New UK credit cards issue by Virgin Money

Couple of questions I'd like to know the answers to regarding the new card(s) - will probably end up calling tomorrow anyway.

Our current Virgin cards (black) are in my husband's name and I am an additional card holder. We will be keeping the current cards for as long as possible - our expiry date is currently 05/20

However, as I am the one with Au status and he is my supplementary Ag, it would obviously be best if, when applying for the new card, the account was in my name.

Unfortunately, I have little income, just an amount from a rental property of £600 pcm. However, his income is north of average and we currently have a high CC limit. We also have a joint bank account.

I was just going to apply anyway as it does ask for household income too but I can't see any information regarding additional cards i.e. one for him.

Has anyone who has already applied been given a additional card or is there information on the that site I have missed?

Jilly

I have spoken to Virgin Atlantic about this. Oli Byers said - and this is now policy, although they hadn't thought of it until I flagged it - that if one of the passengers is Gold, even if they are not the cardholder, you will be able to use the 241 in UC.

This also means - if a couple EACH trigger a 241 and only one of the couple is Gold - you can still book UC for a family of four.

Thank you that is good to know, will get my other half to do the application in his name now as no doubt his income will give us a better credit limit and hopefully get some G's for the end of this year or beginning of next. Fortunately our dates are always flexible.

Over the last year or so we haven't really made full use of the PE upgrades. We have got a couple of G's outbound later this month and managed to get a good price on Z fares for August anyway.

Thanks again
Jilly

[mitchja]

Things seem to be moving pretty quickly for me here with my new VS card as they have today processed the small balance transfer from my MBNA black VS card account I requested during the application. My MBNA account is showing a zero balance now so I phoned up MBNA earlier to cancel it.

The MBNA agent I spoke too seemed completely unaware of the new VS card launch (which I guess is understandable) as she asked me the reason why I was canceling the card after so many years. I've had the VS MBNA card from the word go after it switched from Virgin Money the first time round.

The timing of the new card launch has worked out perfectly for me as my anniversary date is 8th April (well that's the date the card fee always gets added to my account which I pay on May's statement). All being well I won't get another card fee on the old card now.

[Darren Wheeler]

Applied and accepted for the Reward+ card.

It'll get one use for the bonus miles and then nothing until the MBNA card is cancelled by MBNA.

[buns]

Likewise, gone for the new card! I am taking the view the MBNA Card will eventually go, so aiming for the announced benefits of the new one

Mrs Buns is holding out for a potential approach in the Clubhouse sometime in the future

buns

Mrs Buns is holding out for a potential approach in the Clubhouse sometime in the future

buns

I had the MBNA white card & got an approach in the LHR Clubhouse from the "credit card rep" about the black card. There was a 30k miles signup bonus for applying via the rep in the Clubhouse. As she put it "30k miles for £140 is a bargain - cancel the card after you've had the bonus if you like". Needless to say I still have both MBNA cards.

I've applied & been accepted for the standard Virgin Money Reward card - could not justify the increased fee of £160 for reduced miles earning compared to the black Amex card. I'll just wait for an approach in the MAN Clubhouse when there is a signup offer on the Reward+ card. Might be waiting a few years mind .

Applied and accepted for the Reward+ card.

It'll get one use for the bonus miles and then nothing until the MBNA card is cancelled by MBNA.

I’d love to apply for the new reward+ card and do just as you but when I tried the checker thing I got rejected so now I’m scared to actually apply in case I get rejected again but this time they will do a hard check against my credit rating.

I do have a high credit limit on my VS MBNA card which I’m using fully and managing as my salary is healthy as well, so they would earn a nice amount in interest from me but I guess I’ll just wait and pay off a lump of the dept and then lower the limit and try the checker again.

Interest?

If you’re paying interest on your credit cards, you need to re-think your finances. No air miles are anywhere close in value to paying interest at credit card rates.

What happens with the air miles you already have only your old card? Or is that a silly question?!

The miles are credited to your flying club account from the card they don’t remain on the individual card.

There always used to be a premium sign-up bonus (30k miles) on the old Amex VS card if you joined up at one of the clubhouses. Does anyone know if this exists for the new Mastercard?

[mitchja]

My new card has turned up here today. All activated and ready to go.

It's very errrm, flat....never had a credit or debit card before with no embossed details on the front!

I've also activated the Boingo WiFi account as well that comes with the Reward+ card.

[buns]

My new card has turned up here today. All activated and ready to go.

It's very errrm, flat....never had a credit or debit card before with no embossed details on the front!

I've also activated the Boingo WiFi account as well that comes with the Reward+ card.

Ditto for me - apart from the Boingo account

buns

My new card has turned up here today. All activated and ready to go.

It's very errrm, flat....never had a credit or debit card before with no embossed details on the front!

I've also activated the Boingo WiFi account as well that comes with the Reward+ card.

How long did it take from application to receiving the card?

[mitchja]

It took 7 days.

Got mine today too, impressed with how easy the process was and the website interface seems nice and easy too.

[Darren Wheeler]

My card has arrived too and all registered.

One thing to be aware of, if you use Apple Keychain to generate a complex password you'll hit a problem. The verification on log in uses a random character selection so you never input the full password.

Extra secure or an encouragement to use an overly simple password? You decide.

Mine is all up and running too. I was on a plane, they tried to do contactless it didn't work. She looked at the card and said 'we don't accept these prepaid cards' - the cheek of her! Apparently the lack of number made her think that.

[mitchja]

Do remember that before you can use contactless on a newly issued card, you usually have to either make a standard Chip & PIN transaction first or the payment terminal may ask for your PIN the very first time you use contactless to authorise the card.

I believe the in-flight payment systems VS use are all running offline as well so your very first contactless payment may not initiate a PIN number request hence why it failed.

I had used it a couple of times with a PIN, maybe just the first time it hit a offline system. I entered my PIN and it all worked.

Never had a MasterCard before, will it be like the Am Ex where some companies will not accept or is it more universal like Visa ?

Tends to be universal like Visa.

I had mine declined at asda pay at pump today, unsure why as used it quite a few times since I had it.

I agree it does look like a prepay card though, very cheap looking.

[mitchja]

I have read about some older payment terminals rejecting 'flat' cards. I believe VM are not the only card issuer who now use flat cards.

I changed my PIN at a local ATM without any issues last week. Only used my card online so far here.

Also have had it randomly rejected at a pay terminal twice now, even using chip and pin...

Is there an App for the iPhone for this, can't seem to find one ?