Review of Debenhams Store Card
August 1st, 2007
Debenhams Store Card
On a whim and against my better judgement, I applied and recieved a Debenhams store card on the spot in the shop a couple of months ago. I didn’t need it, as have adequate credit/debit cards already. I am regretting that spur of the moment decision now.
I have used it a couple of times since, gotten bills and they have been paid well before the due date. I am a Cavan woman at heart and it galls me to pay anything extra to banks unless I have to.
In the past 2 weeks I have recieved 2 letters from GE Money. The first to say that Debenhams have not yet forwarded them the completed copy of the application form and could I go in to a Debenhams store and re-fill one in or send them my copy. WTF? Have I nothing better to do than follow up on their paperwork? I ignored it. Then today I recieved the second epistle to say as result of my not getting their paperwork sorted for them, the card is suspended.
I rang GE Money first. Not a good idea. The person at the other end just shouted into the phone. No help offered whatsoever. Said I was cancelling card, she replied that I’d have to do it in writing. I replied that then could I just leave the account suspended. She replied that this would adversely effect my credit rating and gave me cancellation address.
Then rang Debenham’s card service line. Poor Ruairi there wasn’t much help really. Apparently nothing he could do to find paperwork or ensure it could be sent to GE Money. Couldn’t put me through to anyone who could deal with this. Just offered a 10% off voucher and when asked for name of someone in Debenhams who could help, gave me the name of people in GE Money customer services.
Needless to say, the cancellation letter has been sent and I shall not be shopping in Debenhams.
Entry Filed under: Uncategorized
8 Comments Add your own
1. Thomas | August 23rd, 2007 at 1:10 pm
It looks as if you were the cause of the problem in the first place. You stated that you were asked to either go into the store to refill your form or send your copy to ge money. “The first to say that Debenhams have not yet forwarded them the completed copy of the application form and could I go in to a Debenhams store and re-fill one in or send them my copy. WTF? Have I nothing better to do than follow up on their paperwork? I ignored it”
Its no wonder you ended up with the problem that you got. How many times have we all been told not to ignore things as it only makes them worse. Some store cards I beleave and iIm sure Debenhams is one of them give you a 10% discount for opening an account. If that be the case did you return your discount as well.
2. manicmammy | August 23rd, 2007 at 1:37 pm
I ignored the first letter as I felt, as stated, it should not have been up to me to sort out internal paperwork problems between Debenhams and GE Money. If GE Money didn’t receive my initial paperwork, surely they should contact Debenhams directly and sort it out without getting me involved.
My life is busy enough without compensating for other people’s laziness or lack of competency at their jobs.
Your suggestion to return any initial discount is bizarre. I gave them plenty of custom, they gave me 10% discount. Big deal.
3. tom Kelly | January 28th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I agree that GE are difficult. I received my first statement for my new Debenham’s Card and paid it within a day or two. I used the card over Christmas, and last week received my statement that showed that I had not paid my last statement. When I checked, it turns out there was a second statement that didn’t reach me. I was away on business for a week and my home received constant calls from GE. Today, first day back in work, I phoned Debenhams card services. They were extremely helpful. Apologised about the error, removed the interest charge and took my payment there and then. I am now in the clear with them, but I have highlighted to them that whilst I am very happy to shop in Debenhams, I will consider ever using my card again as long as they use GE Capital as the issuer. As an aside, I had a car loan with GE Capital many years ago, and at that time I said never again. Now, I really mean it. They lay on charges and fair play to them if they get away with them. They just won’t have a chance with my hard earned cash in future.
4. jdm | March 18th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
You say on a whim and against your better judgement, would you say that you were bullied into applying? I don’t have any credit cards, and I am unemployed. I went into Debenhams today and came out with a card I didn’t want after an extremely hard sell in the shop. I told the man “no” four times, but ended up signing for the thing after trying to get out of it for a minute or two.
At first I thought it was just a loyalty card. Then he said it would be cheaper with the card that using my tokens and cash. That turned out to be untrue. Now I get home I find out it is a credit card. Arrgh, I’m so angry.
I’ll cancel it as soon as possible, I guess it will have to be issued first. Funnily enough I’m never going to shop at debenhams, or debenhams online ever again.
It’s appalling to come up against this sort of tactic in a high street store. I thought I was the sort of person who would be immune to such tactics, but I was stressed and tired and the salesman was like one of the door-to-door conmen you see on watchdog. He’d already got a young mother with screaming kids to sign up, I saw her signing something when I was queueing.
5. Manic Mammy | March 18th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Hi JDM,
Sorry to hear you were badgered so much.
I cant say I was bullied into applying for the card but the sales pitch is fairly unrelenting in Debenhams to apply for their credit card. I havent bought anything there since, theres enough choice thankfully on the high street to avoid shopping in a particular outlet should you choose to.
6. Sebastian Weetabix | April 10th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
GE Capital / GE Money ARE a sharp bunch. Their latest scam is to fail to follow a customer’s instructions to close a store card account and then bill the same customer for something a year or so later. It’s a big waste of time writing to their accounts office - they simply send you another threatening letter & irritate you further on a Sunday morning with a “request for payment”!
Steer clear of this bunch of shysters!
Seb.
7. Gems | June 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Wow, I went online to find out about a Debenhams card and apply for one tomor in store, thankfully I came across this site, can’t believe it but am sooo glad I did!
Cavan lady you are right!
8. JJ WALSH | June 28th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Went into Debenhams in Galway Ireland 7 weeks ago…Asked would I apply for a store card…said yes..was asked would I be interested in a credit card…said no..I already have Gold MBNA VISA..
I filled all forms and gave my information..I could have lied about everything if I wanted..Given a store card..there and then..
What does the postman have a Week later?
YES! My brand new credit card…I did not even apply for! UNLESS… The lady ticked the box unknown to me and recieved her little bonus..
Anyway, I will give it a try..I transferred my € 2,100, balance with MBNA over to it for 6 months free interest, and see how it will work out.. How easy it is to get these things..
Now, I had previous loans for Cars..ETC with GE MONEY..I have a good record..so that was probably why..
Leave a Comment
Some HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed