Super Balance Transfer

SteveRoberts

If I open a Virgin card, how do I initiate a Super BT? Do I need to ring up and ask them, and if so how do I word it?

Thanks, Steve

deemy2004

When you get the card, you will have to call them to activate it then ask them about the balance transfer.

I.e. if its entered on applicaiton, ask them how is the balance transfer going (sometimes they forget about such balance transfers). If they do not have one on record then tell them you want to make a balance transfer and ask them about any charges.

If they say there is a charge, try to argue the point that you thought there would be no charge on the first balance transfer on application, they 'may' let you off

YorkshireBoy

SteveRoberts wrote:

If I open a Virgin card, how do I initiate a Super BT? Do I need to ring up and ask them, and if so how do I word it?

Thanks, Steve

Don't mention SBT. Tell them you need to clear a large overdraft or loan etc.

I've been accepted for their card (with a £10K limit), but have not yet returned the signed acceptance form because I'm not sure I fully understand their T & C's yet (and I don't think they do either!). I need to be sure of the details before I commit to a £9.5K SBT/BT. To be honest every time I speak to them I get a different message back:

1/ No problem, tell us the account details, its free
2/ There WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
3/ There WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
4/ There MAY be a 2% (max £35) fee
5/ There MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
6/ We don't do balance transfers from current accounts
7/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
8/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
9/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (Max £35) fee
10/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee

I've had all the above messages (honestly), but the last message I got was No 7. I'm not normally a gambling man but I bet they give you a different answer!

Let us know how you get on.

HTH
YB

Edit: Forgot to add - guess what they told me when I was going through the telephone application...

That's right - No 1

Reaper

LOL. Yup that sums up the MBNA call centre staff. I thought they had been getting better recently, but evidently not.

realaledrinker

Are the Virgin call cente staff the same people that deal with other MBNA cards? If so, no wonder they get confused as Virgin terms seem to be completely different to the others.

YorkshireBoy

realaledrinker wrote:

Are the Virgin call cente staff the same people that deal with other MBNA cards? If so, no wonder they get confused as Virgin terms seem to be completely different to the others.

I think its the other way round - the MBNA staff deal with Virgin cards (as well as their own, and presumably Abbey et al)

YorkshireBoy

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Don't mention SBT. Tell them you need to clear a large overdraft or loan etc.

I've been accepted for their card (with a £10K limit), but have not yet returned the signed acceptance form because I'm not sure I fully understand their T & C's yet (and I don't think they do either!). I need to be sure of the details before I commit to a £9.5K SBT/BT. To be honest every time I speak to them I get a different message back:

1/ No problem, tell us the account details, its free
2/ There WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
3/ There WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
4/ There MAY be a 2% (max £35) fee
5/ There MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
6/ We don't do balance transfers from current accounts
7/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
8/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
9/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (Max £35) fee
10/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee

I've had all the above messages (honestly), but the last message I got was No 7. I'm not normally a gambling man but I bet they give you a different answer!

Let us know how you get on.

HTH
YB

Edit: Forgot to add - guess what they told me when I was going through the telephone application...

That's right - No 1

Just to update my own situation with Virgin SBT fees...

I've spoken today with an MBNA manager familiar with the Virgin card T & C's. She assured me that my £9.5K SBT would not incur any fee. Moreover, if they lift my credit limit further in a couple of months I can SBT this as well for no fee (subject to not exceeding 95% total limit). She was happy to give me her name and even told me not to worry as the phone call was being recorded.

One worrying thing though was that they already had a "request" on my file for a £7K BT to a HSBC Visa card pending (and I haven't even sent them my form back yet! - nor do I have a HSBC card!).

I was transferred through to someone else where these details were removed. I took this persons name and noted the date/time of the conversation in my diary.

If I get any problems with the "actual" SBT I'll report back.

HLK

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Just to update my own situation with Virgin SBT fees...

Hi. From your posts it seems you applied over the phone. Did you give your bank account details for the SBT at the time ?

I've applied on the net and I was asked if I wanted to transfer from other credit cards to which I answered No thanks.

You may remember from my previous posts at the weekend that I was consistently told that there would be a charge for a SBT of 2% so your latest mails are encouraging. Any additional info is really helpful.. BTW, ow did you get a manager on the phone!

Cheers
HLK

deemy2004

YorkshireBoy wrote:

Don't mention SBT. Tell them you need to clear a large overdraft or loan etc.

1/ No problem, tell us the account details, its free
2/ There WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
3/ There WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
4/ There MAY be a 2% (max £35) fee
5/ There MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
6/ We don't do balance transfers from current accounts
7/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (max £35) fee
8/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there WILL be a 2% (NO MAX) fee
9/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (Max £35) fee
10/ You have to use one of our credit card cheques and there MAY be a 2% (NO MAX) fee

COOL !!!

Great news, all I need to do it tape the calls and wait for the one where they say its free... Then play it back to them as evidence ...

YorkshireBoy

HLK wrote:

...From your posts it seems you applied over the phone. Did you give your bank account details for the SBT at the time ?

No, just the standard application form details. I told them I wanted to clear a rather large overdraft and "other things" but that I would give them more details when/if I was accepted with a "reasonable" limit. When I phoned back 3/4 days later they told me £5K limit. I said that wasn't enough and I wouldn't be proceeding with my application. My call was passed to someone else who immediately doubled it to £10K.

HLK wrote:

...BTW, ow did you get a manager on the phone!

Just asked for one! - I rang 0800 015 0306 (I think this is the "manual underwriting" department). If you are struggling to get the same T & C's as I (and others) have got, PM me and I'll give you her name.

HTH
YB