UK Cards in the Pandemic: New Data on Overlimit Requests

FICO has recently carried out a review of UK credit card spending requests for consumers that have either missed payments, already exceeded their agreed limit, or would exceed their limit if the transaction was approved. Our aim was to gauge the impact of the pandemic and how policies have changed since our last review several years ago. (Most card transactions in the UK, approximately 99%, are made by card users spending within their limit and have no missed payments.

Typically, issuers are trying to walk a fine line between customer service (the embarrassment of being declined in store or online can damage the relationship), keeping losses to a minimum and being a responsible lender by trying to ensure that any extra spend is affordable to their customer.

February 2020 and 2021 results were compared to understand whether the pandemic has had any impact on requests and how they were managed. Here's what we found:

Source: FICO

These results are reflected in the decrease we have seen in our risk benchmarking data for the percentage of accounts exceeding their limit, as well as the fact that those that do go above limit, do so with a higher amount.

The increase in the amounts being requested and the fact that a higher proportion are being declined could help identify a sub population that is now riskier, whether due to the pandemic or not. This could be a result of an increased reliance on the credit card for everyday spend, dwindling savings or the fact that limit increase programmes were put on hold for several months and have only gradually been reintroduced with some rendering eligibility more difficult.

Whilst there are no regulations that directly impact this type of decisioning, we have seen the following being incorporated into the approve or decline decision process over the last couple of years. As the decision to approve or decline must be made in milliseconds, issuers keep the amount of data used to determine the outcome to a minimum so as not to delay the response.

• More bureau and customer level data – We have seen an increase in the amount of bureau and customer-level data elements used to make the approve/decline decision. Bureau data supplies issuers with a wider customer view and highlights signs of financial stress at other lenders. This data is used to determine the risk level of the customer, based on, for example on, payments on any product, time since a negative event or on a bureau/customer score. Customer-level data will provide insight into total exposure and balances on all products and can be specific to one lender or across all financial holdings linked to that customer, which is the preferred approach. Use of this data means issuers can help prevent extra spend on those experiencing debt problems.
• Expansion of affordability metrics – Affordability metrics are mainly used within the credit card limit increase process to determine whether a customer can support the extra credit. Over the last few years, a subset of that data has started to be utilised in this decision process to determine if the extra spend is sustainable, whether it’s within the credit limit for accounts with missed payment or above the existing limit. Typically, this will involve looking at the indebtedness of the customer either within the specific financial institution or across all their financial holdings at all lenders. Examples include setting a total exposure cutoff; the best-in-class approach is to review the debt-to-income ratio if salary data is available.
• An increase in the number of issuers excluding accounts from spending overlimit, or even within limit if payments have been missed, or if the customer has been in persistent debt 12 or more months. This keeps the decision consistent with their exclusion from credit card limit increases.
• Restricted spend if a customer is on a payment holiday as they have stated they need a break from payments so allowing extra spend would add to the debt issues.

There has been a shift in the definition of a young account over the last few years, whereby spend is restricted up to limit, from six months to three. If consumers are trying to spend above limit so soon after the account has been opened, or have already missed payments, it indicates potential issues in other areas. For example, initial limit setting may not be appropriate and a data-driven or optimised approach might be needed. The eligibility thresholds may no longer be in line with the risk appetite and need adjusting or an education communication to remind the customer about fees associated with missing payments or spending above limit and general account management best practices is warranted.)

Since the financial crisis of 2008, we have seen a noticeable reduction in the maximum spend allowed on this subpopulation, particularly for cash spend, with the norm being approved up to limit or any cash decline on accounts missing payments. With higher interest rates and fees for using cash on a credit card, It has always been viewed as higher-risk behaviour. In the current climate, with many uncertainties around consumer finances due to payment holidays and continuing government support, trying to spend above limit could be a sign of serious financial stress. 

There is more data than ever available to issuers and it can be difficult to determine which metrics to choose that are the most predictive for your portfolio without lengthy test and monitoring timelines. The pandemic has also shifted consumer behaviour.  A cautious approach is recommended for the foreseeable future until the scale of business closures becomes clearer, unemployment rates stabilise or start to reduce, payment holidays are no longer offered and the government supports end, currently planned for the end of September. Issuers may have to respond quickly to changing behaviour as we get further into 2021. We foresee that issuers will turn more to data-driven or optimised strategies to help make their account management decisions. This approach will highlight the most predictive data available to the issuer quicker than traditional analytical methods.

If you have any queries relating to this topic or would like to discuss how you can enhance your card strategies and decisioning, please contact your FICO Advisor or Stacey West via email staceywest@fico.com.