Oasis Store Card

Author's product rating:   

Competitiveness of APR	Average
Quality of Customer Service	Good
Reward Scheme	average

Advantages:	Discounts on certain items during the year
Disadvantages:	High APR

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I am always in Oasis and a few years ago I was shopping in Oasis like usually and was picking up some new clothes for that month. When I got to the till, the sales assistant asked if I wanted to apply for their store card. They had a promotion on that day where store card holders got 15% off their purchase and if was accepted I could have the 15% off as they would be given the account number there and then if I was accepted. I though as I was shopping in their frequently, and still do, I thought I might as well.

It did not take long to fill in the form about 5 minutes and I had my bank card on me and I had proof of address on me, driving license, so much easier to carry around now a days being credit card size. They ask the usual questions name, address, how long you lived there, if less than three years previous address, employer etc.

After the 5 minutes they told me I was accepted, great I thought and was given a limit of £350. I was given a piece of card, the size of a credit card, with my account number on it and was told my new card would be with me soon.

The rate is the same as most store cards 29.9% APR and you can get a credit limit anything up to £500. They have offers on regularly to store card holders. Extra money off sale stock for a certain period, they have a few days each couple months where you can get money off either anything in the store or off certain items or a goody bag of little things if you spend over a certain amount. The bags can be quiet good at times with, books and a body lotion and other things little things in them. The card can not be used in any of its concession stores though. You usually find out about special offers when you get you bill each month. Though I have found that when the offer comes through with my bill it has already started or may have already passed.

You receive your bill once a month and the bill states the usually, your limit, your current balance, available balance, minimum payment, interest on outstanding balance and any transaction on your card. To pay your bill you can pay it over the phone using your debit card via an automated system. By sending a cheque via the post with the envelope provide and the slip at the bottom of the bill, though you do have to put a stamp on the envelope. By paying at your bank using the giro at the bottom of the bill. You can set up a direct debit to pay the minimum payment each month. If you use internet banking you can pay the bill that way as they provide you with the sort code and account number. There are charges like usually for these cards for over the limit and late payment charge. I am not sure what they are as I have never had one but they do tell you what they are when you first get the card. As far as I can remember they are about £20. So I can make sure that the payment reaches them in time I minus 5 days from the due date and make sure that I pay it by that date this way I can always make sure that it is paid in time. I would think it would be handyif you could put a cheque in with the giro in the envelope provide and have a account box at every store which you could put it in, like some other shops do have. As I am sure that they have to send things to head office every other day.

The cards are still swipe and go very quickly I had mine a few months before it went. When I asked recently when they are going to chip and pin the sales assistant in the shop said they did not know.

If you loose your card or move just ring their customer help line and they will sort things out. They are very friendly and every time I have rang them they have been very helpful like when I was having problems with their automated system, the customer service girl was able to put it though the system manually. You can also change your address by filling in the form on the back of your bill and sending it to them.

If you are one of these people who get a stored card and just run it up and then pay off the minimum payment. I would not advisor you to get this card especial due to the high APR and just never way to get in to debt. Also it counter reacts the money you have got off the item in the first place and you may land up paying more for the item than if you had paid by cash. Though if you are sensible with the card and pay all or most each month then it is worth having if you shop their often.