Tesco Credit Card

joecc · 10-02-2010 7:58pm #1

Hi lads/lassies,
I recently applied for a tesco c.c.
I'm working f/t - earning just under 20k after tax. In retail.
Also living at home.
A recent application of mine for a Tesco c.c. was turned down. They said details in m y application failed to meet their credit score criteria. This, they say, is their main tool in making a decision.

Any ideas of why this is the case. I've never defaulted on a loan, and have always cleared my balances.
Could I make an appeal?

Pointless?

the only thing i was thinking, was that I filled out some part incorrectly....(i didn't photocopy my application)

t.y
joe

Davy · 10-02-2010 8:45pm

Tesco turn down a huge amount of people. Just have strict conditions it seems.

Personally i wouldn't use the card without having access to online transactions to view.

joecc · 10-02-2010 8:54pm

can't you just rely on your end of month statement?

any good alt to Tesco's reward scheme?

Davy · 10-02-2010 9:00pm

joecc wrote: »

can't you just rely on your end of month statement?

No, thats why i said personally. Everyone to their own, but i find it harder to go through a big list of transactions at the end of the month. Its much easier keep an eye on it every day or two. Plus i dont have to get the statement in the post, prefer to have the eStatements.

joecc · 10-02-2010 9:01pm

cool, as a matter of interest which co's offer downloadable c.c history?

DublinWriter · 10-02-2010 9:04pm

I recently got accepted for one.

I've missed loads of payments on my existing MBNA card and mortgage over the past five years, so I can't see that as being a criteria.

Maybe the fact that you're not a homeowner has gone against you?

Davy · 10-02-2010 9:06pm

I use Mbna at the minute and find the online stuff quite good.

Aib do eStatements too, but i prefer the mbna online setup. Sure others do them to, but it will be built into their normal internet banking setup, where mbna just do credit cards so its designed better for it imo.

Age could have been a factor, no big history of repayments etc

joecc · 12-02-2010 12:08pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

I recently got accepted for one.

I've missed loads of payments on my existing MBNA card and mortgage over the past five years, so I can't see that as being a criteria.

Maybe the fact that you're not a homeowner has gone against you?

But if you're not a homeowner, with no outstanding loans, the credit card debt would be easier to payback?

or maybe they look for history of payment,
as Davey points out....

joecc · 12-02-2010 12:08pm

Davy wrote: »

I use Mbna at the minute and find the online stuff quite good.

Aib do eStatements too, but i prefer the mbna online setup. Sure others do them to, but it will be built into their normal internet banking setup, where mbna just do credit cards so its designed better for it imo.

Age could have been a factor, no big history of repayments etc

any cards with a good loyalty scheme?

Davy · 12-02-2010 12:15pm

joecc wrote: »

any cards with a good loyalty scheme?

Depends on what you would use really. I have had the ryainair card with them before, you get free flights when you spend over €2000, or flights for 2 if you spend €5000. Or if you book 4 flights with it, you get the 5th flight free. If you use ryanair a lot, then its good. The catch is you need to book over the phone, and just the flight is free, you still have to pay taxes and charges as normal.

Another card is the pigsback.com card. You get a piggypoint for every euro you spend. Then you can use the piggypoints on rewards from their site, like restaurant or hotel vouchers, ot mobile topup when its in stock.

You can find more info here: http://mbna.ie/creditcards/ireland_travel.html

If you have any questions, just ask

joecc · 12-02-2010 12:23pm

Davy wrote: »

Depends on what you would use really. I have had the ryainair card with them before, you get free flights when you spend over €2000, or flights for 2 if you spend €5000. Or if you book 4 flights with it, you get the 5th flight free. If you use ryanair a lot, then its good. The catch is you need to book over the phone, and just the flight is free, you still have to pay taxes and charges as normal.

Another card is the pigsback.com card. You get a piggypoint for every euro you spend. Then you can use the piggypoints on rewards from their site, like restaurant or hotel vouchers, ot mobile topup when its in stock.

You can find more info here: http://mbna.ie/creditcards/ireland_travel.html

If you have any questions, just ask

thanks, Davey. Very helpful, cheers...joe

Cherrycola · 12-02-2010 5:26pm

Davy wrote: »

No, thats why i said personally. Everyone to their own, but i find it harder to go through a big list of transactions at the end of the month. Its much easier keep an eye on it every day or two. Plus i dont have to get the statement in the post, prefer to have the eStatements.

