Union Card

fishboy_2 · 8 September 2006 at 9:50AM

Hi,

I recently got a union card, but helpdesk kept quoting a 3% balance transfer fee (uncapped). Even though the conditions I received said 2% and capped at £50.

I phoned several times, but got the same answer each time.

I finally made the BT, taking names and dates. I think (hope?) I will be charged the £50 capped fee, will need to see. They said if I was charged the 3% I could go in and claim the difference back at a branch, I assume that this will be near impossible.

Has anyone else had this experience?

Fishboy

Milarky · 8 September 2006 at 10:08AM

Are you sure? The current offering of unioncard summary box states

"2% or minimum £2 (on promotional rates except introductory offer)"

Again, the Terms and Conditions state:

5.2 We may [i.e. 'allow ourselves to'] charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened.

Which means the balance transfers made in the first 9 months are 'excepted' from this charging in general - thus there isn't fee any for 9 months*.

EDIT - *only for the platinum card, I'm afraid! Sorry for jumping to conclusions. See what I've now added below (#21)

What does your card's summary box say under "Balance Transfer Fee"?

Moggles_2 · 8 September 2006 at 10:44AM

If it's not a daft question, which telephone number did you ring?

The terms you've been quoted sound like the Halifax One card - same stable of course.

fishboy_2 · 8 September 2006 at 10:54AM

The number I contacted was advertised as a specific line for Union card holders: 0845 602 0219

The t&c's that came with the card say:

....and 2% (at least £2, but no more than £50) for balance transfers.

In reply to the earlier question, on:

5.2 We may charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened.

When I queried why I was paying a bt fee at all, their interpretation of 'other than a special promotional rate' was that this did not mean no fee, but a higher 3% fee!!! :rotfl:

humfer · 8 September 2006 at 11:31AM

Sounds like the same issues that loads of people had with the charity cards which were also run by Halifax. If you have the terms and conditions in front of you hold you stance and they will eventually back down. With the charity cards it seemed more of a bad training record rather than blatant profiteering that was to blame

Moggles_2 · 8 September 2006 at 12:16PM

Hi there again

I signed up for the charity version last April. I use (01315) 498041 to avoid the wretched 0845 number and have experienced no difficulties so far with balance transfers.

loads of people had with the charity cards which were also run by Halifax.

The union card and the charity versions are issued by Bank of Scotland - same stable of course.

I still suspect you are being quoted the terms of the Halifax One card which currently charges a 3% uncapped fee for balance transfers requested during the introductory period.

Very best
M

Ricardoro · 8 September 2006 at 12:17PM

The website still advertises:
"5.2 We may charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened"

i.e. NO fee on intro offer

However, the T&C's received in post today by my son state
3% fee, no mention of intro period.

He will of course be challenging this failure to honour advertised conditions.

mattbass · 8 September 2006 at 2:53PM

I am expecting a union card next week. Hope I dont have this trouble. Had enough sh*t off Ge already this month:mad:

I may need some help next week fellas:beer:

charlie12 · 8 September 2006 at 5:02PM

Got my documents through for the UNISON Platinum card the other day (applied online on the 1st). The T&Cs I got state that there is a 3% BT fee on all balance transfers despite the website (and summary sheet) showing otherwise.

I called CS and they told me that they charge 3% (uncapped) for all BTs. I think those applicants who were fortunate to get the older T&Cs with the "fees other than the intro period" statement may be able to negotiate with them.

I'm still deciding whether to go ahead with the application and challenge the fee. Slow-stoozing doesn't interest me much as I don't make enough purchases to benefit.

mattbass · 8 September 2006 at 5:23PM

Not the post I wanted to see Charlie12. :mad:

Beancounter · 8 September 2006 at 5:38PM

charlie12 wrote:

Got my documents through for the UNISON card the other day (applied online on the 1st). The T&Cs I got state that there is a 3% BT fee on all balance transfers despite the website (and summary sheet) showing otherwise.

I called CS and they told me that they charge 3% (uncapped) for all BTs. I think those applicants who were fortunate to get the older T&Cs with the "fees other than the intro period" statement may be able to negotiate with them.

.

Goes totally against what I was told on the phone yesterday before applying. I was told there was NO fee. I asked him again and he confirmed NO FEE. I will be most upset if I have had a search recorded for nothing:mad:

Union Card

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