Marbles card - My little white friend [updated] (Marbles)

Member Name: cazm17

Product:	Marbles
Date:	16/01/02 (243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good fraud protection, helpful staff, informative staff

Disadvantages: Don't always advertise good APRs

I have been a customer of Marbles for nearly three years now, and my experiences with them are somewhat mixed.

~ Applying for your card ~

The Marbles card is quite easy to apply for, and it more publicised now than when I first joined. Like many other cards and personal loans it comes courtesy of HFC Bank in Birmingham, so you know it's a large company backing it up. You can apply online at www.marbles.com.

~ Interest rates ~

Generally people are more clued up about interest rates these days. Marbles are currently offering 0% interest fixed rate (14.9% variable) for 6 months on balance transfers and purchases. Although the statement that dropped through my door this morning gave warning of an increase for standard balance transfers and purchases to 17.9%. It's always important to work out what interest you'll be paying them after that initial joining period.

The 0% is useful because it applies to purchases you make as well. Some cards will offer you 0% interest on that balance until you pay it off, but may charge a higher percentage on any purchases you make during that period. If you're looking to swap your credit cards and are intending to continue to make purchases in that opening 6 months, the Marbles card could well be for you.

Once you've joined up, they do have occasional offers for low interest rates on balance transfers. The lowest I've had was 4.9% but it's generally relative to their main interest rate.

~ Charges ~

Like all credit companies, Marbles will jump on late payments quicker than you can say "but my auntie's sick". I've only ever had one late payment (this statement actually!) but given the number of ways you can pay, through the bank, telephone or online, there's not many excuses for not getting them the money on time... A late payment will be another 20 quid on the balance, thank you.

Like all cards, their terms an
d conditions change on a regular basis, but they are always very clear in pointing these changes out to you in your monthly statement.

~ Statements ~

You get a monthly statement through the post, together with various offers they may have, usually for personal loans. The statement is always very clear, there will be one page with a summary of your previous balance, payments made, spending, interest, new balance and your minimum payment. This contains all the information you need, including your current interst rates that you're paying. The second sheet usually contains a breakdown of your spending.

~ Fraud ~

One of the major reasons I signed up with Marbles was their "Safe Shopping Promise". To use the words from the site: "You're covered if: You or your additional cardholder give your card details to a retailer and they use it, or Someone steals your card or your details and uses them on-line".

Marbles Internet Delivery Insurance also covers anything you've bought on the Internet, should it get lost or damaged, from the moment you buy it to the moment it arrives at your home. This is subject to exclusions and is only up to £500 but could be helpful nonetheless, I have yet to find out if it would apply to purchases from auction sites, though.

During the time I've had my card, I have experienced two fraud incidents and one theft (from a crowded London street).

On the two occasions that there was "unusual" spending on my account, such as the purchase of expensive jewellery while I was sitting in my office, Marbles quickly spotted irregularities in my spending pattern and telephoned me. Although it doesn?t take a genius to spot that someone whose usual bill consists of Boots, WH Smith and Tesco suddenly spends thousands on jewellery ? I wish I had the salary!

Basically, it was really simple, no endless paperwork trails, and their staff were friendly an
d understanding. Even at 2am when the robbery happened.

~ Using their online service ~

I have had mixed experiences with their online service, although mostly I put that down to having several online banking things and a different password and PIN number for each! Each occasion that I have forgotten one or another of the passwords to log on, the staff were very helpful in sending out replacements promptly and ensuring that the transactions I wanted to do were carried out, by using other security details I provided to them.

Too many banks rely on the password and PIN code without which they won?t even talk to you ? Marbles at least has systems in place to verify you if you?ve forgotten your PIN number.

~ In conclusion ~

It's not the cheapest credit card on the market, but in the three years I've had it, I've found them to be very reliable. They do provide occasional good offers on balance transfers, which I've taken advantage of on occasion, and their main interest rate is usually quite competitive.

I also swear by using it for online purchases I make, given my good experiences with fraud.

Why not give them a go, you could be pleasantly surprised.

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