Now I work for Debenhams, and have done now for a year and if there is one thing I have to do, it's to be able to process account cards.
There have been some modifications to the old store card and a new MasterCard has been introduced, but I'm sure you will find all the information you need below!
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THE APPLICATION.
The application for a Debenhams card is pretty much the same as before, except now it is a dual application you are considered for a Debenhams store card and a Debenhams MasterCard (explained later on in DEBENHAMS MASTERCARD section). There is the written application, which I would not recommend doing as this takes alot of time and once you have filled in all the questions the member of staff has to relay all the information over the phone to someone in a call centre far far away..... I would however recommend doing the application which the member of staff fills out on the till, which is called EAAPS. This is quick and simple all you have to do is answer a few questions (none of them more probing than your address, telephone number and limit of your primary credit card), I know the general line from sales staff that "It'll only take a minute of your time...." and ok it's not that quick, but if you have an experienced member of staff looking after you, it should take no more than 10minutes tops.
Once you have completed the application and it has been printed off (the application looks absolutely huge, but I promise you don't panic!) Then all you will have to do, is to check all your details are correct, then sign and date in a box, you will have to sign another box if you require account cover (but I will explain about that later on), the member of staff will the counter-sign it on
behalf of our creditors GE Capital Bank Ltd.
I would advise that you run over the terms and conditions printed at the bottom of your copy of the agreement (a pink and yellow copy) when you get home.
ACCOUNT COVER
Basically account cover is an insurance service for your card. It is totally optional and the member of staff helping you with your card should not in anyway recommend this to you or advise you against this as it has to be purely your choice (you will be asked whether you wish to purchase account cover during the application process).
The cover costs £1.05 for every £100 you spend in store. However if your balance is £000.00 at the end of the month then you will not be charged for the service.
If you decide to opt for the cover on your card it can have its uses, for example:
Price protection, if you were to buy a suit in the store for £100 and then within 100 days (the standard time allowance) of purchasing the suit it was reduced in the sale to £50 then you would be able to claim back the £50 difference (please note that it is only the difference and not the full price of the purchase which can be reclaimed). Considering there is a sale roughly every 90 days in Debenhams then this could be useful, just make sure that you hang on to receipts or old statement as proof of purchase!
Purchase protection; if you were to buy something breakable or an item of clothing and were to break it or stain the clothing then the item would be covered under your account cover and you can claim back another item, or the monetary equivalent.
You can also be covered against the interest on your card (you will have to check rates as I am not quite sure of them at the moment). This covers you in the even that you are made redundant from work and are unable to pay your bill, then you will not be automatically charged by GE Capital however will be able to speak to them about available options, as long as you can provide proof of this and of course you must get in contact with them first.
If you are not totally satisfied with the account cover, it can be removed from your card within 60 days of purchase and any premiums you have paid will be refunded to you.
If you decide to take the account cover option on your Debenhams card then you will be asked to sign another box when filling out the application, only sign this box if you have decided to opt for the cover and if you find it has been added to your card by mistake then you can call GE Capital and they will remove it for you (number for GE Capital is on the back of your permanent Debenhams card and also on your monthly statements).
Any claims you have on your account cover are dealt with by GE Capital and will need to ring them for any claims.
TEMPORARY CARD
This should be issued to you after you have filled in and signed the application form. It is basically a small card with all your account info on it, which you have to sign, and this is yours to keep.
The card entitles you to your 10% off in any store for a week. You should present it to the member of staff at the till and they will manually take the 10% off for you at the till (however you must pay on your Debenhams card to qualify for it-cheeky eh!) The card only lasts for 7 days and from then on will not entitle you to a discount, and I wouldn't advise tampering with it, as we will know! However you can use it for your account details if your actual card has not arrived yet.
All you should have to do is sign the bottom of the card and the staff member should do the rest for you.
RECEIVING YOUR CARDS
You should receive your permanent cards within 7-9 working days, I have only ever had one problem with this and it was sorted out in a phone call.
What you get all in all is a welcome pack from the company explaining all the ins and outs of who to call if you have a problem, and welcoming you to the Debenhams family!
