|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 2, 2006 14:51:30 GMT
Just bought myself a pair of jeans in Dotty P's (only place I can find jeans that fit my big bum and not gape too badly in the waist) and I was at the till when I saw and heard a pensioner signing up for a store card. Then she said, "Do I pay for the stuff now?", "No", said the till girl, "you send off the DD and the bank will sort it out for you," "So you don't want my debit card to pay for this stuff now then?" asks the old lady (now I know some people when they are in their late 70's aren't old but this lady was. Does that make sense?) "No." says the till girl. "Do you want cash then?" says the old lady. And on it went for a while with the old lady BLATANTLY not understanding what she was signing up to. Well........ in I stepped! "Excuse me," I said to the old lady, "but do you realise that you will be charged interest on that card?" "No" she said at the same time the till girl spat at me "ONLY IF SHE DOESN'T PAY IT OFF AT THE END OF THE MONTH". I then explained to the old lady that the card is worse than a credit card with exorbitant interest rates and she told me she had no idea. I looked at the till girl and said to her, "She's a pensioner for god's sake, who does NOT understand what you are trying to sell her and you are a shark." Then I walked out. If I hadn't have paid for my jeans, I would have left them and am seriously considering taking them back. I got home and phoned up their customer service centre and they didn't care. Said something along the lines of "All the girls get the customers to read the small print before they sign anything" THIS OLD LADY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE SMALL PRINT!  So, my question is (I can't find it on google) is there a store card watchdog I can get in touch with? This sort of thing must surely be illegal and I think someone ought to be made aware of it. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2006 15:59:00 GMT
Skarloey
A friend of mine works for the FSA (Financial Services Authority). I'll ask him and let you know if he knows anything.
FA x
|
|
|
|
Post by lottielady on Dec 2, 2006 16:45:42 GMT
www.arcadiagroup.co.uk/promostores/arcadia/flash/index.htmlThats who run DP's Skarloey - maybe you can find someone to talk to. The worse thing about the whole store card business is that the shop staff are put under pressure to get X amount of accounts each signed up per day and this is how they get their bonuses. They all have inter-store 'competitions' too. and yes they do deserve to be called sharks! LLx
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Dec 2, 2006 16:49:01 GMT
well done Skarloey!. I'm thoroughly fed up of being offered store cards, credit cards and loans everywhere I go...and then there's the rubbish they shove through the letter box. I only went to the bank yesterday to move some savings across into my current account (yuletide shopping) when I was jumped on by my 'Personal Account Advisor'...so on Monday...after an horrendous (no doubt) morning at work I have an appointment with her to talk about ways they can help me 'manage my money'. My first thought was 'OOOH am I overdrawn!?'...but I'm not.
Shouldn't grumble...they may be helpful...I just don't trust 'em... bankers.....but they can't force me to do owt.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2006 16:58:53 GMT
Good for you Skarloey I think it's absolutely disgusting them trying it on with a store card with someone who obviously hasn't a clue. Some people are soooo vulnerable and are taken advantage of sooo easily. Well Done - Hope you find someone to report the matter to  Px |
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Dec 2, 2006 17:10:45 GMT
I get asked everytime I go in various stores do I want to open a card. I tell them firmly, no.
The FSA would probably have something to say about the issue but I normally write to the CEO of the company involved if I'm really not happy with something and want a proper response rather than being fobbed off.
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Dec 2, 2006 17:11:19 GMT
Ooooh but going back to Dotty P's, I bought some clothes there on friday with 20% off so that was my bargain of the week...
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Dec 2, 2006 17:11:40 GMT
Not friday, Thursday. I get so confused with days when I'm not in work.
|
|
|
|
Post by Spruance on Dec 2, 2006 17:13:32 GMT
That's very interesting Skarloey because my Mum had exactly the same expereince at MacKays a few years ago. She signed up for what she thought was a discount card, of the type operated by Greenwoods, or Somerfield, for instance. Instead it was the ubiquitous Store Card with the same sky-high interest rates. Fortunately I was able to get the card cancelled but not before I had given MacKays head office a piece of my mind! Mum now tells me that she has been persuaded by M&S to sign up for an M&S credit card. "I won't have to have a PIN number will I?" she asked. She seemed quite shocked when I informed her that all credit cards have a PIN number these days. She is talking about carrying the PIN on a piece of paper inside her... underwear(!), as surely no-one would look there.  Mum is 73 and in full control of her faculties, but she has never had a credit card before and I am concerned that M&S may not have explained all of the possible pitfalls, especially when it comes to making late payments, or more likely, forgetting to pay at all!  Personally I would be completely lost without my (five!) Debit and Credit cards, but I do think that stores should behave more responsibly when signing people up. Especially this trend of springing the idea onto people at the till with the promise of an instant discount. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2006 17:56:17 GMT
Only 5 Spruance ? Amateur !!!
