Lloyds Bank Avios Card

imbigron

I have had a Lloyds Bank Avios Card since it launched, which must be around 20 years ago. It was originally called the Lloyds TSB Air Miles Duo card, but changed as the companies have changed names.

It is actually two cards, one an Amex and one a MasterCard, so if somewhere doesn't accept Amex, there is the MasterCard. The Amex one gives more Amex points than the MasterCard, so obviously you try and use that one.

One thing about the card that has always peeved me is the foreign transaction charges that occur on every transaction you make abroad. I travel abroad regularly for work and pleasure, so must have incurred a lot of charges over the years. My stupid fault perhaps for not looking for a card that doesn't charge, but rightly or wrongly, I have always believed the better exchange rate the card offers account for any charges incurred.

Today I found out that the card is available to new customers with amended T&C's, that now doesn't charge for foreign transactions, but does have an Annual fee of £24. For me, that annual fee would be clawed back easily on one trip, so I rang Lloyds Bank to ask about the card. Apparently it has been available for a couple of years, but it is not the banks responsibility to inform existing customers of it's availability, and to give them the opportunity to switch. They argued that it is a different card, even though it looks exactly the same. I don't know the legalities of that, but certainly morally I find it disgusting that they treat existing customers this way, especially when the card is provided for the benefit of collecting loyalty points.

Apparently it is my responsibility to ring the bank every few months to check if I could get a better card, and that there is nothing they can do about me not knowing about this one. Do I have case for taking this further, or have I just got to accept that I have spent a lot of money on charges I needn't have, and close the card down and look for another one.

jonesMUFCforever

Why not apply for the Halifax clarity card which has no overseas charge and is free?

imbigron

I have used the Lloyds Bank Avios card as it has been my main source of collecting Avios points, which have paid for a lot of flights over the years. I am looking to switch to another card that gives Avios or similar, but that doesn't charge for foreign transactions. I need to do a bit of research first.

callum9999

imbigron wrote: »

I have had a Lloyds Bank Avios Card since it launched, which must be around 20 years ago. It was originally called the Lloyds TSB Air Miles Duo card, but changed as the companies have changed names.

It is actually two cards, one an Amex and one a MasterCard, so if somewhere doesn't accept Amex, there is the MasterCard. The Amex one gives more Amex points than the MasterCard, so obviously you try and use that one.

One thing about the card that has always peeved me is the foreign transaction charges that occur on every transaction you make abroad. I travel abroad regularly for work and pleasure, so must have incurred a lot of charges over the years. My stupid fault perhaps for not looking for a card that doesn't charge, but rightly or wrongly, I have always believed the better exchange rate the card offers account for any charges incurred.

Today I found out that the card is available to new customers with amended T&C's, that now doesn't charge for foreign transactions, but does have an Annual fee of £24. For me, that annual fee would be clawed back easily on one trip, so I rang Lloyds Bank to ask about the card. Apparently it has been available for a couple of years, but it is not the banks responsibility to inform existing customers of it's availability, and to give them the opportunity to switch. They argued that it is a different card, even though it looks exactly the same. I don't know the legalities of that, but certainly morally I find it disgusting that they treat existing customers this way, especially when the card is provided for the benefit of collecting loyalty points.

Apparently it is my responsibility to ring the bank every few months to check if I could get a better card, and that there is nothing they can do about me not knowing about this one. Do I have case for taking this further, or have I just got to accept that I have spent a lot of money on charges I needn't have, and close the card down and look for another one.

Demanding banks call you every time they introduce a new product has to be one of the most absurd things I've ever read on this forum... They have a website, you know where it is. The card has indeed been around for a LONG time - if you haven't bothered to look in all that time then it's your fault and your fault alone.

You're being ridiculous even contemplating taking this further. Are you going to sue Tesco for not calling you up to inform you that the Branston beans were on offer so you may want to stop buying Heinz? If you want a card to use abroad, either switch to the new Lloyds card or take out one of the numerous cards from other banks that offer them.

If you want a card that gives you Avios and doesn't charge for foreign usage then you need the new Lloyds card. No need to research, that's the only UK card in existence that does that. The free flight upgrade voucher should more than make up for the £24 fee.

imbigron

callum9999 wrote: »

Demanding banks call you every time they introduce a new product has to be one of the most absurd things I've ever read on this forum... They have a website, you know where it is. The card has indeed been around for a LONG time - if you haven't bothered to look in all that time then it's your fault and your fault alone.

You're being ridiculous even contemplating taking this further. Are you going to sue Tesco for not calling you up to inform you that the Branston beans were on offer so you may want to stop buying Heinz? If you want a card to use abroad, either switch to the new Lloyds card or take out one of the numerous cards from other banks that offer them.

If you want a card that gives you Avios and doesn't charge for foreign usage then you need the new Lloyds card. No need to research, that's the only UK card in existence that does that. The free flight upgrade voucher should more than make up for the £24 fee.

