Diners Club

JamTE

EarthBoy wrote: »

I understand that Diners Club are re-launching the brand in the UK this year, or at least making efforts to promote it.

They are going a funny way about it, the pulled the perk that gave you free lounge access. I'd have signed up if it still had that.

reclusive46

JamTE wrote: »

They are going a funny way about it, the pulled the perk that gave you free lounge access. I'd have signed up if it still had that.

The problem was that was the only reason people got the card. It was costing them too much money.

SnailIchbod

reclusive46 wrote: »

The problem was that was the only reason people got the card. It was costing them too much money.

^This. I spoke to a manager withing the Franchise and they had at one point 60 odd applications a day coming in after the card was shown on a miles website.

Oh well. Diners Club had a lot of potential within the UK, I held a card for a year and a bit. The service is terrible, the acceptance is terrible and the £50 a year isn't justified. I ended up closing my account with them as I could no longer take the service issues.

As an example. I tried using the card in House Of Fraser and the tills would ask for authorization. The authorization line at DC wouldn't work. The same auth line wouldn't work at debenhams either. DC said it was the retailers fault, the retailers said it was DC's fault. None of them took ahold of the issues.

Someone forgot to turn the switchboard off on a bank holiday. I asked for my mobile phone costs back and the director of the company ignored my request and my complaint.

I applied for another Amex right after and called it a day. :cool:

reclusive46

SnailIchbod wrote: »

^This. I spoke to a manager withing the Franchise and they had at one point 60 odd applications a day coming in after the card was shown on a miles website.

The only reason I keep it, is because sometimes its the only card accepted in China and Japan and at Sams Club in the US. I'm on the old card product that doesn't have annual fee though.

SnailIchbod

reclusive46 wrote: »

The only reason I keep it, is because sometimes its the only card accepted in China and Japan and at Sams Club in the US. I'm on the old card product that doesn't have annual fee though.

Fair enough, if you have no annual fee keep the thing! I would. I took out the card as an alternative to Amex, cancelled my chargecard with them and moved over.

I also loved some of the extra perks, like the free US shipping service etc.

I would've kept the thing if they waived the fee for me but I was rudely told that I wasn't special and that the fee is expected to be paid by everyone.

Oh well. If having reliability isn't your thing OP go for DC (e.g. my card was blocked when I was at the Asda fuel station. I rang, CS was clueless). If you're after amazing service stick to Amex etc.

reclusive46

SnailIchbod wrote: »

Oh well. If having reliability isn't your thing OP go for DC (e.g. my card was blocked when I was at the Asda fuel station. I rang, CS was clueless). If you're after amazing service stick to Amex etc.

Haha the only time I really ever use it for purchases in the UK is if I've been in the US for several months and have completely forgotten all the PINs on my cards. Its handy it still being swipe and sign :P

Although saying that, I did use it at the Tesco car wash the other day. The guy was a bit confused by the signature and sent me on my merry way without me signing.

SnailIchbod

reclusive46 wrote: »

Haha the only time I really ever use it for purchases in the UK is if I've been in the US for several months and have completely forgotten all the PINs on my cards. Its handy it still being swipe and sign :P

Although saying that, I did use it at the Tesco car wash the other day. The guy was a bit confused by the signature and sent me on my merry way without me signing.

Fair enough! I do love sometimes being able to sign.

I'd share with you all the horror stories I've had with DC but I won't bore you all. I wish they were still owned by Citi Citi weren't amazing but at least they cared about my custom.

InsideInsurance

SnailIchbod wrote: »

Fair enough! I do love sometimes being able to sign.

Go to India for a while then. They really arent getting the hang of their new chip and pin at all. A couple of occasions they asked for a signature even after the chip and pin authorisation, normally on the bit which said "no signature required"

PaulC5

Sorry to bring back an old thread.

Im looking at getting the company card which from what I can see has no annual fee or minimum spend.

Can anyone who's got the company card confirm this?

The only reason I want this card is for the airport lounge discount of £15. Seems I'm late to the party having seen it used to be free but still at £15 it seems a good deal especially if there no annual fee.

Is it £15 for the card holder and £15 per guest?
Is there a maximum number of guests?
I could get my other half a second card in her name if it makes it easier.

Im traveling to Asia for 3 weeks for my honeymoon in January and would like to use the airport lounges and thought this would be a good way of saving a few quid.

Is this a good idea or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance
Paul

giblet10

PaulC5 wrote: »

Sorry to bring back an old thread.

Im looking at getting the company card which from what I can see has no annual fee or minimum spend.

Can anyone who's got the company card confirm this?

The only reason I want this card is for the airport lounge discount of £15. Seems I'm late to the party having seen it used to be free but still at £15 it seems a good deal especially if there no annual fee.

Is it £15 for the card holder and £15 per guest?
Is there a maximum number of guests?
I could get my other half a second card in her name if it makes it easier.

Im traveling to Asia for 3 weeks for my honeymoon in January and would like to use the airport lounges and thought this would be a good way of saving a few quid.

Is this a good idea or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance
Paul

At £50 a year plus £15 a visit it makes it slightly cheaper than Priority Pass basic membership.
Priority Pass is £69 a year plus £15 a visit (though there are always quidco etc cash backs on first year). Priority Pass is cheaper if you do lots of visits to lounges as you can take out an unlimited plan.

I'm a proud DC card member. I shudder though when I look at what the card could have been. Citi, in my view, mucked it up as they didn't really do anything with it here in the UK. Affiniture UK who own it now don't have the budget to do anything spectacular - I do wonder why they bought it in the first place.

Some DC franchises have gone bust and some have simply disappeared. This makes global acceptance difficult.

The card here in the UK needs Chip and Pin otherwise you just get blank looks. One cashier even told me it was illegal to have a card without a chip!

Like I say, I am ever hopeful that DC will rise again.