Store Card Discussion

smac84 · 16 October 2008 at 3:23PM

Hello Im lookin for some advice

I had a Dorothy Perkins store card, and as I was moving home I decided to pay off the balance and close my account. As I had moved and never heard from them I was under the impression it was all dealt with, but since coming back into contact with my old flat mate, he showed me a few letters from them. This was all interest amounting to over £200 and even letters from a debt collection service - I was really shocked so phoned GE Money to try sorting it out, and ended up speakin to a really rude woman who didn't want to help me at all. What can I do? I dont see why i should have to pay when I havent spent anything - the card was cut up after i payed the last payment. The woman at the call centre said it wasnt cancelled. someone please help!:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

I even sent a letter back in 2006 because they were still taking my last payment of £4 every month - like it was set up as direct debit. But no one ever replied to me.

Cant believe this has happened to me!

£23000_to_go... · 29 October 2008 at 11:45AM

I have a debenhams store card that I have just paid off in full.

I am now working on paying off my 3 credit cards (all at 7k each). I have always met minimum payments but no more than that before now.

Is it best to cancel my Debenhams Store Card or leave it with a zero balance? I won't be using it as I have a lot of debt to shift.

Please advise what is best for me and my credit rating?

Many thanks

lisarose · 9 November 2008 at 3:45PM

house of fraser are currently offering a "shopping card" which entitles you to 20% off purchases until 12th of december when you open a store card. also you get 3 months interest free and 3 points for every £1 spend. so i have spent £300 on christmas pressies, got them for £240, earned 720 points and have 3 months to pay it off with no interest! :money:

Shop_til_you_drop_3 · 28 January 2009 at 10:02PM

I bought several items in the Debenhams sale prior to Christmas and while I was trying something on in the changing rooms, I noticed a sign that tells you their refund policy (usually only available in small print near the checkout!). I learned a useful fact - if you pay with a Debenhams card, you are guaranteed a refund *at any time* e.g. after 30 days or even if the item is over 75% reduced (if you paid cash/debit card, they state that an item reduced by 75% or more would be non-refundable unless faulty).

I also took advantage of the "save an extra 10% on certain purchases" if you paid with your Debenhams card (applicable to existing cardholders, not just new account cardholders).

belleaboggle · 4 March 2009 at 3:19PM

I took out a style store card in 2006 was a tad lazy in paying the balance off so it went to a debt recovery agent who I have been paying off as agreed each month the final balance of the card was £360 which shot up to £473.45 with late payment fees etc. I found out today when I phoned them that I have actually paid off £500 but I still owe them £104.69 they say it is the interest from style themselves. If a comapny buys the debt can the original company still charge you interest on your balance ???? where do I stand on this ???

jojo240 · 6 March 2009 at 11:31AM

Can anyone advise me how I can reclaim overpayment on an old Principles storecard? I opened a card ages ago (1989/90!) and probably only used it twice - last in 1991. I thought it I had closed it when I moved house, but was contacted recently by GE Money who had traced me through my bank to advise me of the payments I was still making on a long-dormant account! They promptly repaid me 75 quid!!

However, GE Money had only had the account for a short time - previously it had been with Ikano and I have been unable to trace how to contact them to reclaim the remainder of any overpayments. Any advice on how I can go about getting hold of them or how I proceed would me much appreciated!!

LaurenM9 · 26 July 2009 at 1:12AM

They offer you

A £5 welcome spend voucher with first statement
2 points for every £1 you spend which turn into vouchers to spend in store.
Free catalogue twice a year
Sometimes 10% off for cardholders
Double and Triple Points Events
They also do a Mastercard so you can earn points outside Laura Ashley but has a higher credit limit and usually lower APR
Shopping Cover - Insurance covering price of items

hoyles10 · 26 July 2009 at 2:46PM

I'm soooo annoyed with myself. I have a Topman/Topshop store card and recently had to buy a new suit for a wedding so I took myself to Burtons and got a cheap one from there and put it on my card.

I have had my card now for years and have always paid at least the minimum payment or paying more if I had the spare cash, I usually just go in store and pay it at the till.

My minimum payment has been £10 per month for ages but because I bought the suit my minimum payment was £11. I went into the store as usual and made my payment of £10. Now the !!!!!!s have charged me £12 for not meeting the minimum payment.

I know it's my own fault but I thought if I called them they might refund the charge because of my account history and the difference was only £1. Anyway to cut a long story short they have refused to refund the charge.

So be careful people that you don't make the same silly mistake I did.

Yaklet · 29 September 2009 at 3:02PM

I recently took out a Topshop card and am really regretting it. Like hoyles10 I have learned too late that they are grasping gits! The initial discount has probably been outweighed by hidden charges since then - I would have been better off paying cash - not to mention the hassle.

I accepted the card from the girl in the shop because I was buying something expensive and wanted the introductory discount, intending to pay the balance immediately and thus benefit without too much danger. (I am shopperwoman! Hear me roar!)
However I have discovered now that:
1) I've been charged £2 for item insurance that I wasn't told about fully
2) I have attempted to pay off the amount immediately but my payment has "gone astray", so the balance is still on the account and I can't close the card down
3) phoning their customer helpline, which is the ONLY way to administrate the account, costs 10p per minute!! And it takes 4 minutes minimum to get through the "press this, press that" rubbish!

I had to phone this helpline twice today to try and sort out this missing payment, was told different things on the two occasions, and apparently have to wait for a 28-day investigation to happen. The first speaker told me we could sort it out pronto if I provided some bank details but when I called back, couldn't get through to him, and another bloke said that was untrue and he had opened an investigation. I am convinced that operatives do this on purpose to keep your case going on (and you ringing up) for as long as possible. I am loathe to ring back to try and get a third opinion, or speak to a manager, because of the cost - I must have been on the phone for 40 mins today at 10p a minute already, and it's soul-destroying as well as pricey.

To be fair, the second bloke said that any interest charges etc will be waived, but my faith in their word is not strong. Also, the lass in the shop who encouraged me to sign up was doing her best with a huge long jargonated form on a busy Saturday. But I feel that this card, administrated by Santander so probably in common with other Santander cards, is a very good example of the extortionate charges at every turn, and trickery employed to stop you leaving, that make store cards a bad idea. My only revenge is to list it on here and hopefully discourage other users from taking out Topshop or Santander cards. PAH!!
:money:

cheery_emma · 23 December 2009 at 11:24AM

Hi guys.

I've just taken out my first store card (to save 10% at Debenhams), I just need clarification on paying it back. To avoid the interest, do I have to pay it before the end of the month, or once I get the statement and before the next one arrives? I took it out on the 17th of Dec, do I have to pay before Jan 17th?

They've given me a temporary one, but said when I signed up I have to wait for the proper one to come through before I can pay it off.

Also, if I decide to return the item after I've paid the balance, will that just go as credit on the account?

Emma
xxxxx

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