New VS Credit Card Details

Bit more info.....

I decided to speak to a human being rather than the automated service as I had a few specific queries. Didn't have to wait that long and had the option of a free return call instead of waiting. I know there are a lot of people with negative views about MBNA but their customer service has always been very good in the 2 years I've had the VSCC card.

I'm going to be away from this Friday for a month so didn't want the old card being turned off while I'm away. I've arranged for the new card to be issued on 1 Aug so it should be around for my return and in time to get the mileage bonus on first use. Miss out on the 4x spend up to 31 July but as the card wouldn't arrive until about 14 July it would have limited impact and I'd rather not risk my current card being declined in America while I'm away.

There are no balance transfer issues, if you are carrying a balance at the time of transfer it just goes across without penalty, as does your credit limit, etc. Your card number will change. As my anniversary was last month I also won't pay the higher fee of £115 until June next year.

Regards

Pat

anyone found out re the additional cardholders - do they automatically get one

[mitchja]

Just converted here as well - very easy, although not entirley sure which version of the Amex I've actually converted to [:I].

I'm guessing as I have the annual fee M/C I'll convert to the Black Amex card [:?]

Regards

[mitchja]

Also had a response back from V Hols regarding using Amex online - they are indeed about to update their online systems to allow the use of the VS Amex card online [y]

Regards

Originally posted by patjohnson
Bit more info.....

I decided to speak to a human being rather than the automated service as I had a few specific queries. Didn't have to wait that long and had the option of a free return call instead of waiting. I know there are a lot of people with negative views about MBNA but their customer service has always been very good in the 2 years I've had the VSCC card.

I'm going to be away from this Friday for a month so didn't want the old card being turned off while I'm away. I've arranged for the new card to be issued on 1 Aug so it should be around for my return and in time to get the mileage bonus on first use. Miss out on the 4x spend up to 31 July but as the card wouldn't arrive until about 14 July it would have limited impact and I'd rather not risk my current card being declined in America while I'm away.

There are no balance transfer issues, if you are carrying a balance at the time of transfer it just goes across without penalty, as does your credit limit, etc. Your card number will change. As my anniversary was last month I also won't pay the higher fee of £115 until June next year.

Regards

Pat

The 4 x spend is until July 2007

Oh oh - fly in the ointment - Only 46 days Interest Free and payment required 10 days earlier than current card. Could be awkward as I normally pay my card after I get paid. Will have to check to see if I can move the statement date.

Phil

Yes, I read that as well. Presumably, this will pull everyone's payment date forward by the said 10 days a month and not on a rolling basis - ie - 15th instead if 25th 1st month, 5th instead of 15th second month????

{mcuth: edited to correct the quotation tags around quoted message}

Originally posted by ade99
I didn't speak to a human either. I think I might call them as the other half will not be pleased if he doesn't get the card and can't go spending all my money.

Was there an option to speak to a human bean? I wonder on which continent such a person would be located????

Cat, do your miles not already get transferred (monthly) to your FC account?

Yes Treelo, they do. But - a while back and mr cat had his card cloned. Long story, but involved a new card being issued. And they didn't link the card to his flying club account.... I would really rather that didn't happen again. Yeah, we did get the points eventually, but who needs the hassle???

{mcuth: edited to correct the quotation tags around quoted message}

Miss out on the 4x spend up to 31 July but as the card wouldn't arrive until about 14 July it would have limited impact and I'd rather not risk my current card being declined in America while I'm away.

All very well, if they get the card to you in time. And for those of us (well, me!) who hasn't even had the letter yet.... oh shut up Claire - but come ON people, I got the invite to sign up for the email alert - there really can be no excuse for me not to even have got that.

Going to go and have a little sulk in the corner....[:I]

{mcuth: edited to correct the quotation tags around quoted message}

Called them this morning and spoke to a human (actually 4 humans as they passed me from department to department). As I'm resident in the US, thought that I might have trouble getting my old card transferred, but they agreed to it (after being put on hold many times). The CS rep seemed a little hesitant with some of my questions, but appeared to acknowledge that joint card holders would automatically receive a replacement card as well. He said card would be delivered in 7-10 days (though expect it to be slightly longer to get here).

