Balance Transfer with Tesco

kittykat84

Hi there

Has anyone had any experience with transferring a balance onto a Tesco card from a CC where they are not the primary cardholder?

My Dad has kindly taken out the 29 month 0% balance transfer card with Tesco to pay off a debt on my MBNA Credit Card (the debt actually belongs to my sister), however they asked if he was the primary cardholder and when he answered no, they refused to do the transfer.

Now I understand that each bank runs differently and have their own polices etc, however when I called back to query this, the agent said that they have ways of checking the name on the card the balance it being transferred from i.e. the name on the MBNA card and if my dad gets found out, there would be consequences (not that she could tell me what these consequences were).

Having worked in a CC company myself for 10 years until recently, I argued that they had no authority to check the name on the other CC. Essentially, all Tesco are doing is sending a payment so how could they check the name on my MBNA card? I can't see why MBNA would disclose my name to them, surely this would be against data protection?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Kat

YorkshireBoy

I'm sure Tesco will have it covered in their terms, ie they'll probably define a balance transfer as "transferring a debt that you owe to another credit card provider".


So rather than try and fight them (especially on a lost cause DPA matter), it'd be much better for Dad to register for Tesco online banking and make the BT request there instead.

kittykat84

I did think of doing it online however Tesco's online banking does not like my MBNA CC number (I had the same issue with Barclaycard online) but Tesco assure me they can take a BT for a MBNA CC over the phone.

YorkshireBoy

kittykat84 wrote: »

I did think of doing it online however Tesco's online banking does not like my MBNA CC number (I had the same issue with Barclaycard online) but Tesco assure me they can take a BT for a MBNA CC over the phone.

Is the MBNA card the Amex one with only 15 digits (rather than the standard 16 digits)?


Best bet is to try again by phone then, and hopefully the same question won't be asked this time.

kittykat84

No, it's a visa with 16 digits...I suggested to my Dad to ring up again tomorrow and if asked just say the card is in his name.

I just don't see how they can check the name on it.