Where Next?

dustycat_2

Hi Martin

As an early adopter of your super balance transfer strategy and get free cash idea, we are rapidly approaching the end of our 0% BT deals.

The problem we have is that most of the cards offering 0% at the moment are run by MBNA (Virgin, Abbey etc) and they do their risk assessment based on all the cards you have that they manage (even if theoretically Virgin, Abbey or whoever would be shouldering the risk).

So our Virgin deal runs out in October but the next best option is also run by MBNA so we can't apply (we've tried in the past and be turned down on the basis of having the maximum credit limit they will allow us across their own cards and managed cards).

Any thoughts on how to get around this? It seems that all the best deals have MBNA behind them.

Thanks

Dustycat

martinpike

There are still loads about, although the deals aren't usually quite as good as they were.

Look at M&S, Goldfish, MINT, IF, Egg etc. I'm not sure if any of those are MBNA, but I'm sure they all aren't.

YorkshireBoy

Take a look at http://www.stoozing.com/cards.htm for a list of "who owns who", and http://www.stoozing.com/0fees.htm for their current fee details. Don't make any decisions based on these tables though as deals change all the time. As always, do your own research.

MSE_Martin

Actually while Stoozing is good, to be honest I'd stick with the SBT article here. (the who owns who table is interesting, there's been one here with 100 providers for about ayear, i just never made it public as it wasn't finished - its one of those on the list) We are currently keeping it up to date on a very regular basis (update due tomorrow) and im in 'talks' with the providers.

MBNA has dropped SBTS

The Abbey, A&L and Virgin card still do SBTs, but Virgin now has BT fee
My strong suspicion (and i never say that unless I mean it) is A&L will drop SBTs soon - Abbey and Virgin still in the balance

So that leaves Egg (old customers only) as a mule card enabling you to push other debts through and Mint through spend and save cheques

Times are getting tougher for stoozing, yet I would still sugges even 0% bt for 9 months with a 2% fee is profitable. And (another I dont say this unless I strongly suspect it) there will be a VERY interesting deal coming out soon!

MSE_Martin

PS if you think Im keeping secrets unnecessarily - journalists work on an embargo basis - which means you're told tough enabling you to write, but can't publish until a set date. Break that and you never get it early again!

emh_2

MSE_Martin wrote:

And (another I dont say this unless I strongly suspect it) there will be a VERY interesting deal coming out soon!

would this have anything to do with egg?
a very nice man in their customer services told me to watch out for the 9th September for a very nice new card product.....waiting

YorkshireBoy

MSE_Martin wrote:

The Abbey, A&L and Virgin card still do SBTs, but Virgin now has BT fee

A quick look at their website summary box would suggest that A&L also now will charge a "2% handling fee (min.£2, max.£35) on: credit card cheques and balance transfers."

MSE_Martin wrote:

And (another I dont say this unless I strongly suspect it) there will be a VERY interesting deal coming out soon!

You're a tease - this is torment!

InsuranceLiability

Dont make any decisions until after this Monday - there is an interesting deal that will affect many which card next type discussions

Thefunkygibbons

hmmm

I think I will wait for my next two applications until then