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Barclays changes its credit card application rules again – for the worse

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Barclaycard issues two of the most popular non-American Express travel credit cards:

The Hilton HHonors Platinum Visa (read my review here) – which has the easiest high value bonus in the industry of a free night at ANY Hilton hotel (even a Conrad or Waldorf-Astoria) for spending just £750, and

The IHG Rewards Club Visa and Premium Visa (read my reviews here and here) – both of which give you status in IHG Rewards Club for as long as you hold the card

Late last year, Barclays changed the application rules on its cards.  I was told by numerous people that the following criteria were in place:

You could no longer apply for a Barclays-issued credit card if you already had one

If you cancelled your existing Barclays card, you could apply for a different one immediately but would have to wait six months before applying for the same card again

Three people have told me since Christmas that Barclays has changed its policy again.  These are the new rules:

You cannot apply for a Barclays-issued card if you already have one

If you cancel your existing card, you must wait six months before applying for ANY Barclays issued card

I find this very surprising, to be honest.  If you want to ditch a Barclays-issued card which has no rewards and swap it for a Hilton or IHG card, you would think that Barclays would be keen.  After all, the alternative would be that you sign up for a card with a different provider instead.

But no … Barclays appears to be adopting a ‘cut off my nose to spite my face’ approach.  They would rather not make a penny off you for six months than make it easy for you to switch to a different product.

I can’t imagine what Hilton and IHG make of this, since it obviously impact them.  A huge swathe of people who have an existing Barclaycard are now blocked from getting a Hilton or IHG card.  People who already have one of the hotel cards – and are substantially more likely than a general member of the public to want another – are also blocked.

You therefore need to think carefully about your strategy for applying for the IHG and Hilton HHonors cards. If you currently have a non-travel Barclaycard, I would seriously consider cancelling it ASAP because you may want to start the clock on the six month gap before you can get either of the hotel cards.

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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – September 2024 update

If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

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You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus card

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

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Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

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You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

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If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:

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SPECIAL OFFER: Until 22nd October 2024, the bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased to up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points, worth 40,000 Avios. You will receive 4 points per £1 spent for the first three months, on up to £10,000 of spending. The card is FREE for your first year. Click here to read our full card review. Click here to apply.

American Express Business Platinum

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American Express Business Gold

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Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

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British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

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For a non-American Express option, we also recommend the Barclaycard Select Cashback card for sole traders and small businesses. It is FREE and you receive 1% cashback on your spending.

Barclaycard Select Cashback Business Credit Card

1% cashback uncapped* on all your business spending (T&C apply) Read our full review

Category

Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards

Comments (40)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • GB says:
    9 Jan9 January 08:35

    Me too. The only card I have ever been rejected for but can’t be bothered to argue with them. It’s a shame because I fancied a free night in a posh New York hotel….

  • Dirtyneedebluesky says:
    9 Jan9 January 09:19

    Always found it strange that Barclaycard control what could be two of the most common UK based credit cards for hotel loyalty schemes.

    @raffles

    Regarding your comment below then it may also work in the opposite way. Making it difficult to ‘ditch & switch’ potentially locks the consumer into their loyalty scheme for a longer period of time.

    “I can’t imagine what Hilton and IHG make of this, since it obviously impact them. A huge swathe of people who have an existing Barclaycard are now blocked from getting a Hilton or IHG card.”

  • PITA says:
    9 Jan9 January 09:28

    Presumably somebody has to pay for the “free” night in the hotel, whether it be Barclaycard or the chain. Therefore restricting the churn rate benefits that party.

  • Tilly71 says:
    9 Jan9 January 09:37

    Barclaycard adopting Amex rules then!

    • Raffles says:
      9 Jan9 January 12:13

      No, because Amex only blocks you getting the same card – not any card.

  • Louise says:
    9 Jan9 January 10:35

    Have a Barclaycard platinum and are such a pain to cancel!
    Have rung up twice and the retentions team are a nightmare

    • Idrive says:
      9 Jan9 January 11:08

      Me too i got an ooold barclays platinum that i never use i should have cancelled before. I ll do it asap then..

    • Mr(s) Entitled says:
      9 Jan9 January 11:16

      Why?

      Me: I want to cancel
      Them: Are you sure? I could…
      Me: No. I have no interest in maintaining this relationship further. Please close my account now.

      No idea why it would take multiple calls.

      • Louise says:
        9 Jan9 January 12:41

        Twice I have rung up and they have said they can’t process closure as I need to talk to retentions and the department was closed.

        I have written to them asking for closure and even then they have bombarded me with emails and text messages asking to call them

        • Rob says:
          9 Jan9 January 15:42

          I write to them saying I am cancelling, enclosing the chopped up card.

          They will then try to contact you to talk you out of it. Just ignore their text messages. A couple of weeks later you get a letter confirming closure.

    • Ian says:
      9 Jan9 January 20:33

      They give you good offers though. I got a year of interest-free purchases. Was perfect for my Rugby World Cup ticket buying obsession.

  • Jason says:
    9 Jan9 January 11:49

    I’m in the same boat, cancelled my premium IHG visa early December and waiting to apply for the Hilton CC. Need a voucher to use mid April so time running out.

  • axel heyst says:
    9 Jan9 January 12:08

    I cancelled my IHG card on 29th December their retententions lady was pretty haughty taughty about this until I told them I was moving abroad. Applied for Hilton on 2nd January. Browsers said I was succesful but oddly no email confirmation came through. BUT then the new Hilton card arrived yesterday.

    It was my first burn and churn with Barclays, and it’s obviously hit or miss.

    Rob, one IMPORTANT benefit you should mention is the free and uncomplicated online access to your experian credit rating with these Barclaycards.

    I checked my credit rating before I cancelled the IHG card and am very keen to check it again once my Hilton card account is active.

    • flieduk says:
      9 Jan9 January 13:29

      Really… Please do tell.

    • John says:
      10 Jan10 January 00:58

      Barclaycard gives you your Experian score, which is a number drawn out of a hat.

      Unlike the US, in the UK your credit rating is assessed individually by each financial institution when you apply for one of their products. Until Experian starts offering credit cards, their score remains worthless.

      Financial institutions do access data held by Experian, for which you need to pay £2 to access, or you can sign up for a ‘free trial’. The other two agencies which hold financial data about you are Equifax and Noddle, both of whom now offer free monthly credit reports.

  • Chris says:
    9 Jan9 January 14:48

    I applied for IHG on 28th December and also got no confirmation e-mail – the card came through the post.
    Barclaycard need to up their game.

    O/T but does anyone know how long to expect before my 40,000 points post? And how long until I get platinum showing on my IHG account?

    • Barry says:
      9 Jan9 January 15:05

      O/T but just applied for the Lloyds avios cards – couldn’t have been easier, did call customer service – helpful, smart, UK call centre, just like Amex, wonderful, and dramatic comparison to above Barclays behaviour.

      • mark2 says:
        9 Jan9 January 18:31

        Can we assume that you did not get the 9000 Avios introduction bonus

        • mark2 says:
          9 Jan9 January 18:36

          I have not yet received the supplementary card requested on December 2nd (have to use paper form) and my wife has not received any Avios for a year’s moderate purchases despite three letters

        • Rob says:
          9 Jan9 January 22:25

          There is no bonus on the Lloyds Avios cards, unless you use a refer a friend link for 4,500.

    • Fenny says:
      9 Jan9 January 20:32

      I got a white IHG card just before Christmas as part of my Accelerate My status changed fairly quickly, but I’ve not had the points yet.

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