I agree, i have a Tesco visa card, and not being able to view transactions or balance online is a pain in the backside. And the cc bill will regularly arrive late, so ive missed the payment date, and end up incurring a late fee, and then any money i pay off the card, is held for 10 working days, and doesnt free up space on your card until that time has passed.(now, this could just be if you go over your limit, that im not sure of, but they also have a habit of allowing you to go over your limit without your knowledge :rolleyes: )

The only good thing about it, is that every euro you spend on the card counts as Clubcard points......good if you shop at Tesco.

lotsofthegreen · 12-02-2010 5:50pm

Cherrycola,

You don't need to wait until you get your statement to pay its issued on the same date each month so you can pay any day after that ( if you only want to make one payment, that is, the minimum)

You can pay in the post office by presenting your card - it takes a max of 48hours to reach tesco this way and is availible to use on your card on the 3rd working day.

You can also use www.billpay.ie an pay any amount by laser. Its a free service run by An Post

1800 555 742 or 1800 555 743 are free and you can use the automated service to check your account

There's no blame on them for late payments and if you're letting that happen you mite as well get a credit card from a bank here and pay on time - cause the late payment charges wipe out the benefit of the clubcard points

Cherrycola · 12-02-2010 6:54pm

Do you work for Tesco Visa?

Yes, i have since set up a Billpay payment to cover the minimum amount at least each month to avoid the late payment fiasco.

But others may not be aware of that when they get a Tesco visa card.

The point im trying to make is that you dont know what your statement amount, or minimum payment amount is, until your receive your statement, which may be issued on the same day each month, but i have never had them arrive at my door on the same day each month, and on occasion, the statements arrive AFTER the payment day has passed. So yes there is no blame on Tesco for late payment, should we blame Royal Mail or An Post? Am i right in assuming the statements are issued from the UK?
Yes, you can call the Tesco visa card line, and go through the whole automated system, and try to scribble down the last transactions on your account, last payment date, last statement date etc, (which doesnt include your minimum payment amount i might add) but it would be much easier to have an online facility like the card holders in the UK have.

alex73 · 12-02-2010 6:59pm

joecc wrote: »

Hi lads/lassies,
I recently applied for a tesco c.c.
I'm working f/t - earning just under 20k after tax. In retail.
Also living at home.
A recent application of mine for a Tesco c.c. was turned down. They said details in m y application failed to meet their credit score criteria. This, they say, is their main tool in making a decision.

Any ideas of why this is the case. I've never defaulted on a loan, and have always cleared my balances.
Could I make an appeal?

Pointless?

the only thing i was thinking, was that I filled out some part incorrectly....(i didn't photocopy my application)

t.y
joe

Exact same thing happened to me 3 years ago, (and I have never been refused anything by any bank) Applied this year and go the card. It seems hit a miss. The approval process goes to UK it seems.

Once you do get the card you get a very low credit limit.

joecc · 14-02-2010 4:03pm

alex73 wrote: »

Exact same thing happened to me 3 years ago, (and I have never been refused anything by any bank) Applied this year and go the card. It seems hit a miss. The approval process goes to UK it seems.

Once you do get the card you get a very low credit limit.

Yeah the letter from Tesco originated in Southend On Sea.

The strange thing was I got an unblemished credit report from the Irish Credit Bureau, a few weeks ago ....

hit and miss situation w Tesco for sure

DublinWriter · 14-02-2010 4:09pm

alex73 wrote: »

Once you do get the card you get a very low credit limit.

I wouldn't say €3,500 is low.

...and remember, it's not a limit, it's a target

chka · 26-02-2010 12:27am

I have a tesco cc for many years and if you keep them happy with repayments for many years they can increase your limit to very high (my current limit is 1.5 times my before-tax salary). They're very good in safety and security, especially if you buy stuff from the internet. But the fact that they don't offer online statements, is seriously annoying. We're in 2010, even my TV has a web server. If they let me, I would even build the online statements functionality for free!!!

