New VS Credit Card Details

Originally posted by [email protected]

Originally posted by nchick
Non - Fee - Mastercard -> Converting to Black Amex, rather than White Amex.

Has anyone managed to do this route yet, preserving the conversion to a Black Card benefits (ie 10000 miles on first purchase, £7.5k for companion, £5K upgrade reward, 6 per £ on VS, 4 per £ on Retail until July 2007)

If so can you advise which department you need to speak to, currently keep getting transferred.

Thanks.

I tried to do this earlier today by phoning the number givebn earlier. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Once I'd explained what I wanted to do, the agent asked if I'd received the letter (I haven't yet) and then said that changing from a non-fee Mastercard to the Black Virgin/Amex card would not be possible. I'm going to wait until I get the letter then try again.

My letter arrived this morning (offering upgrade to the White card) so I phoned MBNA again to see if I could change my current non-fee Mastercard to the new Black Amex card. I was told that it was not possible, although I could apply for a new Black card account (in addition to my newly converted White account) if I wanted, but there would be no bonus miles and no accrued spend towards a companion voucher.

Originally posted by [email protected]

Originally posted by [email protected]

Originally posted by nchick
Non - Fee - Mastercard -> Converting to Black Amex, rather than White Amex.

Has anyone managed to do this route yet, preserving the conversion to a Black Card benefits (ie 10000 miles on first purchase, £7.5k for companion, £5K upgrade reward, 6 per £ on VS, 4 per £ on Retail until July 2007)

If so can you advise which department you need to speak to, currently keep getting transferred.

Thanks.

I tried to do this earlier today by phoning the number givebn earlier. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Once I'd explained what I wanted to do, the agent asked if I'd received the letter (I haven't yet) and then said that changing from a non-fee Mastercard to the Black Virgin/Amex card would not be possible. I'm going to wait until I get the letter then try again.

My letter arrived this morning (offering upgrade to the White card) so I phoned MBNA again to see if I could change my current non-fee Mastercard to the new Black Amex card. I was told that it was not possible, although I could apply for a new Black card account (in addition to my newly converted White account) if I wanted, but there would be no bonus miles and no accrued spend towards a companion voucher.

Very interesting, I was told the exact opposite last night when I called to change over. I have the non fee paying M/C, and have not recieved my letter or email yet, but went ahead and called the number from the Virgin Money website (also in this thread).

The agent who I spoke to (Very poo English and heavily accented), assured me that transfering to black would recieve all the listed benefits. Hmmmmmm it would seem I have been misled judging by what others have been told.

I think I will be cheking back here for further updates today.

Incidentally, surely if the non fee M/C > Black Amex is a new application, a new credit agreement will have to be sent out ?

Just changed my card over...very esy to do and pretty quick.

Why is it so many people want the black card anyway (other than extra miles)? Judging by the interest rate on, it's only really useful for those people who pay back the balance fully every month which the majority of us probably don't do (and in turn the credit card companies love us for that)

Originally posted by xenole
Just changed my card over...very esy to do and pretty quick.

Why is it so many people want the black card anyway (other than extra miles)? Judging by the interest rate on, it's only really useful for those people who pay back the balance fully every month which the majority of us probably don't do (and in turn the credit card companies love us for that)

I wanted to swap because I do pay it off every month, and I should have gone for the fee mastercard from the beginning I guess, but it's only since using the card for my daily purchases I've realised how many miles I'm missing out on. It also means the money stays in my Smile account earning more interest, until I pay it off once a month.

Originally posted by PS100
I asked the same question to MBNA because I fly out soon and was told that my present Mastercard will be valid for 90 days alongside the Black card so if you carry them both you should be ok as both will work.

Thanks for that. Does anyone know if the Mastercard will continue to earn miles during that three month period ?

Many Thanks
DD

Amex charge retailers ca.3% to process card transactions compared with ca.1.25% by Mastercard. I dare say that the EC Competition Minister (is that 'Mandy'?) will pronounce before too much longer that such a structure is a distortion of free trade - the retail price of the goods remains the same however the customer pays for them.
The likely result? Abolition of benefits on credit cards.

Originally posted by PS100
I asked the same question to MBNA because I fly out soon and was told that my present Mastercard will be valid for 90 days alongside the Black card so if you carry them both you should be ok as both will work.

Which is fine, apart from the fact that they tell you to cut up your own card when the new one arrives! Maybe take along the pieces???

While I appreciate that the MC will be 'valid' for 90 days after the issue of the new AMEX, does anyone know if the MC will still be 'valid' (but obviously non-miles earning) at the end of that period? It could come in handy for the places I use that do not accept AMEX.

I'm planning on keeping another non-amex card as well....

Originally posted by DylanDog

Thanks for that. Does anyone know if the Mastercard will continue to earn miles during that three month period ?

I've had a letter in the post today which says after 31st December 2006 the existing MC will no longer earn points so I have to move over now, bummer as I know with my work AMEX is dam hard to get it accepted in some places.

Gutted as well as I just bought £3500 worth of stuff for honeymoon/wedding on my card and now you get 2miles per £1 unti next year. Typical eh! [ii]

Originally posted by Treelo
While I appreciate that the MC will be 'valid' for 90 days after the issue of the new AMEX, does anyone know if the MC will still be 'valid' (but obviously non-miles earning) at the end of that period? It could come in handy for the places I use that do not accept AMEX.

I wouldn't hang onto a card that gives you nothing[n]

Go for the BMI Mastercard as discussed in this thread.

Luke

Originally posted by catsilversword

I've never yet had to show the card I paid for my VS e-ticket with.

