GE Capital Account Cover

DonnyDave

I have a Burton account card provided by GE Capital. The other evening someone phoned telling me about a "protection" scheme called Account Cover available on my card. Having received the policy document, I have now realised that I am now committed to this unless I write to them to cancel!

The cover costs 1.5p for every £1 on the card. I haven't read the full policy document yet, but main benefits are as follows:

• Price protection - claim if the price of an item is reduced at a later date
• Purchase protection - Protection against loss, theft and accidental damage for up to 100 days
• Payment protection - If unable to pay due to hospitalisation or involutary unemployment, payments will be made for me.

I think that this is completely outrageous!

What's more, it looks as if I have to notice that the price has come down and submit a claim. How many people do this then? :rolleyes:

At the end of the call I had to confirm my address and date of birth. This was presumably confirming my acceptance to the 'scheme'. The call lasted 5 minutes, and at the end I wasn't entirely sure what the 'cover' was, but certainly didn't realise I had opted in!

The way in which they asked me to confirm some personal details with them when they called me is surely a security issue and as a legitimate company should not be encouraging this bad practice which can lead to identity theft.

I now have to write to them to cancel, there is no pre-paid envelope. :mad:

I would consider cancelling the card, but as it's a store card I don't really have much choice if I want to shop at Burtons and take advantage of their associated promotions.

RichyRich

That is absolutely ridiculous! Just done a google search for a freepost address but none found (spurred on my your say no to 0870 sig).

Sorry mate

Rich

YorkshireBoy

This might be a bit too obvious, but...

1. Go to https://www.burton.co.uk

2. Click "account card" (wait for page to load)

3. Click "Burton Account Card"

4. Click "Faqs and Contact Details"

Is the information then displayed any use?

s.c.

G.E Capital hang out at Bruntcliffe Way,Morley, Leeds


and Pudsy Leeds LS99 2BD

I think you need the latter.

DonnyDave

It's been over a month now and they haven't bothered to respond to the two letters I sent them. After the first I emailed and received a reply saying that the cover was still on my account and that it would be duly cancelled.

I will now write to Arcadia who operate Burtons, in the hope that they will actually do something. Failing that, I will have to write to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I have yet to receive another statement saying that the amount has been refunded.

DonnyDave

Burtons didn't reply, so I wrote to Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) who passed it to the executive office at GE Capital. Result, GE Capital have sent me a cheque for £25 for the inconvenience.

The letter from GE Capital said that it had received both letters. The respondant apologises for the lack of response to the other issues and says that she has spoken to the manager of the department so he will speak to the members of staff concerned.