burkemg · 28-05-2010 11:41am

I joined Tesco Visa Credit last year, everything fine until I decided to opt for setting up a Direct Debit payment. This should be a straightforward procedure but they really made it complicated. There seems to be a lack of understanding. Firstly, when I called them a guy said everything would be fine - gave my bank details and DD was to be set up the following month. I did wonder why they hadn't sent me a mandate co complete, so at the end of the next month when I noticed that the payment didn't go through I phoned them and they advised me that yes, they should have sent out a mandate for a Euro account and that I would have it in the post in 7 days. This arrived and I completed it and returned it straight away. Same thing at the end of the next month, no DD set up. Phoned them again and paid by Laser, they apologised and said they never got the first mandate which I had returned! They sent another one which I completed and returned. However, next month same story. Paid it though An Post this time and payment went through ok. Their excuse this time was that an error was made by them when setting up my details, so no DD active. I am currently awaiting the third time for a new mandate to be sent out, It appears that this is a joke, but I am certainly not joking! They haven't applied any charges to my account, but unless I continually keep tracking the payments, they may do the same again. Thinking now of changing to another company. The reason I joined at first was to boost my Clubcard points which I recieve from shopping regularly at Tesco. Beware of this company!!:eek:

vodafoneproblem · 28-05-2010 11:53am

burkemg wrote: »

I joined Tesco Visa Credit last year, everything fine until I decided to opt for setting up a Direct Debit payment. This should be a straightforward procedure but they really made it complicated. There seems to be a lack of understanding. Firstly, when I called them a guy said everything would be fine - gave my bank details and DD was to be set up the following month. I did wonder why they hadn't sent me a mandate co complete, so at the end of the next month when I noticed that the payment didn't go through I phoned them and they advised me that yes, they should have sent out a mandate for a Euro account and that I would have it in the post in 7 days. This arrived and I completed it and returned it straight away. Same thing at the end of the next month, no DD set up. Phoned them again and paid by Laser, they apologised and said they never got the first mandate which I had returned! They sent another one which I completed and returned. However, next month same story. Paid it though An Post this time and payment went through ok. Their excuse this time was that an error was made by them when setting up my details, so no DD active. I am currently awaiting the third time for a new mandate to be sent out, It appears that this is a joke, but I am certainly not joking! They haven't applied any charges to my account, but unless I continually keep tracking the payments, they may do the same again. Thinking now of changing to another company. The reason I joined at first was to boost my Clubcard points which I recieve from shopping regularly at Tesco. Beware of this company!!:eek:

I've also had a Direct Debit not going through and ended up being fined by Tesco for it! They said the bank rejected it even though the details were correct. Am awaiting on a new mandate form being sent out, also! I changed from Pigsback because they reduced the piggyback points to 1 point every 2 euro and further devalued them by charging crazy amounts of points for phone credit, so the clubcard points are worth more. Hoping this is sorted soon or I, too, will be changing!

burkemg · 14-06-2010 11:59pm

After more than four months, tesco have at last set up my direct debit correctly after lost correspondence etc. I wait in anticipation to see if the first one goes through the bank successfully!
I remain optimistic! There are too many pessimists around these days!!

OneWayBet · 13-09-2010 2:43pm

burkemg wrote: »

After more than four months, tesco have at last set up my direct debit correctly after lost correspondence etc. I wait in anticipation to see if the first one goes through the bank successfully!
I remain optimistic! There are too many pessimists around these days!!

What sort of credit limit did the rest of you get? I'm puzzled as to why mine was set at 1k, my monthly spending is more than double this so it keeps getting rejected so it is effectively a debit card rather than a credit card. I rang up to see if they could do anything but they said I would have to wait 12 months for a review. With 1k a month there isn't much "loyalty cash" left after the govt duty.

seanaway · 13-09-2010 6:00pm

If memory serves me right Tesco use MBNA anyway. I used to 'sell' MBNA credit cards. I also had one for a while. gave it up as I found their service lousy. Better off without one. Use a prepaid one if you can instead. I wish I never had one!

DublinWriter · 13-09-2010 6:03pm

OneWayBet wrote: »

What sort of credit limit did the rest of you get?

4K

BuffyBot · 13-09-2010 9:08pm

Tesco cards are not issued by MBNA

OneWayBet · 13-09-2010 11:35pm

DublinWriter wrote: »

4K

Not fair!
It took them nearly 3 months to send me the card. I'm two minds whether to just close the account or wait to see if they will increase it to a usable limit. I never borrow against my card so I can't understand why they set it so low, I can only think it was either incompetence or they don't want my business precisely because I don't borrow against my card!

OneWayBet · 29-09-2010 11:43pm

OneWayBet wrote: »

Not fair!
It took them nearly 3 months to send me the card. I'm two minds whether to just close the account or wait to see if they will increase it to a usable limit. I never borrow against my card so I can't understand why they set it so low, I can only think it was either incompetence or they don't want my business precisely because I don't borrow against my card!