Nor me, but you can bet the next time will be the first!

This use to be a real problem especially on flight in the US and hotels, but now they seem to have caught on that people change their cards as much as their clothes and the reservation number is all that I've ever needed in the past two years for hotels, airlines and car hire - plus I always have the printout as back-up

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

Looking at the literature received yesterday. Yes I will be changing over to the Virgin Atlantic White Card, got to keep those air miles coming in somehow.

I would like to think I could claim a companion reward flight, but don't know how much I have spent on my card since I first got it. I have had the card a long long time and don't keep more than the last six recent statements.

I phoned Virgin Money who could not help and transferred me to MBNA, they told me that the only way that I could get this information was if they sent me copy statements at a cost of £2.50 each as they did not have the information either.

I asked how then would Virgin Atlantic know if I had spent enough to qualify for a companion reward flight as I did not believe for one minute that they would have to get out the calculator and look at each individual statement and tot it all up, there are going to be lots of us claiming these flights it would take for ever to approve them and there must be an automated system so I asked why they couldn't use that and give me the required information. After much passing from pillar to post I was cut off.

Anyone any ideas how to get the info [:(]

thelaceys

Maybe try calling the members shop saying you think you are due a companion ticket and ask them to check if it has been credited?

Originally posted by thelaceys
Anyone any ideas how to get the info [:(]

thelaceys

I have a Virgin Mastercard and can acccess my account details online - this shows all my previous statements etc

Is that of any use to you?

[RichardMannion]

Hi Chaps,

I've been offline for nearly a week, and I can see the thread has grown somewhat. If you have any outstanding questions, then let me know.

Thanks,
Richard

Originally posted by thelaceys


I would like to think I could claim a companion reward flight, but don't know how much I have spent on my card since I first got it. I have had the card a long long time and don't keep more than the last six recent statements.

I phoned Virgin Money who could not help and transferred me to MBNA, they told me that the only way that I could get this information was if they sent me copy statements at a cost of £2.50 each as they did not have the information either.


thelaceys

Not sure how far back you want to go, but you could put in a Data Subject Access request, pay £10 and they will be obliged to send you all information they hold about you, including transaction history.

Originally posted by thelaceys

I would like to think I could claim a companion reward flight, but don't know how much I have spent on my card since I first got it. I have had the card a long long time and don't keep more than the last six recent statements.

Anyone any ideas how to get the info [:(]

thelaceys

How do you pay your balance? - a bit crude but if you've got bank account statements for longer than six months and most of your transactions are goods, not cash wihdrawals it would give you a rough idea. The members shop are always far, far better at handling enquiries like this as well, not Virgin Money. PS - it's worth remebering that it's only what you spend in a year (from your card anniversary) and not the total since you've had the card.

Thanks also to the poster who pointed out the enhanced miles are until July next year - must get the specs on next time!

The Laceys

I would try Members Shop again. I usually have to be clear that I need to know how much I've spent towards my companion ticket and not just how much I have spent, or they direct me back to Virgin Money. Once they've established what I need, they take details, contact their technical department and ring back a couple of days later.

Richard-

Am I correct in understanding the upgrade awards will be applied once £5k and £10k thresholds met (for Black card), but that companion ticket will only be applied on anniversay of opening account?

Thanks,

Dave

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Hi Chaps,

I've been offline for nearly a week, and I can see the thread has grown somewhat. If you have any outstanding questions, then let me know.

Thanks,
Richard

Where do babies come from?

Oops, I might need to censor myself from being OT again!

[mcmbenjamin]

They should have made the card grey as to allow certian Black AmEx cardholders still feel like they get value in their product.

Do phone the Members shop to find out if you are due a companion reward. I did about a month ago as I knew we had spent round about 15K, but the reward information hadn't been sent to us or credited to our flying club account. Yep we were due a reward last November - if I hadn't phoned we wouldn't have got the reward.

I phoned Virgin Money who could not help and transferred me to MBNA, they told me that the only way that I could get this information was if they sent me copy statements at a cost of £2.50 each as they did not have the information either.


Anyone any ideas how to get the info [:(]

thelaceys

That doesn't sound right. We had a situation where mr cat was issued a new card (due to fraud) and his airmiles back 18 months hadn't been credited. Called member services and they had records and put it right.... give it a try.


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

I've been offline for nearly a week, and I can see the thread has grown somewhat. If you have any outstanding questions, then let me know.

Thanks,
Richard

Where do babies come from?

Oops, I might need to censor myself from being OT again!

Honestly Jeremy - everyone knows they come from gooseberry bushes [:I]



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

Originally posted by thelaceys

I would like to think I could claim a companion reward flight, but don't know how much I have spent on my card since I first got it. I have had the card a long long time and don't keep more than the last six recent statements.

I phoned Virgin Money who could not help and transferred me to MBNA, they told me that the only way that I could get this information was if they sent me copy statements at a cost of £2.50 each as they did not have the information either.

I asked how then would Virgin Atlantic know if I had spent enough to qualify for a companion reward flight as I did not believe for one minute that they would have to get out the calculator and look at each individual statement and tot it all up, there are going to be lots of us claiming these flights it would take for ever to approve them and there must be an automated system so I asked why they couldn't use that and give me the required information. After much passing from pillar to post I was cut off.

Anyone any ideas how to get the info [:(]

thelaceys

I phoned MBNA and they were able to calculate it from 10th July 2005 ( my Anniversary date ) up to now. I qualified back in February....

If I don't get it applied to my FC account by middle of August I'll phone the Member Shop who fixed it last time.

David.