It works like a ‘normal’ credit card but just in Debenham’s you pick your goods; you hand over your card and sign the piece of paper that is given you to place your signature on. At first I thought it was because I was getting famous that all the staff in Debenham’s wanted my autograph, but alas I soon realised I was wrong.

1) Direct debit (needs setting up)
2) In any bank (no fee at any Lloyds TSB)
3) BY post with cheque
4) By telephone
5) Or in any Debenham’s store

Now we come to the interesting part and the part that actually shocked me when I worked it out. You may have seen on Television recently that the Debenham’s card actually carries of the highest percentage rates around currently standing at 29.9% for purchases or 32.0% for cash advances. So what does this mean in terms of cash? My balance this month was £1000 with a minimum payment due of £43.56. If I were to pay the minimum around £23 would be taken in interest, add to this the account cover I currently have and of my £43.56 the actual amount to come off the balance of my account would be LESS THAN £5! So a whopping £38 or thereabouts is taken in interest and cover protection. Luckily I am able to pay the standing amount off on much larger chunk.

Miscellaneous information:

If you want a card simply go into your local store and ask or go online and fill in the form at the Debenham’s web site. And having one card isn’t enough for this company! I had a Burtons card (paid off monthly) and went to buy some clothes from Dorothy Perkins for my two daughters (they shopped I paid). At the check out I went to pay by cash, only to be asked if I’d like a Dorothy Perkins card, I declined the offer and was then told” You’ll get 10% (or 20 –not sure) off what you buy today and you needn’t use it again. Again I declined saying I already had a Burtons card and my wife had a DP card anyway. I was eventually persuaded to sign up when my refusals fell on deaf ears and a queue was forming behind me. I got my money off the total I spent (which did work out to a fair amount) and when the card came I simply cut it up, paying the balance off when my bill came.

In a word NO: I am retied through ill health and managing on a small amount of capital in a ‘restricted account’, and a small NHS pension, along with disability benefit, My wife works in a local bakers bringing in an average wage for this area. It appears to me that not only do GE CAPTAL bank actively encourage you to take on what could spiral into a large amount of debt, they give cards to anyone (with simply a name, address, and other non-intrusive details), and then they charge an exorbitant amount of interest. Please also note that GE Capital bank will charge you £18 if they do not receive their payment on or before the due date (according to info found in small print on web site).

I absolutely think this card is a rip off with the interest charges and account cover costs taking almost all my monthly payment (had I paid the minimum). The ease of which these cards are available is totally unacceptable; no proof of income is required in order to start spending money that is ultimately a loan with high interest.