Access to credit card account

IamSiamese

I opened a balance transfer account with Virgin Money in 2019 with the intention to clear my balance by the date offered which is September 2021.  I now find that I will have to close this account because Virgin are closing their option to bank online and access will be via a smart phone app only.  I guess there will not be many people who do not have such a device (although there will be some).  I only have a basic pay as you go device: I do not need a more expensive phone and have no intention of getting one.  I have no option but to close my account with the detriment to my bank balance.  I am cross that Virgin can take this action which will inconvenience some customers and in my opinion they have reneagued on the terms of my account.  I would be pleased to know others views.  Thank you.

[Deleted User]

It's common for things to change over time. There would have been no guarantees that any account management would stay the same for the life of your account.  Many providers no longer accept cheques as payment, for example.

If the service no longer suits you, then you will need to move elsewhere.

jonesMUFCforever

IamSiamese said:

I opened a balance transfer account with Virgin Money in 2019 with the intention to clear my balance by the date offered which is September 2021.  I now find that I will have to close this account because Virgin are closing their option to bank online and access will be via a smart phone app only.  I guess there will not be many people who do not have such a device (although there will be some).  I only have a basic pay as you go device: I do not need a more expensive phone and have no intention of getting one.  I have no option but to close my account with the detriment to my bank balance.  I am cross that Virgin can take this action which will inconvenience some customers and in my opinion they have reneagued on the terms of my account.  I would be pleased to know others views.  Thank you.

You can still make payments to Virgin cards via Internet banking - you won't need a smart phone for that.
I don't know whether you can insist on a paper statement from them (probably not).
You could get a newer phone for under a £100 (Like I did) and get a sim only deal.
Up to you.

cymruchris

You can still bank by telephone - and I'm sure you can still get statements - it'll be like going back to the 90's all over again. You could continue to clear your balance as your original plan without any real issue. (As mentioned - you can still make a payment via your own internet banking - but who knows - maybe that'll be the next to go app only)

Things will always change. More and more things we do each day are being influenced by the smart phone. It's not going to stop - today it's your Virgin card - tomorrow it'll be something else. You might find a host of things easier if you happened to have one - but nobody is forcing you to get one. 

For now it means your functionality changes - but you can still operate your account without it. Just like in the days before you had a web browser.

jsmith9

As above - you do not need to log onto your card to make payments - there are many people who run their credit cards without using the internet.

Ask for paper statements. Use the phone to call them if you need customer services. Set up a faster payment payee on your current account to send money to the card as and when youwant to.

born_again

Pretty sure they would fall foul of the FCA if they did not provide statements, at least annually. How else can people physically check the balance.
They may not provide one monthly if there is no spending (which sounds like the OP's case of just paying off) 

I would be calling them and asking for a paper statement.