Thomas Cook Credit Cards - how are they?

firsttimestudent

Hi, just wondering if anybody has any experience with Thomas Cook Credit Cards, in particular:

a) How stringent are their requirements
b) How easy is their application (speed of opening, amount of paperwork you need to return?)
c) Is their 0% on foreign purchases good? Like really 0% and based on Visa's exchange rate?

Thanks!!

crazyfj

Its run with Barclaycard who I think open the account then its Thomas Cook, its a Scottish Call Centre.

You can do it on line, its the first time I've been accepted on line with a good credit limit. I had a few credit cards at the time.

Yes, its 0% as far as I'am aware.

fj

SwissLe

Well, they have improved recently. They have automated phone account systems now and you can use your debit card on these too, rather than having to speak to someone in a call centre.

They are pretty good with applications, my girlfriend who doesn't have much of a credit rating (just starting off) got a limit of £750 instantly - raised to £1000 within months. Everything was applied for online and the card took around 10 days to come. She was given a higher rate than advertised, wasn't a problem for us though.

The points IMO are a total waste of time. They expire quickly, and don't occur that quickly either. Plus we have always been able to find a cheaper deal with another company even taking the points into account.

Using it aboard is pretty good, the 0% was useful when paying £5 for a dairy milk skiing this year

firsttimestudent

Thanks!

I was just concerned that the 0% will be on Thomas Cook's currency exchange rate! (Looks like it's definitely Visa's then?)

Any reasons why this Thomas Cook card isn't listed together with say Nationwide & Post Office in the best for foreign travel thing?

Thanks!