MBNA Platinum Card

Advantages: Good customer support, internet accessibility
Disadvantages: Slow to increase credit limits, only mastercard available

...section would be administered by MBNA and my card would from this point on be an MBNA Platinum Mastercard. Therefore I approach this review from a slightly different angle to most of the previous reviewers who applied for their card direct from MBNA. At the time of writing (Oct 06), MBNA Europe offer several credit cards, all of them Mastercard branded. The application process for the Platinum card is no different to that for any other credit card ...
...The APR offered by MBNA is 15.9% at the time of writing (Oct 06), which I have to say is perhaps slightly higher than some other cards/companies (but see below). However, you do get a 6 month period of 0% from the time that your account is opened, which is fairly standard these days. ♣♣♣Credit Limits♣♣♣ At the moment my limit is GBP 1800, although if I remember rightly it started out at GBP 1000 when I first opened ... Read review

Advantages: 0% balance transfer, phone and net support
Disadvantages: No loyalty scheme, not impressed with service

...So onto the MBNA card, which is a slightly differnet kettle of fish. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE PLATINUM CARD --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Typical APR is 15.9%. This may vary from person to person - 0% p.a. on card purchases for 6 months (from date of account opening) - 0% p.a. on balance transfers + 'credit card cheques' ...
...easiest way. Go to the MBNA site, and click on the platinum card. Then click on the apply now button. You will be referred to their special application website. You will have to provide: - name - address - nature of work and income - bank details - balances of other cards, loans etc - date of birth - and declare whether you have been bankrupt before You recieve info through the post a few weeks later to say whether they have approved your ... Read review

Advantages: See review
Disadvantages: See review

...I have been an MBNA Platinum Plus cardholder for several years but in that time have never used the card as my primary credit card account. One of the reasons for this is that on the whole I tend to clear my balance monthly, so I want a credit card that offers something for simply using the card for every day transactions – unfortunately the MBNA Platinum Plus card does not have any sort of loyalty scheme. Application MBNA have ...
...for the Platinum Plus card, MBNA may well offer you one of their other cards, providing you meet the credit scoring requirements. Competitiveness of APR The MBNA Platinum Plus card does not offer a very competitive APR. The current standard APR for purchases or cash advances is 15.9% - not the highest in the market, but not the lowest either. Where the card offers much greater value is in the APR for balance transfers or introductory ... Read review

Advantages: Good customer service, frequent incentives to transfer balances at very low rates, one of the longest interest free periods on the market, Up to 59 days interest free
Disadvantages: Payments are used to clear balance transfers first whilst any other spending accumulates at 15.9% APR

MBNA was the first credit card I held, and has remained steadfastly tucked in my wallet ever since. On their main silver accounts they had rubbish interest rates and no loyalty packages, but did offer interim incentive periods at very low interest rates for balance transfers. I was going to close both my accounts with them, when RBS refused me a special rate on a balance transfer, so I elected to contact MBNA who offered me 1.9% fixed for 6 months ...
...As I have pointed out MBNA offer existing customers balance transfers at extremely preferential rates - however be careful - I took advantage of an excellent rate of 4.9%APR to transfer a balance of £700 from an existing card - I did however already have a balance on the card. I had a sizeable chunk of money and decided to reduce the MBNA balance - only to discover that those balances carrying the lowest interest rate are actually cleared first - ... Read review

Advantages: You can get cash advances cheaper than a bank loan!
Disadvantages: No cash-back or points incentive

I've had an MBNA Platinum VISA card for about 5 years now. The rates for retail purchases are average when compared to all the other cards; 15.9% is typical. The credit limit is shopping-friendly without being silly. When you first get the card they appear to start you off on a low credit limit, and they increase it on your statements until you've had the card long enough and you notice that the credit limit is noticably more than you spend, but ...
...difficulties with the repayments. I've had one or two fraudulent transactions on this card even though I never lost the card. No doubt, then, not MBNA's fault for not cancelling it (since I never lost it) but probably someone in a shop making a copy of my card or duplicating a receipt. This could have happened with any card so no criticism to MBNA. In fact, when I noticed the extra transactions on my statement, they had no problem at all crediting ... Read review

Advantages: Good customer service
Disadvantages: big late payment cost

...I have had an MBNA Platinum Card for about 18 months and have to say that on the rare occasion that I have had any queries their customer service have been very helpful. As Owenski found, they do charge an £18 late payment fee - this has been charged to me three times and every time this has been due to my bank being late. Every time I have called them and they have taken the charge off my account straight away. The APR is very competitive (16%) and the credit limit is easy to set if you are after a larger credit limit. Although they do tend to increase it by £1500 every six months unless you ask them not too... All in all I have to say this is a very good card.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: low APR
Disadvantages: some people don't recognise it as a British card

...MBNA are fantastic - no two ways about it! Their staff are friendly and knowledgeable, whilst their website is clear and easy to understand. The only bad move they hav erecently is to align themselves with the 'Sh'Abbey National to produce their credit cards. Abbey National's speed and efficiency brings MBNA's good reputation down which is unfortunate for them. MBNA have a wide range of cards to offer each customer and are willing to talk you through each one if you are unsure as to which one to choose. I have a PLatinum card from MBNA and think it is the best thing since sliced bread!! I would most definately recommend it to anyone who will listen. MBNA are the best... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Freephone Helpline
Disadvantages: Sneaky practices

...keep them just in case a really tasty balance transfer comes up… “F” for Rewards. Don’t be dumb enough to think that any credit card company is going to offer you something without taking money from you somehow. Read the small print. MBNA are currently offering 6.9% on their platinum MasterCard and 15.9% on their classic MasterCard. They also do visa. They’re not the worst of the bunch but if you go for one: a) make sure you get an interest free period first b) transfer your balance elsewhere once the real rate applies c) calculate what a balance transfer will cost you with their 2% fee. It might not be worth it. d) PAY IT OFF AS SOON AS YOU CAN You can find them online at www.mbnanetaccess.co.uk You can read what some angry people have said at www.badcreditcards.org/MBNABank.htm but bear in mind this is American (same co... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful