Advice needed please?

LouiseTopp

Hi I have borderline learning difficulties and I went to my Santandar bank and they said they had a message on their system to see an advisor. I was told that it showed on my file that I bought things like books off the internet using my debit Visa card. That they advised me to go for a Santandar zero credit card which I was a bit worried about as you hear so many horror stories of people being in debt.

I was told that If I used my debit card fraudsters might get hold of my details and steal my money and it would take age's to get back. As with this card I would be covered.

Stupidly I have applied for it and I am a bit worried I have done the wrong thing. Can you please advise me if I have done the right thing. if not, should I give it back? I am on benefits which doesn't help. Many thanks.

Beast

This is reasonably sound advice - using a credit card online offers better protection than using a debit card. Providing you don't use the card to 'borrow' money and pay it back every month there won't be a problem.

questionabout

No

I disagree.

I've used my debit card for over 10 years on the internet, spent thousands in different online stores and never had a problem. Yes, you do get some level of protection on a credit card but you also do with your debit card. If your just buying books etc most major banks will refund your card if you can prove the company didn't deliver or folded.

The main reason they want you to own a credit card is to make money out of you. The fact that your on benefits would concern me. If you have change your mind just call them and cancel your application or return the card. You still have time to change your mind.

Any

People don't get into debt just because they have credit card - you know, the debt doesn't just appear there on application. Most often it is because people think that it is free money and go wilde.

Credit card does give you more protection, it is very sound idea to get one when you shop online.

As long as you realise how much you are spending and make sure you behave the same way just like if you were shopping on your debit card (ie do not spend what you don't have) you will be absolutely fine.

But as you are on benefits you might not get one at all anyway, or if you do the credit limit will be low so you won't be able to go really wilde with it anyway.

Any

questionabout wrote: »

I disagree.

I've used my debit card for over 10 years on the internet, spent thousands in different online stores and never had a problem. Yes, you do get some level of protection on a credit card but you also do with your debit card. If your just buying books etc most major banks will refund your card if you can prove the company didn't deliver or folded.

The main reason they want you to own a credit card is to make money out of you. The fact that your on benefits would concern me. If you have change your mind just call them and cancel your application or return the card. You still have time to change your mind.

Better to be safe then sorry.

And if their bank account is Santander, the chances of getting any money back from their debit card are minimum.

Just because you were lucky so far it is very unwise to advice someone to take the risk.

Teddifantastic

Hi everyone - some really good points here. I agree with Beast particularly: credit cards are fine if you know you will pay off the amount each month, but the temptation of "free money" can be jolly strong. I haven't had a credit card in years for precisely that reason!

david39

There is no reason for you to be worried because you have applied for it.

If you are accepted it doesn't mean that you have to use the card.

After you have read other people's advice and thought about the benefits or otherwise, take a little time to decide whether you really want the card or not. I would speak to someone you trust and who knows you well and is familiar with any personal limitations that you may have, before taking a final decision.

If the answer then is that you don't want the card, cut it up and you are no worse off than you were before.

questionabout

No

Any wrote: »

Better to be safe then sorry.
And if their bank account is Santander, the chances of getting any money back from their debit card are minimum. Just because you were lucky so far it is very unwise to advice someone to take the risk.

To scare a customer in to "what could happen" by taking on more potential debt when his is on benefits is also very unwise Any

Do you honestly believe that Santander offered him a credit card for any other reason then to upsell him a credit product to make money out of him. :rotfl:

It is obvious from his original post that he wasn't sure or confident of getting a card in the first place and being financially supported on benefits should have sent alarm bells ringing in branch. Its clear here the Staff member was simply up selling, just like the Post Office do to me every day when I'm posting my credit card payments. :rotfl:

izools

No

Whilst it is Santander's intention to make money the OP merely needs to set up a DD for the full amount each month, ask them to reduce the limit to an amount easily affordable to repay in full each month if it isn't already, and bob's your aunti, no risk, no cost, no debt, protection online

YorkshireBoy

For sub £100 purchases the Visa Debit card affords the same 'protection' as the credit card, namely 'chargeback'.

The credit card may help with monthly budgeting, as well as offering section 75 protection for purchases of £100 or more.

BTW, what's the relevance of the 'poll' to the question asked in the OP?

Curt.

No

Yeah i was wndering about that too, and i thought everyone claims "we are out of the reccession" anyway?