Do you work for Lloyds? You are very quick to recommend them, and as absurd and ridiculous as I am, do you honestly thing I would take out another Lloyds card. Twisting what I wrote is hardly useful either, I have never demanded Heinz, Lloyds or anybody call me every time they have a new product. In case you hadn't noticed a lot of companies have very specific data on what their customers spend money on, products they buy, services they use etc, and tailor offers, benefits to suit their customers. Lloyds and other banks are very quick to inform me of new services, cards, loans when it suits them. My energy company regularly informs me of when a new tariff is better for me than the one I am on, so why it is so absurd for banks not to be able to do this? We all know the banking industry is pretty awful, and the people work in it more so, but it's time they changed.

callum9999

imbigron wrote: »

Do you work for Lloyds? You are very quick to recommend them, and as absurd and ridiculous as I am, do you honestly thing I would take out another Lloyds card. Twisting what I wrote is hardly useful either, I have never demanded Heinz, Lloyds or anybody call me every time they have a new product. In case you hadn't noticed a lot of companies have very specific data on what their customers spend money on, products they buy, services they use etc, and tailor offers, benefits to suit their customers. Lloyds and other banks are very quick to inform me of new services, cards, loans when it suits them. My energy company regularly informs me of when a new tariff is better for me than the one I am on, so why it is so absurd for banks not to be able to do this? We all know the banking industry is pretty awful, and the people work in it more so, but it's time they changed.

I'm quick to recommend them because you asked for an Avios earning credit card that has no foreign usage fee. Lloyds are the ONLY bank that provides such a card. If your ridiculous vendetta means you won't get another Lloyds card then more fool you. I also suggest you don't get the Halifax card if that's the case given they're owned by the same group.

I didn't twist what you wrote at all. You're throwing a tantrum because Lloyds didn't personally inform you about their new credit card. No bank analyses their customers spending habits then sends unsolicited communications to them encouraging them to switch. I'd be rather annoyed if they did...

Dobbibill

Do you have marketing turned on with them?

You can check this on internet banking under 'Your Profile' > 'Change your marketing settings'

PeacefulWaters

imbigron wrote: »

I have had a Lloyds Bank Avios Card since it launched, which must be around 20 years ago. It was originally called the Lloyds TSB Air Miles Duo card, but changed as the companies have changed names.

It is actually two cards, one an Amex and one a MasterCard, so if somewhere doesn't accept Amex, there is the MasterCard. The Amex one gives more Amex points than the MasterCard, so obviously you try and use that one.

One thing about the card that has always peeved me is the foreign transaction charges that occur on every transaction you make abroad. I travel abroad regularly for work and pleasure, so must have incurred a lot of charges over the years. My stupid fault perhaps for not looking for a card that doesn't charge, but rightly or wrongly, I have always believed the better exchange rate the card offers account for any charges incurred.

Today I found out that the card is available to new customers with amended T&C's, that now doesn't charge for foreign transactions, but does have an Annual fee of £24. For me, that annual fee would be clawed back easily on one trip, so I rang Lloyds Bank to ask about the card. Apparently it has been available for a couple of years, but it is not the banks responsibility to inform existing customers of it's availability, and to give them the opportunity to switch. They argued that it is a different card, even though it looks exactly the same. I don't know the legalities of that, but certainly morally I find it disgusting that they treat existing customers this way, especially when the card is provided for the benefit of collecting loyalty points.

Apparently it is my responsibility to ring the bank every few months to check if I could get a better card, and that there is nothing they can do about me not knowing about this one. Do I have case for taking this further, or have I just got to accept that I have spent a lot of money on charges I needn't have, and close the card down and look for another one.

Sorry, you're living in cloud cuckoo land.

Former_MSE_Matt

Are you a frequent flyer miles or Avios wizard who never pays cash for a business class flight? If so, the Financial Times would like to interview you about how you manage it. Can you share your tips and tricks? If so, please email them at money@ft.com.

MABLE

I have a Lloyds Avios credit card and see they are now offering bt deals for 14 months but the fee has been reduced to 1.5 percent and usual 0%.


Your November credit card offers
0% Balance Transfers
14 months,
1.5% fee after refund
(3% fee initially charged)
0% Money Transfers
12 months,
1.5% fee after refund
(3% fee initially charged)
Apply by 6th December 2016

The_Urbanite

I have the opposite problem with Lloyds. I used to have the Lloyds TSB AirMiles Duo credit cards. I cancelled it and signed up to the Lloyds Bank Avios Duo credit cards having been referred for a 4.5k Avios bonus. Lloyds Bank are trying to say they're the same product, so I can't have the bonus points as only those who haven't had the account before are eligible! They're different products, but only when it suits them.


The Duo account TSB offers is almost the same as the old Lloyds TSB Duo cards.

MSE_Matt wrote: »

Are you a frequent flyer miles or Avios wizard who never pays cash for a business class flight? If so, the Financial Times would like to interview you about how you manage it. Can you share your tips and tricks? If so, please email them at [EMAIL="money@ft.com"]money@ft.com[/EMAIL].

Very difficult to pay no cash at all as the taxes need covering on top of the points redemption. Unless you're on a Reward Flight Saver within Europe, it's often the case that the tax paid costs more than the best basic class rate on the same flight, rendering the points a false economy for many. Special offers on BA Business Class flights often make points redemptions on those flights a poor value choice.