You will also receive your statement monthly through the post.
PAYING
Yes unfortunately we all have to do this at some point! You can pay with the standard methods, direct debits and standing orders etc. However you can also pay off the account by sending a cheque or in the store itself. If you go into any Debenhams store with your card details (or just your card) then you can pay or all or just some of your account (can be £1) using cash, a debit card or cheque (we cannot accept any credit card payments unfortunately)
GOLD CARDS AND PURPLE CARDS
Purple cards are the standard issue Debenhams cards. With these cards you will be entitled to invitations to sale previews, a free Desire magazine, will have special cardholder 10% off your purchases weeks and can receive money off coupons for item in the store.
Gold card members are the elite! They are the people who spend money in Debenhams regularly you may have your limit increased and will be given a gold card! Gold card members have the same benefits as purple card members and more! They are also entitled to 20% off purchases in the Venue cafes, free gift bags with purchases, at times money off holidays (in the back of the desire magazine) and use of the Gold card members lounge (not all stores have these, but you can have a sit down on comfy sofas and a free tea or coffee.
INTEREST RATES
The interest rates on the cards have been revised. Whilst we still quote that the interest on the Debenhams Store card is 18.9%-29.9%, the actual interest rate tends to come out at the lower end, however this CANNOT be guaranteed and is totally at GE Capitals discretion depending on the credit scoring.
The Debenhams MasterCard has lower interest rates ranging from 13.9%-18.9%, however you may not be eligible for the MasterCard, you will be told if you are at the end of the application (more details below)
Monthly interest rates will be displayed down the side of the application form, asks a member of staff to explain these to you, if you do not understand.
The limit on a Debenhams store card can also reach up to £750, however it does depend on your credit rating.
THE DEBENHAMS MASTERCARD
This is the new credit card we have launched in store from the end of September.
The card enables you to use it both in and out of the Debenhams stores. You will still receive all the benefits of the Debenhams store card (e.g. initial 10% off) however you also get more...
We have started a points scheme using the card. For every £1 you spend in Debenhams you gain 1point, and for every £2 you spend in other store you receive 1 point. The points mean prizes and Debenhams will send you the vouchers you have earned at intervals.
The interest rate is much more competitive than the store card, and it allows you a bigger credit limit (generally £2000 or more). The account cover (if you opt for it) also applies to purchases made from stores other than Debenhams (only applicable to the MasterCard) however you will have to fully check the terms and conditions about this.
The Debenhams account application is now a dual application. This means that when filling out the application you will be considered for the Store card and the MasterCard and depending on the credit scores the computer will decide which, if any, you are eligible for. However if it is decided you are entitled to a MasterCard and you are sure that you want to be downgraded to a store card, then this can be done quite simply with a phone call.
THATS'S IT!
So there it is a "basic" summary of a Debenhams card! Now I know as I work there you will be thinking that I am only giving a one-sided view of the card but I do have to own one in order to qualify for my staff discount. I am charged the same interest rates as the normal consumers on my card but I have always found the card easy to use and have never experienced any problems with it. I do realise that any Store card can be an expensive thing and I would recommend that you use them wisely and pay them off as soon as you can to escape any interest charges as they can be a bit hefty at times, but I think that the Debenhams cards do have good qualities for regular shoppers and even for those who just want a cheeky 10% off for a particularly large purchase they are making.
Anyway I hope this review has been of some help, and if you do decide to come in and open one, I will be happy to do it for you! (We rarely get anything for opening them and if we do it's only capital bonds!) Have a good old shop with the card, but also beware of interest charges as sometimes they can be forgotten!
Thanks for reading
Robyn
by (8%):
by (3%):
30.08.2006 17:38
Excellent review there! Dan.
24.04.2006 16:23
well done robyn, u star employee u. xxx
24.04.2006 02:17
I think that is a bit off that you HAVE to own one to qualify for a staff discount ... what a cheek !! That's like saying we will only pay your wage, if you shop here ! (Not quite, but same principle)! LOL ... Great review anyway ... very well structured and written :-)