Sainsbury's Bank Credit Card - AVOID!!!

theheadshrinker

Hello,

If you are reading this before applying for a Sainsbury's Bank Credit Card, do yourself a favour and find an alternative to avoid entering into a whole world of pain.

Don't just take my word for it, read the reviews on Trustpilot, they seriously are as bad as their 0.5 out of 10 rating!!!

I have endured hours on the phone trying to speak to somebody to resolve endless mistakes by Sainsbury's Bank without success.

They have failed to take direct debit payments, miscalculated my minimum payments, my statements show random scheduled direct debit amounts (Not that they take any!!), and I've been charged late payment fees and interest. To top it off, they have sent multiple letters telling me that I am behind with my payments and that I need to contact them but they do not answer the phone. Their website is like something from the 1990's and is in no way user friendly.

I made a formal complain but only received automated replies before being referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I find it hard to believe that they are still shown as the second best option for a no fee, 0% balance transfer card.

Sainsbury's should stick to selling milk and bread because they clearly do not have a clue what they are doing when it comes to finances!!!!

[Deleted User]

Ignore trust pilot reviews - people only usually post rants and negativity rather than positive reviews to get it out their system

Many haven’t had issues with them and you’re just one of the unlucky ones as could happen with any other CC provider

PRAISETHESUN

theheadshrinker wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that they are still shown as the second best option for a no fee, 0% balance transfer card.

The cards recommended on MSE typically come with the caveat that they focus on rates, not service, and unfortunately you seems to have drawn the short straw in this instance. As with most online review sites, they are typically flooded with poor review as people want to vent when something goes wrong, but when everything works perfectly they see no reason to leave a good review - for every poor review, I would imagine that there is a substantial amount of people who have great service. I'm not trying to suggest that you haven't had a poor experience and don't have a right to complain, you just might be one of the unlucky few.

You've done the correct thing in making a formal written complaint - if they haven't responded by 8 weeks, then you can escalate it to the FOS. If you have set up a direct debit to make payments, and they are still contacting you about missed payments, you may be protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee (https://www.directdebit.co.uk/DirectDebitExplained/pages/directdebitguarantee.aspx) and they should refund any late payment fees, and remove the late payment markers from your credit files. This should all (eventually) get dealt with as part of your complaint, and you won't need to do anything separate to claim under this protection.

Terry_Towelling

Who is it that actually provides Sainsbury's with its credit card servicing?

Potbellypig

To play devils advocate. I have a small loan with Sainsbury's and I've never had any issue at all.

ceredigion

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

Who is it that actually provides Sainsbury's with its credit card servicing?

? but
"Sainsbury's took 100 per cent ownership of Sainsbury's Bank in January 2014."

tain

If everything is as clear cut as you say, and exactly as you say it, then you should have no trouble in getting this sorted through the Financial Ombudsman, if that's who they have referred you to.

I'd consider doing a request under the data protection act/GDPR for copies of everything they have on file of you, and a copy of all phone conversations, as you may need this to prove your points. If you asked them to do something, like setting up a direct debit, and they didn't do that, then having the phone conversation when that happened will be very pertinent.

Obviously, as long as what you're saying is accurate.

theheadshrinker

PRAISETHESUN wrote: »

The cards recommended on MSE typically come with the caveat that they focus on rates, not service, and unfortunately you seems to have drawn the short straw in this instance. As with most online review sites, they are typically flooded with poor review as people want to vent when something goes wrong, but when everything works perfectly they see no reason to leave a good review - for every poor review, I would imagine that there is a substantial amount of people who have great service. I'm not trying to suggest that you haven't had a poor experience and don't have a right to complain, you just might be one of the unlucky few.

You've done the correct thing in making a formal written complaint - if they haven't responded by 8 weeks, then you can escalate it to the FOS. If you have set up a direct debit to make payments, and they are still contacting you about missed payments, you may be protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee and they should refund any late payment fees, and remove the late payment markers from your credit files. This should all (eventually) get dealt with as part of your complaint, and you won't need to do anything separate to claim under this protection.

I fully agree with your point about people being more likely to leave bad reviews and I appreciate that other credit card providers have various issues from time to time. I was just trying to warn others about the problems that many customers have experienced since the IT glitch that Sainsbury's had back in June when a lot of customer didn't receive their statements.

In hindsight I would much prefer a shorter 0% period or pay a small balance transfer fee instead spending hours trying to correct other people’s mistakes. I fully understand that mistakes happen, it is the way they are dealt with that makes all the difference.

I have escalated my complaint to the FOS, it's just a shame that Sainsbury's made absolutely no attempt to resolve the issues themselves before referring me. I’ve never had any reason to contact the FOS before but it seems a very simple, straight forward process and they are dealing with it very efficiently.

broadmarsh

Never had a problem with our Sainsbury's card. We have been using it for years. Everything goes on it and it is paid off fully by DD every month. Never had any mistakes whatsoever.

onlyfoolsandparking

Certainly makes me think twice I can do without late payment aggro etc so thanks for the post.

1974Stephen

Hi. Many thanks for sharing this. I looked at Sainsbury credit card just now. Looks rubbish. I don't shop there so Nectar bonuses don't appeal to me. I have an Asda one and you get (not very much really) points to spend in an Asda Supermarket. I just save them up till Christmastime.