GM Card finishing - what happens to Rebate Points?

Dumbledore55

Apologies if this has been posted but I can't find a thread.

I got a letter this morning saying that the GM card is finishing on 23rd January - I have £500 worth of Rebate Points I was going to use in August towards a new car - does anyone know what will happen to these points and whether I will still be able to use them?

DD55

Dumbledore55

I've checked www.gmcard.co.uk - there's nothing on there about it.

The_Catman

Hello,

I got the same letter today. It says on the back that rebate points can be redeemed up until 31 March 2012 so it sounds like you will be okay. It does say that Vauxhall will be in contact about rebate points but you can ring 0845 600 1500 for more info as there is nothing on the website yet.

Luckily we took delivery of a new Corsa earlier this month and used up all our rebate points!!

TC

Dumbledore55

Thanks - that'll teach me to read the back of the letter before posting (Doh!) - I was just worrying about losing all that money. I think the fact the card is finishing and I won't be able to earn any more points has made me decide to upgrade the car in December and take advantage before VAT goes up.

DD55

richard345

I've had the same letter. It looks like GM Card is closing completely. It appeared to have been originally a part of GMAC (General Motors Acceptance Corporation) and GMAC ran the finance arm of the US parent, General Motors. When I worked for EDS (another GM subsidiary at the time) the company finances were done through GMAC. I have purchased 7 Vauxhalls over the last 12 years and all the finance on the new cars was handled by them, until this year, when on my new Astra, the loan was done through Santandar. I asked the dealer why this was and he said that his Dealership Group was no longer dealing with GMAC, for 'various reasons'. I thought at the time it was a bit curious.

I've over 600 points on the card now, but I'm unlikely to buy another car before March 2012, so I guess I'll be one of the many that loose out.

Fairwinds

Got the same letter this morning - I've got £3000 rebate points - oh well

Not giving us much notice to find another CC - must have used this one for 15 yrs.

Any recomendations for another card £1000 spend per month always paid off in full,

Our work used to be a subsiduary of GM as well, and the partners scheme deals a few years ago plus the GM points ( brfore they introduced limits) meant we got the cars cheaper than the dealers - could effecively keep them for a year and sell on with no loss.

Those were the days

Andy_Easthope

Hi
I also received a letter today from Beneficial Finance saying the Card agreement between GM and HSBC will cease in January 2011.
Does anyone know what happens to the interest rate?
Who controls it in these circumstances if there is no agreement in place?
What rights do i have - especially if the interest rate gets increased for whatever reason?

I have had this card for over 10 years now, just feels like 25!!

Any help / advice would be grateful

Thanks

BlueMoon23

I have also had this letter today; it came out of the blue and it seemed pretty unapologetic considering I have had the card since it was introduced. I have now ordered an AMEX, which has 5% cashback for 3 months and up to 1.25% after.

dessbur

Martin, Please explain our rights. looking at the Previous half a dozed emails they are already into pocket by thousands of pounds.
Surely we have earned this money, can we have it even if its vouchers.
If you add up all of the money that the card holers are owed i bet its millions, why do the big companies get away with daylight robery??

syco1

I agree with the above comments - just got my letter this afternoon. I have used the GM Card as my main credit card for, I would think, around 20 years. I have a really good credit limit on the card, one that I won't get elsewhere now - if I even get a credit card at all. Although I have plenty of capital, own my own home etc, my earnings are low (by choice), so Halifax turned me down a couple of years ago.
Really blunt letter, rather insulting after all this time and not a missed payment.
As for the GM points, I found that my local dealer didn't really want to honour them last time I visited. It was a case of me "giving them" to the dealer and he would get me a car, otherwise there were no cars available. Neighbouring dealers weren't much better, so my last two cars have been Fords. I intended having one last go at a Vauxhall this summer, but I can imagine what the dealers attitude will be.

calamero

I am a new member - just come across this thread and felt the need to post - so I signed up!

I too, after 15 or so years of using this card and earning currently more than £700 of points I am very disappointed to have received the card is ending letter this morning.

I used the points before in 2001 to put towards buying a Corsa and have put up with the points dropping off after they age (for 5 years I think it is, then you see "age-off points" appearing on your statement). Now I am not going to be in the position of being able to use them as my current Zafira is only 3 years old and I didn't plan on renewing for at least another 3 years.

The short period of time being given for redemption is ridiculous and is basically wiping very large liabilities for GM/HFC at the consumers expense.

If GM Vauxhall were to offer vouchers for accessories/servicing etc to be spent at their garages this would suffice - even if it was at a reduced rate, say 50%. At least I would not be feeling like I've had a long drawn out mugging. HSBC who own HFC have not offered an alternative credit card either as they could have done this and transferred the points in some other way to the new card (assuming they have rewards type credit card products).

We should consider publicising this (The press/BBC watchdog etc) as it is blatantly unfair.

I'll get my complaint off to Vauxhall - I think all cardholders should consider this. Especially if you have shown loyalty to them through this scheme and are now being kicked in the teeth.