Card providers must check you can afford a credit limit before giving it, and check again before each increase. Many credit-builder cards start at a few hundred pounds and rise several times in the first couple of years.
When an increase may have been unfair
- You were near or over your limit when it went up
- You were only making minimum payments
- You had missed payments, here or elsewhere
- You were using other high-cost credit at the same time
- You were using the card for cash withdrawals
Persistent debt
Since 2018, if over 18 months you paid more in interest, fees and charges than you paid off the balance, the card provider should have contacted you. After 36 months it should have helped you clear the balance faster, and could suspend the card.
Which cards?
Complaints are common about Aqua, Vanquis, Capital One, Marbles, Fluid, Barclaycard and store cards from NewDay.