Santander Credit Card - Watch Out!

Braindead

At the end of Dec 09 I applied for the Santander credit card with 0% on balance transfers for 16 month.

First of all it took two weeks for them to send the acceptance through which is poor in anyones book.

Secondly, and more importantly, the acceptance letter and credit agreement didn't state the credit limit. After several calls to Santander it has become evident that they won't tell me the credit limit until I sign the agreement. How do I know if this product will fit my needs if they won't tell me the limit? I would be signing for an unknown quantity. I'm a confirmed "card tart" and have never experienced this before.

I think this is sharp practice. I've raised a complaint through their call centre and will pursue with the FSA if I don't get a valid response in a few weeks.

Meanwhile I'll just use another provider as it seems Santander really have earned their reputation for poor customer service.

Malc

neil9313

Braindead wrote: »

At the end of Dec 09 I applied for the Santander credit card with 0% on balance transfers for 16 month.

First of all it took two weeks for them to send the acceptance through which is poor in anyones book.

Secondly, and more importantly, the acceptance letter and credit agreement didn't state the credit limit. After several calls to Santander it has become evident that they won't tell me the credit limit until I sign the agreement. How do I know if this product will fit my needs if they won't tell me the limit? I would be signing for an unknown quantity. I'm a confirmed "card tart" and have never experienced this before.

I think this is sharp practice. I've raised a complaint through their call centre and will pursue with the FSA if I don't get a valid response in a few weeks.

Meanwhile I'll just use another provider as it seems Santander really have earned their reputation for poor customer service

.

Malc

You will waste a CC check on your file and turn down a 0% card then? :rolleyes: 2 week delay is not bad for Shabby Abbey and the weather.

You can always talk the limit up on activation, I bet you dont turn the card down

choc_mouse

Reading the agreement I signed with Santander:

1. CREDIT LIMIT - We will set your credit limit and tell you what it is when we send you your Card. We may change the credit limit from time to time. If we do, we will tell you the new limit in writing.

Seems to be the very first thing written, so if you don't agree with that, stop complaining, don't sign and find another card.

choc_mouse

I should also point out there is a "YOUR RIGHT TO CANCEL" section in the agreement. That's another option if you are dissatisfied once you find out your credit limit.

opinions4u

Braindead wrote: »

At the end of Dec 09 I applied for the Santander credit card with 0% on balance transfers for 16 month.

First of all it took two weeks for them to send the acceptance through which is poor in anyones book.

I've known worse.

Secondly, and more importantly, the acceptance letter and credit agreement didn't state the credit limit. After several calls to Santander it has become evident that they won't tell me the credit limit until I sign the agreement. How do I know if this product will fit my needs if they won't tell me the limit? I would be signing for an unknown quantity. I'm a confirmed "card tart" and have never experienced this before.

So, if you filled in a paper based application form, which has the agreement on the back, and posted it off to a bank - as used to happen for ALL credit card applications - how would you have coped?

Poor lamb. I just don't know how the big bad bank can be so horrible to you.

I think this is sharp practice.

You're talking through your bottom.

I've raised a complaint through their call centre

As is your right. They also have the right to operate this way so I doubt you'll get any joy.

and will pursue with the FSA if I don't get a valid response in a few weeks.

The FSA don't handle complaints, so that would be silly.

Meanwhile I'll just use another provider as it seems Santander really have earned their reputation for poor customer service.

I dislike their service levels intensely. But you attitude to them is all wrong. On this occasion, the customer is most certainly NOT in the right.

neil9313

choc_mouse wrote: »

Reading the agreement I signed with Santander:

Seems to be the very first thing written, so if you don't agree with that, stop complaining, don't sign and find another card.

The op is not a very well read "card tart"

Braindead

opinions4U

The main point I was trying to make was that I've moved to a different card every year. They rarely tell you the credit limit on the offer letter but a quick call usually resolves that. I still can't understand the reticence to tell me what I am signing up for.

Thanks for the rest of your constructive comments about FSA not handling complaints and talking out of my bottom which, whilst wrong, will no doubt amuse your fellow readers of the Beano, News of the World etc.

opinions4u

Braindead wrote: »

The main point I was trying to make was that I've moved to a different card every year. They rarely tell you the credit limit on the offer letter but a quick call usually resolves that. I still can't understand the reticence to tell me what I am signing up for.

May be their systems don't allocate the limit until they have the signed agreement?

Worst scenario here is that you get a card with a poor limit and exercise your cancellation rights. Why is that such a hardship?

Thanks for the rest of your constructive comments about FSA not handling complaints ..... which, whilst wrong, will no doubt amuse your fellow readers of the Beano, News of the World etc.

The FSA is not a complaint handling body.

Try Financial Ombudsman Service instead.

If you are still unhappy

If we have been unable to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction or haven’t sent you our final response after eight weeks from the date you originally complained to us, please see step 3 for what to do next.

Step 3 – Contact the Financial Ombudsman
Once you have given us the chance to put things right, if you are still unhappy you can contact the Financial Ombudsman Service. The contact details are:
Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza
183 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SR
Telephone: 0845 080 1800*

Braindead

Point taken about the Ombudsman, however, given that Santander are regulated by the FSA I will start there. No doubt I'll end up being pointed at the Ombudsman at some point if I don't loose interest in the meantime.

I'll just get another card, I checked my credit score and there should be no problems.