Stellar UK / Vanquis

Anthorn

I received a phone call today from a caller saying they were calling from Vanquis Bank and offering a discount voucher and cashback scheme for major supermarkets. They offered a free month trial and if I don't cancel within the month it will cost £6.95p per month. Being curious I accepted the free trial and they say I will receive info in the post.

Tracing the number the phone call came from revealed that the company was in fact Stellar UK which operate call centres predominantly in Scotland. Ringing that number I got a recorded message saying they were acting for a third-party company.

The worrying thing about this is that if the company they are acting for is not Vanquis Bank and if the info given to me on the phone is true, that company has access to my Vanquis Bank card details and is able to debit it which in turn could mean that Vanquis Bank is sharing those details. I have not given them my Vanquis card details. I'll know more when I get the info and will report back with an update later. Until then Vanquis card holders might like to be wary of such callers.

[Deleted User]

It'll be a third party offer via Vanquis. Fairly common. But you may want to opt out of marketing with Vanquis if you don't want more.

Anthorn

This is actually discussed in an older topic which obviously wasn't shown in the results when I searched for Stellar UK.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2867826

I'll give it a fair appraisal when I get the info pack. But there'll be hell to pay by Vanquis, Stellar UK and Value Saver Club if my card is debited before the month's trial has expired.

KxMx

I'm glad I saw this a few days ago as had a call this morning and decided to join.
Don't think I will stay on after the free trial so will initiate cancellation at least a week before the trial is due to end.

KxMx

I just called to cancel mine, and they were 100% fine with it, no asking me why/making an offer to keep me.

I already use TCB (and GiveasyouLive for charity donations where TCB doesn't cover) and was very underwhelmed with what was offered.

I sent off one of the £5 supermarket cashback vouchers, but didn't realise I was sending it the day (17th) before my membership was activated (signed up 13th, got pack 15th and membership started 18th) so I won't worry about getting that back!

TheGenerus1

KxMx wrote: »

I just called to cancel mine, and they were 100% fine with it, no asking me why/making an offer to keep me.

How long did you have the card before you closed it and what was your closing limit?

KxMx

This thread is about the rewards club, not the Vanquis credit card

Anthorn

The envelope containing the membership pack has on the front "brought to you by (Vanquis Bank logo) but the blurb inside says "in association with Vanquis Bank". There are grocery coupons worth £5 for every three months of the membership period. But that's about it. You send them the grocery coupon with the till receipt and hopefully get your £5. There's a booklet with various percentage off vouchers. But there are no savings with this. These types of offers are available in lots of other places for free!

It sounds great when described over the phone: i.e. cashback when you shop at major supermarkets. But the reality is very diferent.

KxMx

Much to my suprise I got my £5 cheque today.

The reality is certainly very different to what the actual "offers" are.

Anthorn

KxMx wrote: »

Much to my suprise I got my £5 cheque today.

The reality is certainly very different to what the actual "offers" are.

Well done. Now I wish I had sent in my receipt and the voucher before I cancelled it. No problem cancelling btw: Just gave my account number and answered a couple of security questions and it was cancelled.

grahaml221

maybe an old topic but read this while on the phone to them when i told them i had read to avoid them on line the caller give a groan and hung up.
That confirmed to me I did the right thing in avoiding them thanks guys...