Union Card

mattbass

charlie12 wrote:

Got my documents through for the UNISON card the other day (applied online on the 1st). The T&Cs I got state that there is a 3% BT fee on all balance transfers despite the website (and summary sheet) showing otherwise.

I called CS and they told me that they charge 3% (uncapped) for all BTs. I think those applicants who were fortunate to get the older T&Cs with the "fees other than the intro period" statement may be able to negotiate with them.

I recieved my terms for the unison card ysterday.
My summary box states:-
Blance transfer fee -3%(minimum£3)on special promotional offers other than the introductory period.

Hopefully the term "other than the introductory period" are the important bit. There seems to be several different versions of the terms flying about.

charlie12

mattbass wrote:

I recieved my terms for the unison card ysterday.
My summary box states:-
Blance transfer fee -3%(minimum£3)on special promotional offers other than the introductory period.

Hopefully the term "other than the introductory period" are the important bit. There seems to be several different versions of the terms flying about.

The T&Cs and the summary box/sheet are not the same.

My summary sheet appears to be the same as yours. Near the top it says:

This table summarises our key credit features. It does not replace any legal conditions and you are advised to read the full terms and conditions for more information.

Therefore the T&Cs override everything on the summary sheet. The T&Cs are terms that you sign and agree with.

What do your T&Cs say regarding the BT fee? Mine is 3% uncapped and I suspect yours is the same (Section 5.1).

mattbass

my T&C 5.1

says ............3%(at least £3) for balance transfers.

So are we saying this card is now NOT fee free? That is a damn shame. Will have to phone them before I sign and send the forms back.:mad: Interesting to see how others get on.

charlie12

mattbass wrote:

So are we saying this card is now NOT fee free? That is a damn shame. Will have to phone them before I sign and send the forms back.:mad:

Looks like it

I think I'll go ahead with the application and then challenge the fee.

Let us know what they say.

Beancounter

charlie12 wrote:

The T&Cs and the summary box/sheet are not the same.

My summary sheet appears to be the same as yours. Near the top it says:



Therefore the T&Cs override everything on the summary sheet. The T&Cs are terms that you sign and agree with.

What do your T&Cs say regarding the BT fee? Mine is 3% uncapped and I suspect yours is the same (Section 5.1).

These are the Ts and Cs that I printed off on application -


5.1 We make a handling charge of 2.5% (at least £2) for cash advances and 2% (at least £2, but not more than £50) for balance transfers. We may also limit the amount you can take out as a cash advance to a percentage of your overall credit limit. We will tell you what this cash limit is when you open your account. We will also tell you if the percentage changes at any time

5.2 We may charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened.

charlie12

Beancounter wrote:

These are the Ts and Cs that I printed off on application...

Which card did you apply for?

By "printed off" do you mean printed off from the website? As the T&Cs that you receive to sign (and therefore agree to) is often different from the site.

Beancounter

charlie12 wrote:

Which card did you apply for?

By "printed off" do you mean printed off from the website? As the T&Cs that you receive to sign (and therefore agree to) is often different from the site.

Yeah,printed off the website when I applied.It was the Unison card I applied for. Not yet got a decision so I may not need to worry:rolleyes:

Can they do that, send different Ts & Cs to what are on the website, seems a little naughty, especially when I was told catagorically on the phone there were NO fees for BTs.

mattbass

The terms on the website are still different to the ones they sent me.

5.1 We make a handling charge of 2.5% (at least £2) for cash advances and 2% (at least £2, but not more than £50) for balance transfers. We may also limit the amount you can take out as a cash advance to a percentage of your overall credit limit. We will tell you what this cash limit is when you open your account. We will also tell you if the percentage changes at any time.

koru

I think it depends which Union card. They show you three options when you sign up. Only the middle one - the Platinum card - has the "except introductory period" wording. Maybe you applied for one of the others, not realising. Or maybe they have simply given you a different card than you applied for.

Milarky

koru wrote:

Only the middle one - the Platinum card - has the "except introductory period" wording. Maybe you applied for one of the others, not realising. Or maybe they have simply given you a different card than you applied for.

I beg your pardon. You are quite correct (I was mistaken). Platinum card terms and conditions differ significantly. To quote the two conditions - 5.1 and 5.2 together:

Unison - standard card:

5 Charges
5.1 We make a handling charge of 2.5% (at least £2) for cash advances and 2% (at least £2, but not more than £50) for balance transfers. We may also limit the amount you can take out as a cash advance to a percentage of your overall credit limit. We will tell you what this cash limit is when you open your account. We will also tell you if the percentage changes at any time
5.2 We may charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened.

Unison - platinum card:

5 Charges
5.1 We make a handling charge of 2.5% (at least £2) for cash advances. We may also limit the amount you can take out as a cash advance to a percentage of your overall credit limit. We will tell you what this cash limit is when you open your account. We will also tell you if the percentage changes at any time
5.2 We may charge a handling fee of 2% (at least £2) for balance transfers and cheques offered at special promotional rates other than a special promotional rate you received when your account was opened.

My current interpretation [subject to change!]is:

5.1 (Standard card) is saying: "We do charge for balances transfers at all times, (2%) £50 capped"

5.1 (Platinum card) is saying: "We do not charge for balance transfers at all time, because we don't say so"

5.2 (both) is saying: "we may charge an uncapped fee for balance transfers where 5.1 does not apply"

5.2 "this condition applies only after the initial 9 months AND where the rate offered is a 'special' (non-standard) rate."

I'm sorry for misleading anyone else. The platinum card is the one to go for.

BTW I think the origin of this mix up lies in the summary box. Under charges this states (for both types of card):

Balance Transfer Fee 2% or minimum £2 (on promotional rates except introductory offer)

Which is basically saying "'uncapped' - except during introductory offer" isn't is? I've taken it mean "there is a fee - except during introductory offer". If the Summary Box is simply summarising condition 5.2 then it's correct as it stands. But they tweaked condition 5.1 so that it is quite different for the two cards, and is in addition to the Summary Box. That doesn't make either part wrong, of course. Curse Halifax!