MBNA=Do

chattychappy

I think MBNA are great. I've had a number of credit cards from them over the years. Always had excellent service and a great online system.

I had a card with a limit of £24,500 which was handy as a put a lot of business stuff through. Then they did a deal with BMI. So I applied for a new BMI Mastercard and got a load of miles into my BMI account. Best of all, they were able to transfer my limit over - so I got the benefit of a the welcome 0% deal with a high limit. I already had some miles with BMI so these combined with the MBNA miles gave me enough for a return to Asia. Though this card is not available to newcomers, I still get miles on my spend.

I constantly get new offers from them. As soon as I clear a balance they come back with an offer or multiple offers - 0% for 12 months, or 6.9% LOB is pretty typical. My standard rate is pretty reasonable too - 15.9%, but I never actually pay it of course.

As I mentioned, their online system is clear and simple to use. I can pay by debit card via their site which is rather handy as it saves me messing about with card readers on Nationwide's banking site.

The one time I had a disputed payment, they handled it promptly and efficiently.

I think they're so great that I'm planning to set up a website where I tell the world about how wonderful they are.

A Happy New Year to all, I'm sure MBNA customers will find it a prosperous one.

fozmcfc

You too, couldn't agree more, my MBNA backed card is definately the best of the selection in my wallet.

chattychappy

Think I'll add something else.

People often get caught out - they miss a payment and lose the special offer. That's fair enough - it's crystal clear. There are numerous threads on this - and the experience has been that MBNA will compromise in the case of first offenders - typically refunding the late charges or restoring the offer.

Nine_Lives

I believe AA are part of this MBNA group?

If so then it's been a pleasure to deal with them so far. Very easy. I HAD tried to apply for a Barclaycard Platinum card, but they said they'd get back to me after 5 days (they did get back to me but it took longer). I immediately applied for the AA card & was granted it on the spot.

No problems since then either touch wood. Very happy

If they're not part of the MBNA group then ignore me

PNPSUKNET

yes mbna does do aa

Degenerate

Just for a bit of balance, I take a middle view. Yes, there is a lot to say for MBNA. They offer excellent introductory offers and unrivalled repeats. They grant the most generous credit limits of any provider. Their on-line service is good and on the few occasions I've had to call I've found their UK-based call centres easy to deal with. I've had an MBNA card of one form or another for over 8 years and as long as they continue to offer these advantages I'll always keep one.

OTOH, they also have a well-proven history of jacking up some customers interest rates to sub-prime levels. This may be all very well now that we have the option to reject rate increases on existing balances, but let's not forget that this was a fairly recent innovation driven by the Government. Prior to 2009 they were hitting some customers with huge rises on existing balances without any option to reject. The especially perverse aspect to these rate-for-risk rises is that they were directed at those who may already have been struggling a bit. I don't doubt that MBNA were responsible for sending a fair few underwater with this policy. People who were managing to meet their minimum payments at 18% were getting jacked up to 25, 30, 35 or even 40%. This practise borders on ursury.

Mr Taff73 has nothing to complain about, as he is carrying no balance. He has the choice whether to borrow at the rate they are now offering him. Even if he was carrying a balance he would now have the opportunity to keep it at the old rate. A lot of others didn't get that choice.

bengalknights

I like MBNA as well high limits and very good offers every year for balance transfer and SBT so cant say anything bad about them also the times where ive had to call them for fraud etc they been top notch and sorted things out within a week!.

newleaf

I'm extremely happy with MBNA, they have helped me out of a right hole with their brilliant 0% BT offers, which seem to appear very regularly. And their customer service is excellent too. I'll keep my card when it's all paid off later this year, and use it for purchases - I'll just make sure I pay off in full every month.

jen245

Degenerate wrote: »

Just for a bit of balance, I take a middle view. Yes, there is a lot to say for MBNA. They offer excellent introductory offers and unrivalled repeats. They grant the most generous credit limits of any provider. Their on-line service is good and on the few occasions I've had to call I've found their UK-based call centres easy to deal with. I've had an MBNA card of one form or another for over 8 years and as long as they continue to offer these advantages I'll always keep one.

OTOH, they also have a well-proven history of jacking up some customers interest rates to sub-prime levels. This may be all very well now that we have the option to reject rate increases on existing balances, but let's not forget that this was a fairly recent innovation driven by the Government. Prior to 2009 they were hitting some customers with huge rises on existing balances without any option to reject. The especially perverse aspect to these rate-for-risk rises is that they were directed at those who may already have been struggling a bit. I don't doubt that MBNA were responsible for sending a fair few underwater with this policy. People who were managing to meet their minimum payments at 18% were getting jacked up to 25, 30, 35 or even 40%. This practise borders on ursury.

Mr Taff73 has nothing to complain about, as he is carrying no balance. He has the choice whether to borrow at the rate they are now offering him. Even if he was carrying a balance he would now have the opportunity to keep it at the old rate. A lot of others didn't get that choice.

MBNA did that to me a few years ago when I was just about able to make the minimum payments on my Virgin card. They rate jacked me from 16.9% to 27.9%, increasing my payments by about £30 a month, which almost crippled me financially. I was lucky enough to be able to pay off the balance in full in March last year, and have since told them to stick their card. I wouldn't have another MBNA card again. They try to take advantage of customers who they can see are already struggling

pauljoecoe

Whilst I agree there are a lot of positives to MBNA... I have had £15K on 0% for a long time now due to constant 0% purchase offers on all 4 of the MBNA cards I have and their online service is good....I do have a few concerns.

They changed the statement of a card that I had some money on at 0%. I had a standing order set up to pay the minimum well in advance but due to the change in statement date it arrived just one day late resulting in a £12 charge and £60 in interest. I also lost the 0% although they did agree to reinstate that. They couldn't explain why they had changed the statement date (only to this one card incidentally) and just insisted that they had informed me it was going to happen. There was no goodwill considering the circumstances. £72 for one day caused by a change they made! One could be cynical about the reasons for changing a statement date of a card that i had had for several years in the middle of a 0% deal:(

I do find the fact that the dates of your 0% offer disappear form your account online as soon as the final date for purchases is up. It means you need to record it somewhere carefully. Why do this? - to cause you to forget maybe?

lilac_rainbow

chattychappy wrote: »

Think I'll add something else.

People often get caught out - they miss a payment and lose the special offer. That's fair enough - it's crystal clear. There are numerous threads on this - and the experience has been that MBNA will compromise in the case of first offenders - typically refunding the late charges or restoring the offer.

I admit to have being caught out by this myself, have just posted on the DON'T thread but will admit they have always been helpful. I got around my poor admin by paying twice in one month and then setting up a standing order as opposed to a direct debit (they're dd date was a few days before oh's payday, s.o is a few days after). Their customer service has been alright but I am very much looking forward to closing my account with them (because it means I'll be credit card debt free )