I decided to investigate this and requested a report from the ICB. I got a good score (512 where scores range from 330-550), with no missed repayments on mortgage or credit cards over the recorded history. However I noticed an old Halifax credit card I had with a 12k credit limit is not closed off properly with the ICB, so this combined with my current card with an 8k limit makes it appear that I have a combined limit of 20k which might be why Tesco issued a very low limit of 1k.

I sometimes have to expense work related long haul flights and hotels hence the fairly high limit.

If anyone is curious about a refusal might be worth paying 6 euro for an ICB report on http://www.icb.ie

homer911 · 30-09-2010 9:06am

BuffyBot wrote: »

Tesco cards are not issued by MBNA

Tesco Cards used to be issued by RBS but Tesco have taken their banking services inhouse - In the UK they now offer online CC account management, hopefully it will be here soon

finnteme · 04-10-2010 7:09am

Hi all.
I just applied for Tesco credit card also..

What was the initial credit limit that you got?
Did you send some additional documents (passport, utility bill etc)?
How long it took to receive the card?

chka · 04-10-2010 5:01pm

Can't remember the original limit but now it's 8K

OneWayBet · 04-10-2010 8:58pm

finnteme wrote: »

Hi all.
I just applied for Tesco credit card also..

What was the initial credit limit that you got?
Did you send some additional documents (passport, utility bill etc)?
How long it took to receive the card?

For me it took about 3 months and I got a miserly 1k limit despite an excellent credit history (I was so surprised that I checked my ICB record).

dario28 · 17-12-2010 10:56am

I got declined even though I have no outstanding loans , earn a decent figure and always paid utility bills

Can't understand it

OneWayBet · 17-12-2010 5:32pm

dario28 wrote: »

I got declined even though I have no outstanding loans , earn a decent figure and always paid utility bills

Can't understand it

My only suggestion is to request your credit history from the ICB (costs about 6 euro and can be done online). You might (like me) find that there is incorrect information stored about you. For instance on my report it showed that I had two "open" Halifax credit card accounts even though I had none. This was due to Halifax not updating the records correctly and not closing off accounts.

Wats_in_a_name · 21-12-2010 9:38pm

I have been approved and sent off my documents on Thursday. Does anyone know roughly when I'll receive the card?

Leslie91 · 26-02-2014 10:51am

Reviving an old thread here so apologies but...

I'm one of the Danske switchers and had an 8.5K credit limit with them, never got close to it thankfully. I applied to Tesco and got a miserly 1K limit which is killing me. I've called them twice now to try and appeal to get this increased but the lads in customer care just trot out the company line i.e. no reviews until after first 12 mths.

Does anybody know is there another number one can contact (or an email address)?

My card is useless after about 2 weeks and even sending money to it does not seem to make a difference i.e. I need to wait until last bill is paid before I can use it again. I want to continue using them (for clubcard points) but unless they bump the credit limit I'll be forced to get a second card.

OneWayBet · 26-02-2014 11:41pm

Leslie91 wrote: »

Reviving an old thread here so apologies but...

I'm one of the Danske switchers and had an 8.5K credit limit with them, never got close to it thankfully. I applied to Tesco and got a miserly 1K limit which is killing me. I've called them twice now to try and appeal to get this increased but the lads in customer care just trot out the company line i.e. no reviews until after first 12 mths.

Does anybody know is there another number one can contact (or an email address)?

My card is useless after about 2 weeks and even sending money to it does not seem to make a difference i.e. I need to wait until last bill is paid before I can use it again. I want to continue using them (for clubcard points) but unless they bump the credit limit I'll be forced to get a second card.

I had the same problem a few years ago, I was attracted to the cash back as nearly everything I spend goes on the card. If you can spend the x4 deals this works out as a really nice perk. To be honest I think you are better off having a second card in any case, I found the Tesco security very conservative and they may block your card leaving you stranded. I travel a bit so I feel more comfortable having a backup in case some fraud analyst decides to cut me off without notice. They definitely will not increase the limit but after 12 months if you keep using it they probably will. So far I've got nearly 1k in 'cashback' (using the x4 deals) so thats why I've put up with the inconvenience.

Lack of online banking is the main reason why I would close the account if I do decide to in the future.

