Balance Transfer 0%

knackeredmum

Who will give a balance transfer to someone living at a BFPO address? I need to change my card asap and now everyone says I have to be living in the uk - even though we are working with the british military abroad!

a&akay

See below from Hansard

17 Jan 2006 : Column 1195W



Credit Card Companies
Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect on armed forces' personnel of the policies of major credit card companies' failure to recognise the British Forces Post Office as a valid address. [37561]

Mr. Ingram: There is no failure by major credit card companies to recognise British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses as a valid address. Service personnel and their families can use a BFPO address as the registered (home) address for their credit cards where appropriate and many do. Some companies—for their own reasons—will not take orders from, or deliver to, BFPO addresses but the majority are happy to do so. Where this commercial decision is driven by practical factors such as "card not present" identity verification or credit checking requirements, the MOD is supporting the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) in resolving any difficulties.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that all UK credit card companies recognise British Forces Post Office addresses as valid addresses for the purpose of making credit card transactions. [37562]

Mr. Ingram: UK credit card companies already recognise British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses as valid addresses for the purposes of making credit card transactions. Also, most companies providing goods and services via the internet and telephone—where "card not present" fraud control measures are necessary—do accept BFPO addresses. Ultimately it is a commercial decision for any company to determine how and where they will provide services. Even so, for the minority that choose not to deal with BFPO addresses, their issues are being explored further by the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) with the assistance of the MOD.

knackeredmum

Thanks. Do you know of any companies that will accept our address. we have tried most listed on this site and they all say we need to be resident in the UK unless we are already banking with them.

a&akay

I have asked APACS by email on your behalf quoting Hansard. I will let you have reply when and if I receive it. Maybe in the 'too difficult' category however!

a&akay

In answer to the question 'Bearing in mind below (Hansard extract), what cards allow applicants from BFPO numbers? I got the following. Still no help to you! NAAFI's card is apparently Abbey so try them.


The problems, where they exist, are not with the card issuers but with
retailers. As the quotes from Hansard show, there is no failure by
credit card companies to recognise BFPO addressess. The issue is with
the minority of retailers who choose not to deal with BFPO addresses,
perhaps because of a mistaken belief that fraud is more prevalent.
APACS has provided educational materials to help to allay these fears.
However, if you are aware of a specific retailer who is not willing to
deliver to BFPO addresses, please do let us know and we will do what we
can to resolve the issue.

Regards

Corporate Communications

APACS - the UK payments association
Mercury House, Triton Court
14 Finsbury Square
LONDON EC2A 1LQ
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7711 6259
media enquiries: press@apacs.org.uk
non-media enquiries: corpcomms@apacs.org.uk

For more information about APACS visit our new website
https://www.apacs.org.uk.
For information about plastic card fraud and its prevention visit
https://www.cardwatch.org.uk.

knackeredmum

Thanks for trying - I will let you know if I ever find one, will check out the NAAFI one though.

Bokken_2

knackeredmum wrote:

Thanks for trying - I will let you know if I ever find one, will check out the NAAFI one though.

I would be very wary of having any financial dealings with the NAAFI.purely because if anything goes slightly wrong missed payments /late payments you/your partner will be reported directly to your CO/ RSM etc and they will charge you and the fines as I am sure you are aware are very heavy normally a months wages.
I realise your problem but this is worth bearing in mind.