MBNA Money Alert

fatboyonadiet

Got this text yesterday:

"New MBNA service! Every Friday you will now receive a FREE text showing your balance & most recent transactions. Call 0800 062 062 to change the day or opt out"

Seems a bit of a con to me to encourage extra spending on the weekend if you know if you've the extra credit available.

Anyone else had this?

fatboyonadiet

No-one else had this? Suprised no-one had posted before me, anyone wish to discuss????

max2002ad

Hi !!
How did you receive new of this service?
I have a conran card with MBNA and i think this will be really useful for me to findout so i can restrict my spending.
did they say it was automatic or you had to sign up to it ?

fatboyonadiet

Automatically, I just rung up to cancel it as I don't really need it, one of my cards is for stoozing and the other is paid in full and checked on the internet, the guy said this was the first time he'd had a question about it so must be very new, just ring and ask them about it and say you want to sign up, he was clued-up. DON'T ring the number above it's a useless automated one, ring this one instead: 01244 672 111.

max2002ad

I have just phoned up MBNA on another matter and the person i spoke to said it was new and that she didn't know much about it.
However i signed up to it over the phone and i could even choose what day i want the txt on.
The phone number is 0800 062062.

With any text alerts they are great as long as you use the information wisely.
If you misuse the information then thats whats going to get you in trouble.

fatboyonadiet

True indeed, turns out I unsubscribed for the wrong card! Just got a text alert about my other on!

mountainofdebt

Being cynical here but I wonder when charges for this service will be introduced?

fatboyonadiet

I was a bit apprehensive when they said it's free, no such thing as a free lunch!

max2002ad

Indeed there is no free lunch but with any relationship with a big corporation it's a matter of being in control and taking what you can!
i am sure this is to build loyalty to the cards and to get people to spend.
but if you use it for what you want then you can be in control and not the corporation.
I think this is a very useful tool that can help me keep control of my finances but if the card stops giving 1% cashback (The conran card) i will get rid of the card. If MBNA starts charging for the service then i will get rid of the service.
The moral of the story is don't let companys take advantage of you, take advantage of the companys!!