Virgin Money Card Balance Transfer Problem

scottishbank

It is my first ever post here after reading the forum for quite few years - please be gentle:-)

I have just tried to transfer a balance from Amex credit card to Virgin Money card but the online system said it cannot recognise the card number.
I have phoned customer services afterwards and been told that it is not possible to transfer a balance from American Express card.

Can anyone confirm whether it is correct or not, please?

TadleyBaggie

They are probably correct, see this: http://www.balancetransferexpert.co.uk/balance-transfer-from-american-express/. Since Amex cards only have a 15 digit PAN, some other card providers cannot handle this. One suggestion is to put a "0" at the start but it's a long shot.

scottishbank

Thank you for your suggestion. I have tried adding zero at the front, but to no avail:-(

has anyone managed successfully to transfer the balance from Amex to Virgin card please?

nelly12

scottishbank wrote: »

Thank you for your suggestion. I have tried adding zero at the front, but to no avail:-(

has anyone managed successfully to transfer the balance from Amex to Virgin card please?

No, and it's because Amex want to keep the balance and charging interest. They lose out by allowing a balance transfer so don't allow it. Very arrogant company!

scottishbank

The worst case scenario I will have to pay it off and use the balance transfer for other card - eight months earlier then anticipated. Thank you Amex...

jonesMUFCforever

Does the Virgin card offer a promotional money transfer?
If so use it to put money into your bank account then pay off amex.

scottishbank

They do, but there is a 4% fee when there is no fee for a balance transfer. I will try another advisor today just to double check they cannot do it.

scottishbank

I have phoned Virgin again today. Been told I need to call Amex and ask for 16 digit number as my card should be a dual one having both 15 and 16 digits. Amex advisor knew nothing about it which did not surprise me, as I also thought I was told tosh by Virgin. The only way to transfer directly to Amex was to ask Virgin for a bank transfer to a specific bank account with 15 digit card number as a reference. I would presume Virgin would treat such transfer as payment to bank account and would charge a fee, which would contradict the whole idea of fee free balance transfer.
So in nutshell if you want to balance transfer from Amex to Virgin you won't be able. The only option is a bank transfer to your private bank account and then pay it off manually or to Amex bank account with your card number as a reference. This comes with a fee though.

user1168934

I am not sure if this will be helpful to you but I had a similar issue about 2-3 months ago except that I was doing balance transfer from AMEX to HSBC. The online system was saying the card number is invalid. I called the cutomer services HSBC and the person over the phone said he will give it a try and he was able to do it. It all went through smoothly no problems at all.
May be try transferring it to another provider?

scottishbank

Thank you for your suggestion. Well two Virgin reps tried to no avail and second time they suggested to ask for 16 digit number from Amex which was tosh. I will use Virgin for another balance transfer. Hope at least someone might use this thread as a warning before applying for Virgin card.

MABLE

I am wanting to transfer a balance from my MBNA American Express card to my Lloyds Avios credit card. I have contacted the transfer team at Lloyds and they advise there is no problem and even though the card number is one digit less it will not be an issue.