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Barclay's Card for Financing

C

cjhorist

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 13, 2011
48
0
I know this is probably not the precisely correct forum for this post, but as I will be using the card on a new iMac, hopefully we can let it slide. :cool:

So I'm planning on buying my new iMac on the Barclays card, with the 12 month same-as-cash financing plan (other than monthly minimum payments). Does anyone know the average time it takes to get approved for this card? Can I safely wait until the refresh is up because I can get approved quickly? Should I get it this weekend (hedging my bets that it will definitely refresh within the next 30 days)?

After all this wait I definitely don't want to have downtime after the new machines are available.:p

Anyone used it before? Thanks!

-cjh

EDIT** I have good credit -- 700+
 
Normally its about 5 days from you registerign to gettign the letter which you sign and return so proably about 2 weeks to get the card!

What is same as cash?! Wouldn't tescos interest free purchases for 12/14 months be better?!

also how do you find your credit rating? I wanna know mine! :)
 
You can apply and have the approval in about five minutes online. It will tell you how much you have been approved for and you can buy whatever you want right then. You dont have to wait for anything.
 
DannyBres said:
Normally its about 5 days from you registerign to gettign the letter which you sign and return so proably about 2 weeks to get the card!

What is same as cash?! Wouldn't tescos interest free purchases for 12/14 months be better?!

also how do you find your credit rating? I wanna know mine! :)
Click to expand...


Myfico.com for your true ratings banks use. You have to pay for them.
 
DannyBres said:
Normally its about 5 days from you registerign to gettign the letter which you sign and return so proably about 2 weeks to get the card!

What is same as cash?! Wouldn't tescos interest free purchases for 12/14 months be better?!

also how do you find your credit rating? I wanna know mine! :)
Click to expand...

Tesco! Man I miss that place. I'm from the states, but I was in London this summer -- I love the 10 jelly filled donuts (for something crazy like 1 gbp).

But anyway -- not sure I have access to the tesco deal. But apple's deal is 6/12 month financing for purchases over 500/1000 US with no interest so long as you pay it all off by the deadline (hence "same as cash"). But I do know that with the Barclay's card you have to pay off a monthly minimum which is like $14 US I believe.

As far as credit score, I got a car last year so the guy looked up my credit score before financing. But I'm pretty sure there are sites that will do it for you for free.

-cjh

PS Yikes! 2 weeks. I better get it now! Thanks for the info :D
 
mackage said:
You can apply and have the approval in about five minutes online. It will tell you how much you have been approved for and you can buy whatever you want right then. You dont have to wait for anything.
Click to expand...

oh.. nice! That's better than 2 weeks :p

-cjh
 
I used to have a Barclay's Card in Germany and I honestly can't recommend it. Unfortunately, the bank seems to employ the usual mobile carrier tactics (fine print, "default" actions and terms etc.). Overall, they didn't give me what they promised (for instance, I should have received a second card but I never did), the conditions were not clearly specified (I applied for the account based on a specific promo but later they denied that saying "I got it all wrong", in the result I lost money), they bombed me with spam (both written and telephone), they did not answer my mail and canceling the account was not straightforward as well.

It is entirely possible that Barclay's at your place is more reasonable then the German division though...
 
cjhorist said:
As far as credit score, I got a car last year so the guy looked up my credit score before financing. But I'm pretty sure there are sites that will do it for you for free.

-cjh

PS Yikes! 2 weeks. I better get it now! Thanks for the info :D
Click to expand...

If you want your REAL credit score, you want your FICO score and it is NOT free.
 
it will take 5 minutes to get your credit limit and approval but you cannot order your imac untill the card arrives!
 
DannyBres said:
it will take 5 minutes to get your credit limit and approval but you cannot order your imac untill the card arrives!
Click to expand...

You are absolutely wrong. My sister just applied in 2 minutes,was approved for 2k, and then used the card to purchase a new Macbook Pro immediately.
 
Wow! They gave her the 16 digit code, expiry date, and security code fo her card stright away?!

Both CC I have got in the last 2 years have required me to verify my identity first!
 
I was approved while making my purchase of my 09 iMac. I used their card because of the interest free offer. So, if you have good credit it should be instantaneous.
 
Bougth my iMac on Thurs using this card

Applied online at the apple site and it took about 1 minute. I plan on making monthly payments for 12 months and avoid the interest.

btw, I got my iMac the next day.
 
What exactly is the appeal about the Barclays card? The 12 months with no interest isn't anything special considering opening just about any high profile credit card for the first time will also grant you 12 months interest free. You might as well sign up for a card that also gives cash back or extra bonus points like Chase Freedom or one of the AMEX credit cards (not to be confused with their charge cards).
 
Kendo said:
What exactly is the appeal about the Barclays card? The 12 months with no interest isn't anything special considering opening just about any high profile credit card for the first time will also grant you 12 months interest free. You might as well sign up for a card that also gives cash back or extra bonus points like Chase Freedom or one of the AMEX credit cards (not to be confused with their charge cards).
Click to expand...

The "appeal" is that you can do it at the apple site, within minutes, and instantly make your purchase. From there, you have to be smart, shred the card, and make the payments (with no interest).
 
