Credit Card Mail Shots: Vanquis

tempuscat

Like others here I've followed various threads over the years, amongst them the recent one about Vanquis, a credit card which services or exploits (depending on your viewpoint) those with poor credit histories. This isn't about the card itself -- which is why I've not added it to the Vanquis thread -- but about its mail-shot, received today.

The envelope is addressed to me; on the reverse are the words: Don't worry if you've been turned down elsewhere. Apply today. We'll still consider you.

Well Vanquis, don't worry if you're turned down by me, I'm applying today to the Financial Ombudsman (or some such) in hope they'll consider lodging a complaint against you. Why?

Because we are property owners with a perfect life-long credit rating, no debts of any kind, no mortgage, have never had a CCJ against us in our lives, yet are now on the receiving end of an unsolicited mail shot emblazoned with words that not only imply just the opposite but which can be read by anyone.

(The ludicrous content of the Vanquis mailing is not at issue here; our anger stems from that which our postman has had an opportunity to read).

Are we being picky? I think not. An individual's reputation is all, and to have this kind of junk slamming through the mailbox is irredeemably offensive.

Wading through reams of small print in the Vanquis letter, we have now -- finally -- found its contact number, and will be ringing to request information as to how our name came to be on their mailing list, and from what source it was obtained. We don't expect Vanquis to tell us, and we're not sure what rights we have to insist on receiving that information.

We're also not sure about precisely who to complain to re this mailing, because (I think) the Financial Ombudsman is concerned only with issues between financial outfits and their customers -- and we're certainly not Vanquis customers.

But it surely cannot be right that credit card companies can issue mailings such as this which publicly call into question the status of the recipient?

daveboy

Most of us just bin it, or laugh at it.

Who gives two hoots whether your postie saw it.

I've bought the magazine Nuts from a newsagents before, it has topless women in it sometimes but do I care what someone else might think?

Truth be told, the postie won't give a damn. If you want to allow Vanquis to cost you money with the call, then so be it.

Personally, if the mailing had something in it to send back in the post, I'd post it. Stick some unwanted leaflets in it, or even a made up application. It then costs them the postage (someone elsewhere on MSE mentioned this recently but I cannot remember who it was).

Personally, I've never seen anything like this, or heard it from anyone.

I'd consider a doctor rather than the Ombudsman.

There always is the MPS.

Thefunkygibbons

I am signed up to MPS and I still got one a few weeks back

Their targeting is very poor

Unless they are deliberating targeting home-owners with large 7 bed roomed houses with low mortgages in the shires

tempuscat

#2 Thanks for that, Dave, although the day I'd need to see a doctor is the day I'd take any notice of it. :rotfl: There is an issue here about unsolicited mail shots and I'm not sure why you'd confuse that with voluntarily electing to buy a copy of, er, Nuts magazine: what you choose to acquire via your newsagents is your business; what I choose to acquire via Royal Mail is mine. And this sort of patronising junk from a profit-hungry company with APRs verging on the extortionate definitely ain't it.

I've now spoken with Vanquis -- just who are they vanquishing? The vulnerable? The exploitable? -- and will drop off a letter to Sue Singleton, Customer Services Manager, later today. Yes, it's easy for the consumer to be passive and chuck stuff in the bin, but all you get from that is more junk and a need for a bigger bin. Even one, as we have, with an MPS lid on it.

daveboy

The distinction I was making is that I don't care if someone knows I look at what could be deemed '!!!!!!'. That is perhaps, to some, one of the most embarrassing things.

Your first post talks about reputation. As I said before, the postie won't care as he'll deliver numerous things like that every day. Never before have I stumbled across anyone who has jumped on this, for this reason. By all means, try to stop them sending it. But for it to affect reputation?

Smacks of upper-class snobbery to me.

It costs them to send it, which is why I continue to let them.

Niteflyer

tempuscat wrote:

Like others here I've followed various threads over the years, amongst them the recent one about Vanquis, a credit card which services or exploits (depending on your viewpoint) those with poor credit histories. This isn't about the card itself -- which is why I've not added it to the Vanquis thread -- but about its mail-shot, received today.

The envelope is addressed to me; on the reverse are the words: Don't worry if you've been turned down elsewhere. Apply today. We'll still consider you.

Well Vanquis, don't worry if you're turned down by me, I'm applying today to the Financial Ombudsman (or some such) in hope they'll consider lodging a complaint against you. Why?

Because we are property owners with a perfect life-long credit rating, no debts of any kind, no mortgage, have never had a CCJ against us in our lives, yet are now on the receiving end of an unsolicited mail shot emblazoned with words that not only imply just the opposite but which can be read by anyone.

(The ludicrous content of the Vanquis mailing is not at issue here; our anger stems from that which our postman has had an opportunity to read).

Are we being picky? I think not. An individual's reputation is all, and to have this kind of junk slamming through the mailbox is irredeemably offensive.

Wading through reams of small print in the Vanquis letter, we have now -- finally -- found its contact number, and will be ringing to request information as to how our name came to be on their mailing list, and from what source it was obtained. We don't expect Vanquis to tell us, and we're not sure what rights we have to insist on receiving that information.

We're also not sure about precisely who to complain to re this mailing, because (I think) the Financial Ombudsman is concerned only with issues between financial outfits and their customers -- and we're certainly not Vanquis customers.

But it surely cannot be right that credit card companies can issue mailings such as this which publicly call into question the status of the recipient?

Ridiculous

tattooed_lady

Funnily enough my OH received a mailshot from Vanquis yesterday so I sat down and read all the bumpf that came with it. Was surprised to read that they don't charge any fees for cash advances and there are no fees for late payments or defaults! Maybe their interest rates aren't great but they are doing a service to people who need it.

Niteflyer

ruyareece wrote:

Funnily enough my OH received a mailshot from Vanquis yesterday so I sat down and read all the bumpf that came with it. Was surprised to read that they don't charge any fees for cash advances and there are no fees for late payments or defaults! Maybe their interest rates aren't great but they are doing a service to people who need it.

They have 2 cards, the standard card with all the standard fees and penalties (with a lower interest rate) and the No Surprises Card with no late fees and no additional fees on cash advances (with a slightly higher interest rate)

Matt

tattooed_lady

Oh, I see! Wondered why the interest rate was higher than the one I'd heard about. Not a bad idea if you know you CAN pay if off every month!