Is Barclay Denying Those with Many New Accounts (similar to 5/24)? Contribute Data Points Here

Barclay has always been known to be tougher in approving cards, the main criteria being that you couldn’t hold too many Barclay cards at the same time and couldn’t get one within 6 months of the last. Judging from numerous comments from readers who recently got denied for the Arrival card, it seems the bank is now skeptical to approve anyone who has opened numerous new credit cards within the past 24 months. The hesitation isn’t limited to those who have many new Barclaycard’s; all new credit cards opened lowers your worth in Barclay’s eyes.

Reader Darv escalated to a supervisor who said that it’s hard coded not to be approved for the card once you have a certain number of new cards opened in the past 24 months. Many others were told similar by various Barclay’s reps. That sounds a whole lot like Chase’s 5/24 rule.

You can find various denial data points in these posts (1, 2, 3, 4). I haven’t yet seen any positive data points of someone from the community getting approved for the Arrival+ card recently.

Based on these reports and what Barclay’s reps are saying, it sounds like there’s a new Barclay’s ??/24 rule. They seem to be using a similar 24-month timeline, and they seem to be working with the number of new card account, though we don’t know the exact number of cards they are okay with. One reader was denied with 6 new accounts and was told specifically that 6+ is the number.

Are we ready to label this the 6/24 rule? Not quite, but my guess is that it’s either 5/24 or 6/24. It probably started sometime in the beginning of August, maybe a bit earlier. It’s not surprising that once Chase’s 5/24 policy became well-known other banks would hear about it and implement similar one’s.

One crucial unknown: assuming there is a new limitation being enforced now, is it system-wide limit for all Barclaycards? From what we’ve seen so far, the restriction seems specific to the Arrival Card. This data point might indicate the same. That’s significantly different from Chase’s 5/24 rule which encompasses most of their cards.

Questions:

  • Is it true that Barclay won’t approve those with too many new accounts showing on their credit report? Is it enforced on a computer-level or only on a human level? (Seems like it’s enforced even on computer level.)
  • Is the exact number coded in the Barclay’s computer to deny, and is that the same number that reps deny on? Is there wiggle-room with a human? (Doesn’t sound like there’s any wiggle room.)
  • Importantly, is it only the Arrival card which has this rule or all Barclay cards?

Share You Data Points in the Comments

A lot of us are applying now for the Arrival+ card since the increased 50k bonus is set to expire soon. If you recently applied for that card or any other Barclay card, let us know how it went!

  • Which card did you apply for? When did you apply? Was it approved or denied?
  • What is your Barclay history: how many Barclay cards do you have now and had in the past?
  • What is your new accounts history: how many new accounts do you have in the past 12 months or 24 months? An estimate is fine. (Don’t count business cards which don’t show on your credit report. Do mention if you have new personal AU’s on the report since that might matter.)
  • (Bonus Question: Estimate how many inquires you have on your Transunion report. It doesn’t sound like it’s inquiry-related, but who knows.)

Update

Based on the comments, I think we can say conclusively that the limitation is only for the Arrival card since many have gotten approvals for other cards. As for the Arrival, the vast majority have been denied, but there are some who were approved (manually, I think?) which would not be consistent with a strict rule.

Update 7/10/18: And here’s a list of more recent data points where people were approved despite being over 6/24.

 

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Teri LaBrie
Teri LaBrie (@guest_1292921)
December 1, 2021 14:43

Well, we just applied for a JetBlue Plus card as a mosaic member on JetBlue. Household income is high six figures with 776 credit score (although it was over 800 before we refinanced our (relatively small) mortgage to a 15 year term). We keep only 2 major credit cards and one store credit card whose balances are paid in full each month. We were denied because “Too few accounts with sufficient satisfactory performance”. Not sure how living well within ones means and paying off your bills in full every month makes one a poor credit risk.

NK3
NK3 (@guest_1210066)
June 21, 2021 23:20

Another data point: applied a few days ago for the Red Aviator card. Was at 6/24 (0 cards in the last 6 months), approved instantly. I thought I was 5/24 but had miscalculated. So inconsistently applied, for sure.

A couple years ago I had been denied for a Wyndham card for too many accounts.

H Richard
H Richard (@guest_1194116)
May 20, 2021 23:03

3 or 4 months ago, my wife was declined a request for an AAdvantage Red Aviator card. She had, at the time, three 800+ credit scores. As I recall, her apparent “sin” was presumably having had acquired 2 “store only” cards and being named as an authorized user 4 times during the then 24-month period.

H R Brooks
H R Brooks (@guest_1169970)
April 2, 2021 13:28

For what it’s worth, requested card was AA Red Aviator.

H R Brooks
H R Brooks (@guest_1169964)
April 2, 2021 13:18

My wife recently received a 6/24 rejection from Barclays. She has 2 “store only” cards and 4 authorized user statuses. That’s quite a nasty rule that Barclays has established. Makes Chase look like a softy!

aviator
aviator (@guest_1155500)
March 7, 2021 18:20

Denied for business aviator 1 mo ago cause had 7/24.

bob
bob (@guest_1167912)
March 28, 2021 20:52

at 21/24, got approved for biz aviator yesterday after manual review

john
john (@guest_1135689)
January 29, 2021 11:03

I am technically at 5/24 as my 6th new account dropped off Jan 28. Is it safe to apply for a jetblue “biz” card now or should I wait some amount of days/months after reaching 5/24

How sensitive are they to a new “biz”? I do have a sole proprietor BOA business checking account that I used to get the Alaska business but not much more. And… I have had a few Barclay cards in the past with only one questionable closing due to lack of use (put it in the sock drawer after reaching spend).

In general, any suggestions for success?

Jameel
Jameel (@guest_1125441)
January 11, 2021 15:11

I was denied 10 January, 2021 for the JetBlue Plus card because I’m 6/24, with a seventh account as an authorized user. Called reconsideration, agent told me that it was a policy matter, and she would not be able to override. I was hoping to get that 100k bonus, but it appears I’ll have to wait 30-60 days until I drop to 5/24. I’m locked out of both Chase and Barclays, so that only leaves Amex and the store cards available to me for much of this year.

Philip
Philip (@guest_1094284)
November 19, 2020 14:54

I’m currently at 4/24 waiting for 2 new accounts posting in December. Just wondering if anyone has any info on the Aviator Red. Do I have to be under 6/24 at the time of application or sitting at 6/24 is still fine?

Adam
Adam (@guest_851442)
December 1, 2019 11:05

I was denied Aug. 31, 2019 for too many new accounts in the last 24 months. I had 8/24, with 2 of those being authorized user new accounts.