Virgin 10 and half months 0%?

nh

When I rang up to do a BT on my new Virgin card, I asked the customer services woman when my 0% deal ended.

I was expecting it to be sometime the middle of August (ie nine months from now)

But she said I would get a statement on the 12 September and if that wasn't paid in full by October 10, I would pay interest. ie. if I paid up on October 9 I would pay no interest.

I laughed (having only yesterday read another thread here where someone had gone off the 'estimated interest' notice on their statement and then paid interest at the end of the 0% period). I said 'no offence, but I don't think you're right'. I said the 0% deal usually ends exactly nine months after the card was opened, irrespective of when the statement date is.

I asked when the card was opened. The woman (Catherine she was called - I made sure I got her full name!) said November 17.

So I think August 17 should be when the deal ends.

But she said to go off the estimated interest on the statement, and she said my statement on September 12 will say I will pay interest if I don't pay in full, therefore pay in full by that date and you won't pay interest.

Is this the biggest con or what?

I will be ringing them again, to check this, and ringing again near to the time the 0% period ends to ask again!

Has anyone else come across this?

Reaper

I'm certain she is wrong, but if you can get her to put it in writing for you then you should be able to get the interest refunded when they charge it.

nh

That's a good idea - I probably won't be able to get through to her again though. But I will try again and see what the next person says, and if they say the same thing I will ask them to do that. Thanks.

Milarky

It does appear that Virgin [et MBNA?] run the promotional periods right up to a payment date - although this does contradict the report from the earlier poster who said they had gone by the 'estimated interest' and paid off the full balance but still got charged for some of that month.

I got a 'repeat' 0% for 6 months offer: phone call was on 22nd April and a BT made straight away. When checking online information it later stated '19th November' - almost 7 months - rather than '22nd October'. I checked this with MBNA nearer to the date and they confirmed ''Nothing for the current statment period - your promotional rate runs up to your November statement."

I paid the balance off on 18th & 19th November, and got my statement dated 22nd November showing '0.00' interest.

My thinking is that to cover themselves they give customers '6 months' [or '9 months'] 0% between statements, so that whenever you transfer within a statement period you will always get the stated promotion. In other words, get your balance transfer in just after a statement [as I did] and you almost get an extra month..

This is just my thinking but maybe someone else can confirm this experience?

[Hope that helps]

Pricy147

I had the same issue on the MBNA card. Rate ran out on October 19th - but the advisor stated that so long as I pay off by the next statement deadline, I would incur no interest.

Done this, next statement came - and I have £46 interest charged.

Phoned up and got it refunded - so in the long run better off - but risky. The advisor's aren't supposed to give you this sort of advise!

ZoomZoom-man

I'm coooooonnffuuuussssed ?!#;
I have just got my Virgin card with B/T offer of 9 months at 0% to transfer my balance from my soon to expire Egg card 0% rate, BUT, I seem to be getting mixed messages about Virgin's current offer ie; do they charge to do B/T's or not ? I am transferring about £600 which I don't consider to be a SBT. Can't seem to find a definate post and my rate is soon to run out not to mention the HSBC card which seems to be taking forever to arrive. I dont wanna get stung just as I am getting into this 'tarting' thing.
Please help ???

Unbelievable_2

zoom zoom man

Ring them and ask - they'll do the BT for you and confirm whether there is a charge.

They told me that all BTs on Virgin are charge free for the first 6 months - that was about 2 weeks ago but it could have changed by now (let's face it, it might not have been accurate at the time!) :-/

nh

Usually they don't charge for the first BT you do with a new MBNA card. It is only after that that they may charge £35 or whatever. Although MBNA allowed me to do two fee-free BTs in the the first six months.

Generally though, the first one after receiving the card is free.

Is this ticker annoying everyone - it is a bit garish isn't it?

Martinslovechild

Is this ticker annoying everyone - it is a bit garish isn't it?

;D ;D ;D ;D

LOL

nh

Is that a yes then?

Martinslovechild

Is that a yes then?

Erm...

I think so!!