JaJa credit card unexplained closure of account

CliveOfIndia

Karen_Cardiff said:

Like many others they have now decided to close my account....Disgusted, no explanation as to why I am less desirable than my Mother

There really is no need to be "disgusted", it's a marketing decision, pure and simple.  It's nothing personal.

All lenders will have an "ideal customer" profile, which can vary enormously from one lender to another - although the details of what an "ideal profile" looks like are, understandably, highly confidential.

Maybe JaJa have just decided, for whatever reason, to only retain "ideal" customers.

Karen_Cardiff said:

Now got a Barclaycard Rewards card based on MSE's recommendations for cards to use abroad and so far happy with the alternative but will test in the EU next month.

As you've discovered, it's a simple matter to apply for another (and arguable "better") card from a different lender.  I do find it puzzling why so many folk are getting so het up over this - it is, at worst, a slight inconvenience.

moninterest

Not trivial! I too have had notification that Jaja are closing my account.
However, I have a touring holiday booked for the summer in South America which I have made many hotel bookings backed by my Jaja card.
Booking.com says:
"Q: The credit card that I used to make a booking is no longer valid. What should I do?

Please contact the property directly. You can find their contact information in your booking confirmation email or when you log into Booking.com. For security reasons, never provide your credit card details by email."
So I now have to contact all the hotels. And if they want new card details, given it is not safe to send by email so then what am I meant to do - make phone calls to South America??

WillPS

moninterest said:

Not trivial! I too have had notification that Jaja are closing my account.
However, I have a touring holiday booked for the summer in South America which I have made many hotel bookings backed by my Jaja card.
Booking.com says:
"Q: The credit card that I used to make a booking is no longer valid. What should I do?

Please contact the property directly. You can find their contact information in your booking confirmation email or when you log into Booking.com. For security reasons, never provide your credit card details by email."
So I now have to contact all the hotels. And if they want new card details, given it is not safe to send by email so then what am I meant to do - make phone calls to South America??

Yes. I'm not sure why that's such a big deal in this day and age...

jbuchanangb

The hotels will charge you against whatever card you present to them when you check in. They won't care that Jaja doesn't exist. You've plenty of time to obtain an alternative card for the trip. I've already got my Halifax Clarity MasterCard. Just have to pay off Jaja for my recent overseas trip.

Mr_Mango

So my JAJA which I've had for 10 years back when it was Post Office card is cancelled as of today. Does anyone know if this has any impact on my credit rating? I pay the statement balance on time every month by DD and use this card quite regularly for online purchases and purchases abroad. What are the alternative cards out there to replace this one? 

molerat

It will likely lower your meaningless score in the same way as any change does but will have no effect on your actual credit worthiness as seen by other lenders, it will just show as a closed / settled account.

CliveOfIndia

Mr_Mango said:

I pay the statement balance on time every month by DD and use this card quite regularly for online purchases and purchases abroad. What are the alternative cards out there to replace this one? 

Assuming your credit history is halfway decent (credit history, not the meaningless score) then you should be able to take your pick from any of the dozens and dozens of cards in the UK.  You could go for one that offers rewards of some kind, whether that be cashback, airmiles, Clubcard or Nectar points, etc.  Or for use abroad, look at the so-called "travel" cards.  Loads of info on both options on the Cards & Loans section of MSE.

In fact, why not have one of each?  A travel card for when you go abroad, and a rewards card for everyday spending.

WillPS

CliveOfIndia said:

Mr_Mango said:

I pay the statement balance on time every month by DD and use this card quite regularly for online purchases and purchases abroad. What are the alternative cards out there to replace this one? 

Assuming your credit history is halfway decent (credit history, not the meaningless score) then you should be able to take your pick from any of the dozens and dozens of cards in the UK.  You could go for one that offers rewards of some kind, whether that be cashback, airmiles, Clubcard or Nectar points, etc.  Or for use abroad, look at the so-called "travel" cards.  Loads of info on both options on the Cards & Loans section of MSE.

In fact, why not have one of each?  A travel card for when you go abroad, and a rewards card for everyday spending.

Or if you want a card that does both, there's one card that has no annual fee, a small amount of cashback and no FX charges (Barclaycard Reward).

Help_me_i_say!

It appears that Jaja are now sending out emails to people who weren't booted off the card telling them that their card is changing to a new card called Jaja One Credit Card.

I don't get why they just weren't open and honest and instead of fabrication this whole charade of ending a product and making a brand new identical one and saying to some people 'your card is going in the bin because we're discontinuing the product' just say 'we don't want your custom any more people you don't make us money'.

WillPS

What are the features of this new "Jaja One Credit Card"?