Leslie91 · 27-02-2014 12:39pm

OneWayBet wrote: »

I had the same problem a few years ago, I was attracted to the cash back as nearly everything I spend goes on the card. If you can spend the x4 deals this works out as a really nice perk. To be honest I think you are better off having a second card in any case, I found the Tesco security very conservative and they may block your card leaving you stranded. I travel a bit so I feel more comfortable having a backup in case some fraud analyst decides to cut me off without notice. They definitely will not increase the limit but after 12 months if you keep using it they probably will. So far I've got nearly 1k in 'cashback' (using the x4 deals) so thats why I've put up with the inconvenience.

Lack of online banking is the main reason why I would close the account if I do decide to in the future.

Many thanks... the only consolation is that the debit cards now carry the 'credit card provider's' badge i.e. Visa in my case, so should the actual Tesco credit card fail us we have that as backup. But I agree the ultra low limit and no online prescence is a pain.

MarkR · 27-02-2014 12:44pm

I use mine for all my fuel and online purchases. I do find it annoying not being able to see my transactions online a pain however. I have a 2k limit on mine (from the start?) and I obviously don't spend half as much as you guys on my bill!

Leslie91 · 27-02-2014 1:28pm

MarkR wrote: »

I use mine for all my fuel and online purchases. I do find it annoying not being able to see my transactions online a pain however. I have a 2k limit on mine (from the start?) and I obviously don't spend half as much as you guys on my bill!

We'd use ours for everything if we could... we've always used a credit card to help us budget/plan spending. But 1K limit ain't large enough. A single large purchase on the card eg. flight(s) means it cannot be used again for a month minimum.

28-02-2014 10:13pm

I agree their fraud protection is not great. I know it is supposed to help us, but I shop a lot on Internet and few days ago I spend money online on pages in Switzerland, Netherlands, France and here in Ireland - next day I go to Tesco and transaction was refused. So it is good to have back up but I got a lot back on clubcard, double on electricity so it means 1% cashback ..

grasshopper31 · 01-03-2014 10:13pm

We did 0% balance transfer with them about 6 months ago - cleared balance so happy out.
Find not able to look at transactions on line a right pain - As main holder is my husband he has to phone to get balance etc until today he asked and they are sending out a form to fill in, so they will give me 'minimum' information...

finnteme · 02-03-2014 8:54am

I have had my Tesco cc for 13 mths now, with 1k limit and that is too low.. Called them, and they declined the credit limit increase.. Have an excellent credit history, no other loans etc.. they just told me that they need to see 6 mths more activity in the account etc, and told me to apply for an increase again after 6mths...

KoolKid · 03-03-2014 10:32pm

I have always found getting on the phone during an application helps,
If you get talking to an underwriter its much easier. The only problems I found with Tesco CC application was they were OTT with the ID process.
Had to send a scan of my passport & DL 3 times. Even though all were clearly legible.

clint_silver · 04-03-2014 9:31am

Ive a 9k limit with danske. 6k balance. I applied few weeks to tesco, asked for a 6k balance transfer, got approved for 1.5k limit, rang and queried them why isnt it higher, "well based on your application thats all we can approve".

applied to tsb, sure, 6k it is. 0% transfer fees.

methinks tesco only want to dip their toe in the market and get people to use their card in the shops, so its only a pretend visa.

Leslie91 · 04-03-2014 1:52pm

clint_silver wrote: »

Ive a 9k limit with danske. 6k balance. I applied few weeks to tesco, asked for a 6k balance transfer, got approved for 1.5k limit, rang and queried them why isnt it higher, "well based on your application thats all we can approve".

applied to tsb, sure, 6k it is. 0% transfer fees.

methinks tesco only want to dip their toe in the market and get people to use their card in the shops, so its only a pretend visa.

Yeah... I might be 'forced' to goto PTSB too. Like u had great limit in Danske but Tesco being tight as F.

05-03-2014 12:01am

clint_silver wrote: »

Ive a 9k limit with danske. 6k balance. I applied few weeks to tesco, asked for a 6k balance transfer, got approved for 1.5k limit, rang and queried them why isnt it higher, "well based on your application thats all we can approve".

applied to tsb, sure, 6k it is. 0% transfer fees.

methinks tesco only want to dip their toe in the market and get people to use their card in the shops, so its only a pretend visa.

I went to BoI asking for 500e loan (just to start my credit history) and it was refused. Overdraft in AIB? Refused .. applied in Tesco and got 2k limit, which I didn't hope for. Now all my expenses go through this card, i'm getting clubcard points and paying it on time (and if possible in full) every month. I couldn't be happier with it ..

Tesco Credit Card

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