FA
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Dec 2, 2006 17:57:16 GMT
I don't have any credit cards!!!! Life IS possible without them!!
S x
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Dec 2, 2006 18:48:36 GMT
I only have a Solo card. Quite an appropriate name for the card now I think about it.
|
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 2, 2006 19:49:21 GMT
FA, thanks that will be great.
LL, we knew it was acardia group but were given the wrong email address. Thanks for that.
CPB, maybe they will show you how you can earn more interest, you should have seen how quickly we were invited to see the manager when OH sold his flat and we paid a £35,000 cheque in! It all went out again pretty sharpish though when we put an extension on this house... oh and the holiday to the Bahamas.... and a 2nd hand merc for him.... and a new wardrobe for both of us.... ;D
Plantaholic, seems like we both did a good thing today. Well done you too.
Aprilady, who is the CEO please?
Spruance, good for you having a go at Mackays. Please try to persuade your mum not to have these rip-off cards.
Susie, I also got a £5,000 back pay in March, paid off all the cards and overdraft and left us £3,500 ahead of schedule on our mortgage..... that was until the poxy engine went on the 2nd hand car! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2006 20:31:06 GMT
Hi! Sorry to be practical, but firstly you need to contact Dorothy Perkins (rather than Arcadia) to register your complaint. A letter carries more weight than an e-mail. Dorothy Perkins Ltd, Colegrave House, 70 Berners St, London, W1L 3NL. When I complain I usually write to the CEO preferably at his home address. Given that the big cheese is Philip Green, you'll need to track him down in Monaco and his reaction will simply be to tell the sales assistant off. Not for signing up the elderly lady, but because she failed to sign you up as well! You should also contact your Local Trading Standards. They are a real pain in the butt for such companies. To be belt and braces you should also write to GE Capital, who actually provide the finance (DP are effectively just an agent). GE Capital Bank Ltd, London, WC2N 4HR. Copy all letters to all parties. Give a 28 day deadline for responses. If you do not get a satisfactory answer then (and only then) you can write to the FSA and as of earlier this year the Banking Ombudsman as well (worth mentioning that you intend doing this in your letter to DP). If you need any of the contact details (other than Phillip Green) give us a shout. Unfortunately, as you were not the individual involved, and suffered no actual financial loss, to be honest you won't get anywhere. For general info about complaining re financial products..... www.fsa.gov.uk/consumer/02_HOW/Complain/mn_Ihaveacomp.htmlTake care! Cabbage |
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 4, 2006 14:50:35 GMT
Ah Cabbage, Anyone would've thought you might know a thing or two about these things! ;D I'm going to do all the above (I do seem to have got the bit between my teeth over this old lady  ) but only because you have gone to so much trouble with contact addresses and made it so easy for me. Thanks for taking the time and I'll let you know how I get on. I suspect not very well but feel I HAVE to do something. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2006 18:04:18 GMT
Skarloey
This was the text of the reply from my mate who works at the FSA.
This problem is not within FSA remit (unless it was the insurance for the card). However, it should be registered under CCA (Consumer Credit Act) and therefore be of interest to OFT/DTI. I would suggest the former in the first instance
FA xx
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 4, 2006 18:37:07 GMT
Well Done Sharloey - that took some courage
It is quite awful for the old people these days
trying to understand technology and everything connected with it
|
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 4, 2006 20:21:55 GMT
Skarloey This was the text of the reply from my mate who works at the FSA. This problem is not within FSA remit (unless it was the insurance for the card). However, it should be registered under CCA (Consumer Credit Act) and therefore be of interest to OFT/DTI. I would suggest the former in the first instanceFA xx Hi Andy, Excuse my thickness but who are the OTT/DTI? |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 4, 2006 20:23:44 GMT
DTI Is Dept of Trade and Industry and cant think what OTT is/are
jenny
|
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 4, 2006 20:24:45 GMT
Just worked it out I think.... Office of fair trade? Dept of trade and industry? Heard of 'em but no idea of what they do... well I 'spose the first one is pretty self explanatory! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 4, 2006 20:25:56 GMT
DTI Is Dept of Trade and Industry and cant think what OTT is/are jenny Sorry Jenny, my bad typing, that should have read OFT! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Dec 4, 2006 20:27:05 GMT
Office of Fair Trading ?
jenny x
|
|
|
|
Post by skarloey on Dec 4, 2006 20:28:12 GMT
Think it must be. Thanks.  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2006 20:45:47 GMT
Yes, it is. Office of Fair Trading and the Department for Trade & Industry.
FA x
|
|
) but only because you have gone to so much trouble with contact addresses and made it so easy for me. Thanks for taking the time and I'll let you know how I get on. I suspect not very well but feel I HAVE to do something.
