UK Credit Cards

I have the Citibank Platinum Dividend (not the Student version) card with a 18.99% interest. I think it is ridiculous to have a 18.99% APR. I have a great credit history although it is rather short (I am 21/student and started this card at age 18).

I have never been late and I always pay in full so it never really mattered to me. But I feel, after proving myself a responsible credit user for 3yrs, they should cut me some slack. My credit limit goes up every few months (almost $20,000 now) but the APR never goes down!

I called about it and they said there is nothing they can do now but call again in 2 weeks. This is the only request I’ve made in 3yrs. Should I just dump Citibank and go with another bank? I’m afraid my credit score would go down since this is my longest-running card.

Advice?

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I know that credit card companies aren’t REQUIRED to lower theirs, but they usually do, right? So can I call my credit card company tomorrow and ask for a lower rate, or should I give them a week, or what?
All I know is that about 6 months ago I called my credit card company and asked for a lower rate. It was at 13.99%, and after spending about 30 minutes on the phone with two very nice gentlemen, I was able to lower my interest rate down to 10.5%, and renew or something a promotional rate from 7.99% for 6 months down to 3.99% for the life of the loan. I asked them how often I could do this and they said whenever the rates change, I could call and ask – I might get it, I might not.
I just thought that I might need to give them time to get a new rate into their system, and with it being more than the .25% change that was expected, I thought it might take a little more time. But I’m not a financial wiz, or I wouldn’t be in debt in the first place.

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The shortsightedness on labour
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Fewer credit card rate hikes after regulations
(AP:NEW YORK) Credit card holders are facing fewer interest rate hikes and forking over sharply less in late fees. A year after new regulations curbed a spate of questionable billing practices, federal officials say over-the-limit penalty charges have also been dramatically curtailed.

Read more on INO News

Fewer credit card rate hikes after regulations
Credit card holders are facing fewer interest rate hikes and forking over sharply less in late fees.

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Fewer credit card rate hikes after regulations
NEW YORK (AP) – Credit card holders are facing fewer interest rate hikes and forking over sharply less in late fees. A year after new regulations curbed a spate of questionable billing practices, federal officials say over-the-limit penalty charges have also been dramatically curtailed.

Read more on The Kentucky Post

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Does any have the industry standard for approval rate for all credit card applications? What percentage of credit card applications are approved?
If you have the answer to this question, please provide a link or description of the source that states it. Thank you!

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S&P: upgrades 2 Sapphire III NZ RMBS classes, 4 affirmed
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Rate on 30-year fixed mortgage rises to 4.81 pct.
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Read more on INO News

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Nearly ten million people in Britain are out of work – more than six times the official unemployment rate – it was revealed last night.

The ‘hidden army’ of jobless accounts for a quarter of the working-age population.

Critics said the staggering numbers represented a ‘huge pool of wasted talent’ and fuelled concerns about the drain on the economy.

See link – http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=475517&in_page_id=1770

Question – What are your thoughts ?

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