To keep or not to keep ... credit card? & also sneaky question about High Street Max

slug2000

Hi all

This isn't, strictly speaking, a DFW question so feel free to tell me to go away (in less polite terms if you wish!) ... but having come to the point where I can now close all credit card accounts, I have finally been able to have a proper look at my Halifax One credit card statements and noticed a regular transaction for "High Street Max" - for £14.95 a month, but I've no recollection of setting this up or even know what it is! I have emailed them for a reminder of my member ID so I can investigate further ... but can anyone shed any light?

Also, I have closed 2 out of 4 accounts now. I still have a Barclaycard acct to close but don't have the details with me at work so will do this later on. Then there's just the Halifax One acct. Which is actually in credit at the moment as I paid the balance off and then they took a DD of £142 as well. :rolleyes: I travel a bit for work, and have a corporate Amex, but this isn't accepted everywhere and, as a manager, if I'm travelling with anyone else then I'm expected to pay and claim back if I can't use my Amex. I wondered if it would be sensible to keep a credit card (or apply for a new, better one) with a really low limit (say £500) and set up a DD for the full amount every month so that I'm not out of pocket from my current account ... what do you think?

Sorry, really rambled on there! thanks for reading!

slug2000

any ideas anyone?

particularly about the credit card - whether to keep or not ... just had fun ringing Virgin, Egg and Barclaycard and cancelling all my cards. When asked "why do you want to close" my response was "because I'd rather keep all my money to myself from now on - thanks all the same" :rotfl:

Jacks_xxx

Hey sweetie,

Could it be this?

http://www.highstreetmax.co.uk/

Love Jacks xxx

IWantToBeFree_2

I have an corporate amex for work purposes but never use it, instead, I use a cashback credit card, so when buying train tickets, paying for hotels etc, I make a little bit of money back for myself. Better than the partners of the firm taking all the benefits of the amex & them getting the airmiles for my spend rather than me!

LandyAndy

Keep one card and use it, and pay it off in full, regularly. Don't spend a lot on it, just say one transaction a month to keep it active and maintain your appearance as 'creditworthy'.

slug2000

Thanks for the responses everyone ...

WRT credit cards - I'll definitely look into a cash back credit card that gets paid off IN FULL every month - ta!

Jacks - yes, I went to that website, but I don't recall ever signing up to it?? they've taken 5 payments of £14.95 though ... I don't get it?!

nebula

Call 08450261100 or 08456722002 to cancel your account, that you inadvertently started when you tried to claim your £10 back through lastminute.com
You can try membersavings@highstreetmax.com
This scam has been reported for over a year in the Mirror - see link - blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2008/07/mysterious-credit-card-charges.html and go from there - best of luck. We just trying to get ONE payment returned or the £10 voucher! No luck so far though

rita-rabbit

I'm in exactly this position: worse thing is the seats I got from lastminute.com were !!!!!! & overpriced. I will end the account if necessary - so far I have just emailed them but reading this will also fax & send a letter - no time to waste on phone!