[op]

JDB wrote:

@op – Instinctively, £67k of unsecured lending open or even the £55k you have reduced it to is exceptionally high even for a very big earner. The absolute amount does matter as well as relative to income. Unless you actually need these large lines, it is pointless having them and as you are now discovering, may work against you. I think some erroneously think having high card limits is a sign of financial strength, but some providers see it as financial strain/weakness. The issue is that when economic times get tough or people encounter problems, credit experience shows that these huge lines can get swallowed up quite quickly and give rise to bad debts.

Agreed. I’m going to close at least my unused 19k limit Amex as well and hope that processes in time.

[op]

George K wrote:

@op if you don’t mind me asking, could you give a ballpark of your credit line with other lenders? I fear I may be on the same boat, but have yet to apply…

I have about 67k of existing credit, although I recently closed an old card with 12k limit that won’t yet be reflected on my report. So I’m hoping by the end of November my application will be more successful.

The rejection did say I need to wait 6 months but I think I read some reports that this isn’t actually enforced.

[op]

In case this is of any use to anybody with a similar experience, I had a bit of a strange journey getting rejected.

Currently a Barclays premier customer. Followed the link on the HfP article to sign up for the avios plus card.

Completed the application and received an acceptance subject to proving my income. I would only have a £200 credit limit until I completed that.

The form then gives two options – submit payslips or give access to your current account via a TransUnion openbanking API. I chose the latter as it said this would be instant vs several days of manual review.

Having chosen that option and granting the access to the API, I then got the following message:

Sorry, we’re unable to offer you a Barclaycard right now

Thanks for providing your income info. It’s our responsibility to make sure that, when we provide you with credit,
it’s affordable to you. Unfortunately, based on the income info you’ve provided, it looks like, if you take on more
credit, you may find it difficult to keep up with all your repayments.
Because of this, we can’t give you a Barclaycard right now and your application has been cancelled. We realise this
isn’t the news you wanted, but hope you understand that we need to make sure you can comfortably afford the
amount you’re borrowing.

I’m a bit perplexed. The current account check via the API should have shown that my income is what I said it was on the application form. The credit check also took place before I was given the provisional approval, from what I understand. So it shouldn’t be that I’m seen as an ‘undesirable’ applicant in terms of existing debts, or lack thereof etc. because I shouldn’t have gotten this far in the process if that were the case.

I figure I can try applying again in late November before the end of the 100k offer. If offered the choice again I’ll choose to upload payslips as I’m wondering if there is something fishy in the TransUnion API.