I applied online last week for an M&S credit card (actually an HSBC card with the M&S brand, 10 months interest-free purchases). I received an e-mail the next day stating that "we endeavour to offer our Internet customers a speedy response, therefore you will be contacted with a decision by post shortly". It's been a week now... anyone have any idea how long it's likely to take until I receive (a) the decision and (b) the card?
It does say on the website that "In normal circumstances, cards will be delivered within seven to ten days, if your application is accepted", but it's not really clear whether that's 7-10 days from the date of application or from the date that you're notified that the application is accepted.
(I have an excellent credit record and no significant outstanding CC debt, so I don't anticipate any problems with the application)
I applied for the M&S card online on 15 September, and received the same online message you did. The card arrived through the door on 10 October, therefore 3 and a half weeks to arrive. They first contacted me on the phone about 2 weeks after I applied to ask me questions.
Good grief. That's really rather crap, isn't it?
What questions did they ask you NZ? Why you wanted their crummy card and so on?
All I want is a 10-month interest-free card to spread the cost of a big purchase. Don't care how crummy the card is after 10 months.
I don't really think it's crummy anyway. Just curious as to what questions they asked and why they'd take so long
I read alot about them phoning people up and quizzing them.
I thought the length of time was a bit crap too. But, I applied for the Ulster Bank Credit card at the same time, and that took just as long to turn up!
They wanted to confirm that I worked where I said I did, and they questioned my large number of previous addresses, but I managed to convince them I was on the electoral roll at each address so it was okay.
I thought the length of time was a bit crap too. But, I applied for the Ulster Bank Credit card at the same time, and that took just as long to turn up!
They wanted to confirm that I worked where I said I did, and they questioned my large number of previous addresses, but I managed to convince them I was on the electoral roll at each address so it was okay.
How did they confirm that you worked where you said you did?
How did they confirm that you worked where you said you did?
I don't really know... perhaps the phone number of my work is publicly available, or maybe just because I answered the phone that I put down for my work number... who knows!
I was curious too, but I didn't stop to question her as to be honest I thought my chances of getting the card in the first place were quite low and I didn't want to jinx the application.
I need at least 10k to pay my tax bill - do you know if I can get a M & S card with 0% to pay my tax bill if I am self-employed or do they count it as a cash withdrawal. Just trying to think ahead so I am ready to pay (somehow) in January.
So, they called me today to quiz me:
M&S Money Lady asks me the usual security questions, and I answer them. Then...
M&S: Can you just confirm to me your the initials of your middle names?
Me: Yes, it's [X]
M&S Lady: Ok, thanks
Five minutes later the phone rings again, it's the same lady and I have to answer the same questions again, then...
M&S: Mr JayZed, have you ever had different middle names?
Me: No
M&S: Or is there someone at your address with different middle names?
Me: Huh?
M&S: When we checked your credit file, we found someone with the same first name and last name, the same date of birth, and the same address history. But the middle initials were [XXX]
Me: Yes, that's my middle name. That's how you spell it.
M&S: Oh, I see, fair enough. I thought it might be a twin or something.
Now, to be fair, my middle name (a three-letter name) is quite unusual, but even so I found the whole conversation a bit bizarre. The bit that really got me was the fact that she thought I might have a twin brother with the same first name as me, but different middle names.
Funny!
Yes, I have a twin brother who has lots of middle names, and the initials of those middle names just happen to spell my middle name. What are the chances :-)
Now, nearly four weeks after I applied for the card, they've sent me a credit agreement to sign and send back to them. If I'm lucky it might reach them just before Christmas, but presumably it will be another couple of weeks before I actually receive the card.
So I'm looking at something like six weeks between applying for the card and receiving it - I think that's a pathetic level of service.
Just for the record, it arrived on Saturday, five and a half weeks after I applied.
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