Skycard - 12 months 0% on BT's and Purchases

YorkshireBoy

innovate wrote:

Still feel uneasy about the somewhat conflicting/unclear information on the website, but I think I'll apply for one and note on the application form that I only want my application processed if the above two conditions are met.

And you expect some processing clerk to halt doing the 60 or so applications he/she has to do per hour, just to carry out your 'special request'?

I'm not sure what you find so ambiguous about this offer. It CLEARLY states that the fee is 2.5% FULL STOP on...

1. The website product features at http://www.sky.com/skycom/article/0,,91095-1176478,00.html
2. The summary box at http://scar02.burstinteractive.com/short_form2.pdf
3. The credit agreement that you will sign at http://scar02.burstinteractive.com/applicationform.asp
4. The 'full' T&C's (referenced from the credit agreement) at http://www1.sky.com/skycard/skycard_tandcs2.pdf

innovate

YB, I can't get at the T&C link you sent (doc will just not open), but on the application form it CLEARLY says

0% until 1st January 2007 on purchases and balance transfers. A charge of 2.5% of the balance transfer amount applies, up to a maximum of £50. We will transfer Promotional Balances to the Standard Balance or Cash Balance (as relevant) at the end of the promotional period and also if you break this agreement. See condition 1.2 for more information.

That is not "2.5% FULL STOP", is it?

And no, I don't expect a clerk to cope with anything non-standard - but when they come to charging me and want more than £50, I will have a record of the terms I signed.

YorkshireBoy

innovate wrote:

YB, I can't get at the T&C link you sent (doc will just not open), but on the application form it CLEARLY says

0% until 1st January 2007 on purchases and balance transfers. A charge of 2.5% of the balance transfer amount applies, up to a maximum of £50. We will transfer Promotional Balances to the Standard Balance or Cash Balance (as relevant) at the end of the promotional period and also if you break this agreement. See condition 1.2 for more information.

That is not "2.5% FULL STOP", is it?

Ahh, I see where you were looking now. I'd gone straight to the 'charges' section of the T&C's where it says simply '2.5%'.

On searching again, I've now also found a reference to October 2006 in the T&C's as well.

Very untidy indeed, but I still believe the fee will be uncapped, and so I wouldn't make an application if this would cause a problem.

For what it's worth, https://www.thisismoney.co.uk also ran this story last week, and they stated the fee was uncapped as well. I'm assuming they were given a press release by Sky?

The SkyCard is probably more useful to consumers that are looking to make purchases as its major downside is the 2.5% uncapped balance transfer fee. Most other balance transfer fees are set at 2% and are capped at £50. The card has a standard APR of 16.9%.

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/credit-and-loans/article.html?in_article_id=405763&in_page_id=9

innovate

Well, I called them again, spoke to another bloke this time. He hadn't heard of the 12 month offer, said the longest they can do is until Nov 1 2006.!! After some more discussion, and him putting me on muzzak for a while, I think I have concluded that they have all sorts of flexibility because he said some applications may get a cap, others won't.

Anyways, putting my nitpick hat on and reading the application form again, it clearly says 0% until 1 Jan 2007, and £50 max on balance transfers. It then goes on to say:

By signing above, you confirm that:
• the details you have given us are correct; • you want us to give you a SkyCard and PIN (if eligible) and from time to time replace your card with any SkyCard covered by this agreement; • you have read and agreed to "How we Use Your Information" and our statement on "Responsible lending", which you can find here, just click on SkyCard Terms and Conditions.

So, as far as the T&Cs are concerned, all I am signing is that I have read and agreed the sections "How we Use Your Information" and "Responsible lending".
Small problem - there is no section called "How we Use Your Information", but apart from that, if I assume I know which sections they refer to, these sections don't talk about BT fees. So, a cap at £50 it must be!

This is all a bit messy, so I have now requested the paper version of the application form and will have another think about it when I have seen that one. I'd love to have a 12 month card with max £50 BT fee, though

YorkshireBoy

innovate wrote:

I'd love to have a 12 month card with max £50 BT fee, though

Halifax One? The minimum payments are less (at only 2%) as well. However, the 3 months 0% on purchases with the Halifax is useless if you're stoozing with it.

Good luck with the Skycard, and please let us know how you get on.

HGLTsuperstar

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Halifax One? The minimum payments are less (at only 2%) as well. However, the 3 months 0% on purchases with the Halifax is useless if you're stoozing with it.

Good luck with the Skycard, and please let us know how you get on.

Newbie stoozer here, and confused. Why is 3months 0% on purchases useless for stoozing, as you only use the card for the initial BT, not for purchasing? :snow_laug

innovate

Ah - must keep myself more informed, the Halifax one had escaped me! Thanks YB.

HGLT: I think YB must have left a "not" out, I am sure he meant "...useless if you're not stoozing with it"

YorkshireBoy

innovate wrote:

HGLT: I think YB must have left a "not" out, I am sure he meant "...useless if you're not stoozing with it"

Sorry, it seemed clear to me when I posted.

However, the 3 months 0% on purchases with the Halifax is useless if you're stoozing with it.

For "stoozing", read "BT'ing".

For "it", read "the card".

ie, if you've BT'd to the card for stoozing (or debt management) purposes, you shouldn't make any purchases on it.

Perhaps I should have said "...because if you've BT'd to the card, you shouldn't make any purchases on it due to the order of payments"?

Am I digging myself deeper in?

Lawnmower_Man

Out of interest does anybody know just how many skypoints you get per pound spent and any idea how many you need to redeem the offers.

Try as I might I coud not find anything on the sky website.

They could be like the MACS card. Say 1 point every £10 spent and you need 1 million for 1 movie or something stupid.

Talking of stupid, it probably is on the website, so bring it on and make me look the fool.

Cheers

LM

overdrawn

hi i don't know about BTs but i spent £1000 on mine and just redeemed my points as £10 off my next months sky tv , so that's one point per £ spent.