Virgin Money credit cards (linked to Velocity rewards)

[Colin 2905]

Argh! I haven't used my card since January, so now I have to go and use it, then wait up to another ten days before I'm eligible.

So here's my story since then.....

Used the card (spent a massive $2 at Coles), Bpay-ed $2 into the card to bring the balance back to zero, waited ten days, claimed the $129 voucher (received the following day), then called up a week ago to cancel (fee is due tomorrow). Yet again they managed to talk me into not cancelling, but to wait another week. So I called again today, and instead of being transferred like the previous occasions, the guy who took the call effectively waived the annual fee straight off, saying that a $129 statement credit will appear tomorrow (to negate the annual fee), and that I can claim another $129 voucher in a month from now. Um, OK.

Stuffed if I know how they're going to make any money out of this.

 

[travelislife]

Because most people are lazy!

 

[adamonline]

I've had success in previous years having the annual fee waived (1st year was paid, another year was 1/2 price, others waived - out of a total of 5 years) but this time they just wanted to push the No-Annual fee card. I only used it this year for a balance transfer and a coffee to get the $129 voucher. They did imply that as I was calling after the annual fee was charged the only way to get it refunded was to move cards. I didn't accept that and they refunded it on closure. Given the earn rate on this card now I didn't feel too bad about saying goodbye to it.

 

[andye]

Ive just opened one in addition to mrs andye's as the balance transfer offer is good and a decent limit. Have better cards for spend

 

[Colin 2905]

I closed my Virgin Flyer card recently, after a bad experience trying to alter a booking that had been paid for in part with a $129 voucher. I've since used the second $129 voucher; hopefully I won't need to change that flight too. :-|

 

[liamsal]

Something I haven't seen posted yet:

(for Virgin Mobile customers)

Take out the Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card and enjoy this exclusive offer – a low $50 Annual Fee for life – that’s an annual saving of $79!
Plus earn Velocity Points on your everyday spend, receive an exclusive flight benefit, a low balance transfer rate and more.

Not bad if anyone is simply using the card for the $129 voucher. $79 for free towards your travel isn't too bad IMO

https://www.virginmobile.com.au/rewards/

 

[Rich]

Just received the Velocity Flyer VISA on the current offer of 40000 points (4 months x 10000 points for $1500 spend each month). Although the points earning is terrible (0.66 per $ for first $1500 then 0.5) it's not a bad offer if like me you don't have much to spend this time of year (or have too many card offers on the go). All this for $129 and you still get the $129 travel voucher, so really it is 40000 points for next to nothing.
My biggest worry is that it is "powered" by Citibank and it has been well documented on other threads how many attempts it takes them to get QANTAS points working. Have others had problems with Virgin credit cards on this front?

 

[Major]

I have had a Virgin Money Plat Visa for several years and the points appear in my Velocity A/c the same time every month without fail.

I have never had a problem from day 1. They turn up the day after my statement date.

 

[andye]

They have been good for me.
The only trouble I had was coordinating things so that the balance transfer and bonus points for spend went as efficiently as possible-have to carefully read T&Cs

 

[Rich]

They have been good for me.
The only trouble I had was coordinating things so that the balance transfer and bonus points for spend went as efficiently as possible-have to carefully read T&Cs

Yes, the Citibank QF Rewards issue seems to be they often don't match to the FF program on the first points transfer and won't attempt again until the next month anniversary. (Took 2 goes for me.) But it is only really an issue if you are desperately waiting on some bonus points.

 

[eastwest101]

I will be calling shortly to cancel, not a huge spend but the latest round of enhancements has been enough to get me moving, will be looking for a semi-decent earn Visa or MasterCard to earn VFF points to replace this. If they offer annual fee waiver I may keep it.

 

[Keftetha]

I will be calling shortly to cancel, not a huge spend but the latest round of enhancements has been enough to get me moving, will be looking for a semi-decent earn Visa or MasterCard to earn VFF points to replace this. If they offer annual fee waiver I may keep it.

I'd be very interested to know which one you end up with. Being a staffie, they give me the card for free so I guess I can't complain too much about it. I don't really spend much on gov spending, and evrything I can I put into the Amex. It's getting tougher on this points thing that's for sure.