On speaking to the first person, I thought I was on the phone to a different continent as I couldn't understand a word he said, after speaking to the rest and hearing the chatter in the background, it's definately located in the UK.

AF

I have converted my card to the white version. But when checking the letter I received this morning it has the wrong flying club membership number at the top of the page. It has my silver club number which I had years ago and not my new red number. Has anyone else noticed if there flying club number is different?

Has any one got both current Mastercards, fee and non fee and changed both to the new cards?
If they pay the bonus miles for both thats a total of 16000 miles.

What an easy process!

Fingers crossed that this card doesn't take as long as my Silver FFC to arrive (6 months and counting[n])

I hope this isn't too stupid a question, but...

I've thought about getting a miles earning card several times, but, suffering from terminal lethargy, I've never got round to it. All this talk about the new cards has rekindled my interest.

I already have an Amex blue card which gives me something like a penny a pound cashback. Is the Virgin miles offering a better or worse deal?

Any thoughts appreciated.

EC

[mitchja]

The MBNA call centre is in Chester, UK

Regards

It's not a stupid question. Unfortunately only you can answer it though. The question you need to ask is if the miles you would earn with your average monthly spend are worth more than the 1% discount you are currently getting. Probably the answer is yes, but it is ultimately up to you. The second question is if it is worth spending an annual fee to get the upgraded card. Again your average annual spend should answer your question - if you spend say £500 a month then the upgraded card should earn you an extra 6000 miles. Would you pay the annual fee to gain 6000 miles?

Originally posted by mitchja
Also had a response back from V Hols regarding using Amex online - they are indeed about to update their online systems to allow the use of the VS Amex card online [y]

Regards

Sorry James - did you ask if the 1.5% fee was still levied on the new VS AMEX card?

[mitchja]

No I didn't sorry Mark [:w]

Regards

I would have thought that the 1.5% fee would still apply, given that Amex seem to charge the highest merchant fees to retailers out of most card issuers....[:?]

Fingers crossed that VH don't up the fee perhaps?????? [:0]

Originally posted by tallprawn

Fingers crossed that VH don't up the fee perhaps?????? [:0]

errm... Quite[:0]

[Nottingham Nick]

As an aside, any new readers who have waded this far through the thread may also be interested in this locked thread which contain lots of useful comments and opinions.

Nick

Originally posted by djuluvmee
I have converted my card to the white version. But when checking the letter I received this morning it has the wrong flying club membership number at the top of the page. It has my silver club number which I had years ago and not my new red number. Has anyone else noticed if there flying club number is different?

yes mine was my older silver number. am now proud GOLD!!:D

Originally posted by AtlanticFlyer
Called them this morning and spoke to a human (actually 4 humans as they passed me from department to department). As I'm resident in the US, thought that I might have trouble getting my old card transferred, but they agreed to it (after being put on hold many times). The CS rep seemed a little hesitant with some of my questions, but appeared to acknowledge that joint card holders would automatically receive a replacement card as well. He said card would be delivered in 7-10 days (though expect it to be slightly longer to get here).

On speaking to the first person, I thought I was on the phone to a different continent as I couldn't understand a word he said, after speaking to the rest and hearing the chatter in the background, it's definately located in the UK.

AF

thanks AF - saves me a phone call:D:D

As I didn't receive anything exciting in the post today[:#], I have just waded through the 11 pages of this thread [|)] to unsuccessfully seek the answer to one question........

Can you (and if so how) convert directly from the current non-fee card to the Black fee-paying one?

Thanks

Trevor

Originally posted by a seagull
As I didn't receive anything exciting in the post today[:#], I have just waded through the 11 pages of this thread [|)] to unsuccessfully seek the answer to one question........

Can you (and if so how) convert directly from the current non-fee card to the Black fee-paying one?

Thanks

Trevor

Do not think there is a definitive answer to this here yet - but based on what everyone else has said the thing to do would be to ring them up - which you would have to do anyway to convert from one to t'other