A buddy of mine talked me into Citi Identity Monitor. I got signed up on a promo for $5.99 a month and that was one of the best things I have ever bought. It allows/gives you a free credit report every 30 days showing what the 3 companies are reporting. It emails/alerts you if there are ANY changes to your credit, instantly. And what I use the most is "credit analyzer" you're able to look ahead and input possible changes to your credit and it will show you what your score will do..up or down. I use it to pay off or maintain accts that will maximize my points. I have good credit 800+; but I am able to squeeze every last point out of my score and ALWAYS know where my credit is.....no more guessing, praying or hoping when going to bank to loan $$.

http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx?source=IMN00518
 
Last edited:
winty03 said:
A buddy of mine talked me into Citi Identity Monitor. I got signed up on a promo for $5.99 a month and that was one of the best things I have ever bought. It allows/gives you a free credit report every 30 days showing what the 3 companies are reporting. It emails/alerts you if there are ANY changes to your credit, instantly. And what I use the most is "credit analyzer" you're able to look ahead and input possible changes to your credit and it will show you what your score will do..up or down. I use it to pay off or maintain accts that will maximize my points. I have good credit 800+; but I am able to squeeze every last point out of my score and ALWAYS know where my credit is.....no more guessing, praying or hoping when going to bank to loan $$.
Click to expand...

I too have just squeezed past the 800 credit score zone and I am always paranoid about it dropping. Which is why I don't think it is a good idea to open a credit card solely for the purpose of getting 0% free. If you absolutely must open one, you should opt for a card with great bonus points or cash back since you are essentially stuck with it.

Opening a new card automatically increases the average age of all of your accounts and the older the average, the better. Creditors do not like seeing people who open a lot of new accounts because it is portrayed as them not having enough funds available which is why they need more cards (which means more credit risk).

It doesn't matter if you are 21 but if you are nearing the late twenties or early thirties where you plan to finance a home, having a great credit score will guarantee the absolute lowest interest rates.
 
Amazon's GE Money Bank card is another good alternative. They offer 12-month financing on computers. Might be worth looking into if you aren't going with any upgrades. Might save you a good deal of change too thanks to their discount + no tax in some places.
 
I used that to buy my current mac (see signature). I had to use my Mom's name and all.. since I'm under 18. She got approved on the spot. So I'm sure if you have good credit.. you'll get approved. And!.. since they work directly with Apple... you don't have to wait until the card comes in the mail to make a purchase.. it sends your info to your apple account. (You have 30 mins to make the purchase though, otherwise you have to wait for the card to come in the mail).
 
I used it to purchase my ipad. Approved and bought it in 5 minutes. Paid it off early then cancelled the card so I can re-open another one when the imacs come out and I can get the promo again.
 
archer75 said:
I used it to purchase my ipad. Approved and bought it in 5 minutes. Paid it off early then cancelled the card so I can re-open another one when the imacs come out and I can get the promo again.
Click to expand...

Err, you didn't have to cancel the card. There's no annual fee or minimum payment (when you carry no balance). It actually hurts your credit to open and close cards like that. And the promo is good anytime; not just when you first open the card.
 
winty03 said:
A buddy of mine talked me into Citi Identity Monitor. I got signed up on a promo for $5.99 a month and that was one of the best things I have ever bought. It allows/gives you a free credit report every 30 days showing what the 3 companies are reporting. It emails/alerts you if there are ANY changes to your credit, instantly. And what I use the most is "credit analyzer" you're able to look ahead and input possible changes to your credit and it will show you what your score will do..up or down. I use it to pay off or maintain accts that will maximize my points. I have good credit 800+; but I am able to squeeze every last point out of my score and ALWAYS know where my credit is.....no more guessing, praying or hoping when going to bank to loan $$.

http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx?source=IMN00518
Click to expand...

$5.99 a month sounds great BUT I looked them up & got.....
"At just $12.95 per month, Citi Identity Monitor"
Where did you get the $5.99??
Bob
 
Kendo said:
I too have just squeezed past the 800 credit score zone and I am always paranoid about it dropping. Which is why I don't think it is a good idea to open a credit card solely for the purpose of getting 0% free. If you absolutely must open one, you should opt for a card with great bonus points or cash back since you are essentially stuck with it.

Opening a new card automatically increases the average age of all of your accounts and the older the average, the better. Creditors do not like seeing people who open a lot of new accounts because it is portrayed as them not having enough funds available which is why they need more cards (which means more credit risk).

It doesn't matter if you are 21 but if you are nearing the late twenties or early thirties where you plan to finance a home, having a great credit score will guarantee the absolute lowest interest rates.
Click to expand...

DEAD ON! Could not agree with you more!! Let alone about the worst cards you can get (for score wise) are "the store" cards. Their reasoning.....first card people in trouble don't pay .....store cards, very high liability! So you defiantly need to watch the benefit of 0 percent for some amount of time....vs. you credit score getting BLASTED!! 12 month zero% is NEVER worth opening a new card! Swipe it away on my one and only cc, and pay that balance off as fast as possible.....would rather do business with a bank and let them make some $$ on me...rather than sinking my score 30 points for a tech device.
 
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