New Top Balance Transfer Card – Get a sneaky extra month of 0%

stackhouse

Hi all, thought I'd add my experience into the pot. Applied online, not really sure whether I'd be charged a handling fee or not as it didn't seem to be clear (I'm sure it said may charge...), heard nothing at all for about 10-14 days when a shiny card dropped onto my doorstep. (t&c still not clear re fees) Low credit limit so of no use to pay off the impending end of 0% Sainsburys debt but sufficient to pay off Abbey's which had reverted to full credit charges due to they kept returning the standing order payment to me and then showing me as not paying! (lesson learnt there). I activiated the account and asked re credit limit raise and was told 3 mths.
I've just phoned up and asked to do a bt (strange that the application didn't ask for this or on activation?!) and stated it was the 10 mths 0% with no handling fee and it went through with no problems, all confirmed no fees. DD set up at same time. Great thanks Martin. (sorry turned into a bit of war and peace!!):j

safetygirl

Barclarycard: I have followed the link off the website and it works. I was accepted with a largish credit limit and have just transferred a balance speaking to customer services and they confirmed that there was no BT fee. They also went through the T's and C's over the phone with me and mentioned the £5K limit for 0% BT's. Hope this helps someone else.

ps this is the first MS tip I have managed and wanted to say thanks to Martin!

safetygirl

As an aside, I received a Barclaycard letter shortly after receiving my no BT fee card. It was actually offering me another barclaycard, I had to look really closely to see that it was not related to the card I already had. Anyway, the letter was offering the expensive barclaycard with the 2% fee clearly stated - so watch out!! :eek:

berylcrow

Applied for this card following Martin's links - got a card but an insert included saying balance transfers are 2% as of 14th Nov 2005! :j loophole closing?

super-saver_5

Followed Martins link to Barclaycard.co.uk page. Terms look ok there. But when click thru to apply process the 1st page has eligibility checklist which includes having a Barclays bank account. If you follow link for not having a Barclays bank account and then check the Platinum card terms there is handling fees.

Have terms now been changed?

fsheehan

super-saver wrote:

Followed Martins link to Barclaycard.co.uk page. Terms look ok there. But when click thru to apply process the 1st page has eligibility checklist which includes having a Barclays bank account. If you follow link for not having a Barclays bank account and then check the Platinum card terms there is handling fees.

Have terms now been changed?

Looks like they have changed the terms to include the 2% handling charge now.

It tried clicking on the link this morning and it said that they were updating the site and then when it eventually worked, the updated t&c's were there! :mad:

Looks like I'll just have to try the HSBC one.

paul_h2

was in town today and passed by barclays. apparently the offer now closes 0n 15th feb 2006!
in fact there was a billboard outside the bank advertising the card. picked up the form....heres hoping

ciano125

Rafter wrote:

Cian,

Check the summary box again.

If you applied for the 10 month card it clearly states there is no handling charge for transfers in the first 60 days.

If you make a transfer outside this window then the fee does apply.

Try calling again and ask to make a formal complaint. You may get through to someone who can help them.

Going to the FSA at this stage is probably a bit premature.

With this offer you have to make sure you apply using the right form or the right bit of the website. There is a similar offer running with the BT fee and Terms and Conditions are different for each offer.

Do you have the T&C for the card your partner actually applied for, or are you just looking at the ones on the website?

I suggest you get her to call and get a copy of her terms and conditions first if she doesn't have the originals.

R.

Hi, thanks for that, I'm 100% sure that we have done the right thing and Barclaycard are just trying to screw us. I got a letter back from them a week or so ago saying they would try and resolve the problem by 23/11/05 but to be honest, I wont hold my breath.

I'm going to set the FSA onto them at the end of the month, my partner got her first statement this week with the charges shown on it too.

Thanks for all your comments guys, I'll keep you posted!
Cian

4esofuse

There is a catch - you only get 0% if you have a Barclays bank account otherwise they want to charge you 2.5% on the balance transfer amount.

What actually happens is this: you apply for the card, you're prompted to state you meet the acceptance criteria - one of which is having a Barclays bank account, if you hit the link that says no then you get shown their range of credit cards - choose the SAME card i.e. platinum card and then check the Balance Transfer Terms and Conditions link and hey presto - item number 2 says we'll charge you 2.5% on balance transfers.

davinci_3

I have a good credit record. I applied online and my card came through the post in 2 days. Rang up and activated my account, and asked for a BT. On my first attempt the lady told me she can only offer me 6.9% and that I needed to apply for the BT during the application. I couldn't remember this being available during the process and basically she said there's nothing else she could do. This was going nowhere, so I politely thanked her and ended the call.

Then I fired up my browser, have all the offer and T&Cs web pages in front of me, and called again. Another lady answered, and offered me the same 6.9% for BT. When I told her about the 0% offer, she asked me to wait while she checked something. Then she seemed to be reading from text for this 0% offer and said that I should qualify but it's not showing on her computer screen. She put me on hold and when she came back she says it's fine and went on from there, presumably she's consulted her manager. And then she says there's 2% fee, and I told her there isn't, and I have the fees summary in front of me, and she says that's fine, and it's downhill from there!

For a further money saving tip, you can get through to their operators by calling the free activation number 0800 0684499 - just don't enter your card number (or anything) when prompted and wait, and you'll be transferred to a live operator.