't using it - would I like a new one issued? I agreed.

New card arrived last week and a letter a few days later informing me that, due to lack of use and fraud protection my limit was reduced from 4000 to 250. It actually appears a reasonable thing for them to have done, just slightly unfortunate timing!

I've written to close the account and sliced up the shiny new card.

/Edit - should have said I had a zero balance on the account.