 

[eastwest101]

Yes - I am probably only pumping around 10-15K through the card on typical living expenses (no points earn on governemtn services and am not pre-paying tax or putting GST or other ATO payments through this card). The annual fee plus the recent enhancements is enough of an incentive to look for something better that's non-Amex, I only signed up for the Velocity points promo a few years ago so always thought of it as a "disposable" or a "churn" credit card.


Will see if they try to retain me or not when I make the call, getting rid of the annual fee may be asking a bit much but it may sway my decision to cancel or keep. In your case with the card being free I understand it would be a fairly easy decision to keep the card.

Will be scouring the threads for a non-Amex Visa or MasterCard promo offer with a decent amount of VFF points and a low annual fee.

 

[nitsujay]

Will be scouring the threads for a non-Amex Visa or MasterCard promo offer with a decent amount of VFF points and a low annual fee.

I'd be interested in hearing about what you find - I haven't seen any other non-Amex Visa/MC that offer the same points earn of 1 velocity point for $1 spend (for the High Flyer Visa, I think it's less for the Flyer Visa)

 

[eastwest101]

I'd be interested in hearing about what you find - I haven't seen any other non-Amex Visa/MC that offer the same points earn of 1 velocity point for $1 spend (for the High Flyer Visa, I think it's less for the Flyer Visa)

Well as it happens I just found out that the annual fee for my existing Virgin Money Plat card was in Feb so sort of missed the boat to cancel before the annual fee is due, I will probably give them a call later this year and try to cancel before the Feb 2017 annual fee hits the account.

I take your point that a lot of people are looking around - for mu particular circumstances - any points capping won't be a huge issue/deal breaker for me (as I'm not a high spender on Visa/MasterCard) - I will really be looking for a lowish or no annual fee with a decent VFF sign on bonus and treat the card as expendable if points earn gets further enhanced or annual fees increase. I only got this Virgin Money Velocity card for the sign-on bonus a few years ago but it has helped accumulate my Velocity balance a bit (along with the Amex cards of course).

 

[blingy90]

Hey all,

Been a while since I've held a VM CC. Picked up the flyer CC under the 60k + 1/2 annual fee promo.
Purely as a relatively quick boost to the velocity account.

Re the 20k / $1,500 per month T&C....is this just per statement period?

 

[ajd]

Decided to pick up the Velocity Flyer because $64 for 60k points is by far the best value offer I'm currently eligible to apply for, and I'd like to diversify my points away from so much QF.

...well, let's just say I'm now beginning to understand why everyone hates Citibank so much. I don't think I've ever had another lender ask me for a phone number for my HR department for salary verification.

 

[Drakecula]

...well, let's just say I'm now beginning to understand why everyone hates Citibank so much. I don't think I've ever had another lender ask me for a phone number for my HR department for salary verification.

Agreed. I had a bit of back and forth about a couple of things in my application, but once it got sorted it got approved quickly. This is the last month of the promo I'm on and once that's done, I'll request my travel voucher and cancel the card soon after.

 

[ajd]

Agreed. I had a bit of back and forth about a couple of things in my application, but once it got sorted it got approved quickly. This is the last month of the promo I'm on and once that's done, I'll request my travel voucher and cancel the card soon after.

The worst part about this process may end up being the back and forth I'm currently going through with my HR department. Got a call from Virgin Money saying that my HR department refused to provide them with details and stated that they needed my consent, when I'd already sent them consent and they confirmed it was on file. HR department says that yes, we did supply all details as you consented to... I don't trust either side here to be sufficiently competent...

 

[ajd]

The worst part about this process may end up being the back and forth I'm currently going through with my HR department. Got a call from Virgin Money saying that my HR department refused to provide them with details and stated that they needed my consent, when I'd already sent them consent and they confirmed it was on file. HR department says that yes, we did supply all details as you consented to... I don't trust either side here to be sufficiently competent...

Turns out that my HR department's usual email for salary verification doesn't specifically include the words "full-time" and "permanent employee". Citibank isn't content with verification that confirms my job title, salary and hire date unless it has those magic words in it too, and then they don't tell me that that's the problem until I take the initiative to follow it up with them...