The Disney Visa NIGHTMARE

[lisajl]

"they have yet to offer any specials that allow you to earn more than 1 reward dollar/$100 spent as they promised in their sign-up plea"


Well, I was declined. We have a lot of credit...thought it would be easy to get since we always pay on time, but I guess we have too much credit.
I am glad we did not get it now. Reading through these posts, especially the quote above makes me glad we were declined.

I love everything Disney, but not so much that I need to spend that much to get 1 reward dollar.

Good luck to those that still want it....I for one, am glad, we did not get it.

Lisajl

 

[HorizonsFan]

My only concern there is I have yet to see ANY posts on any related thread from people who called that number, heard the "your application is under review" message who subsequently got a card.

Do a search and read more threads. There are many people who heard that message and subsequently got a card. I'm one...

 

[disrailfan]

Originally posted by mikeymars
Tuesday, April 8: over a MONTH after being declined by Bank One, I receive a fancy direct mail promotion piece from them and Disney inviting me to APPLY for the card. Of course, this package immediately raised the issue of “why are these firms mocking me, by sending an invitation to apply when they’ve ALREADY turned me down?!?!”

It only took a few seconds to answer that annoying question. Presumably, some unit at Disney provided Bank One with a file of existing Disney clientele (likely the obvious suspects such as members of the Disney Club, the Vacation Club, etc.) to use for this promotion. However, apparently no one at Bank One – which loves to present itself as one of the most sophisticated credit card marketers in the country, one that presumably “wrote the book” on database management – bothered to perform the basic, “direct mail 101” function of scrubbing the file to remove the names of Disney customers who had already applied, particularly those who had been turned down.

Bank one along with all of the other compnaies out there are really bad about Direct Mail. I once applied for a Discover Card and was turned down and not a week after receiving the declination letter I received what was touted as a pre-approved application for a Discover Platinum Card. I wrote them and indicated my discust and they wrote me back to explain that they were not sure why I received a declination letter and sent me a platinum card in response to my letter. Nedless to say I promptly cut up the card and mailed it back to them saying no thanks!

 

[All Aboard]

Sigh....more of the "sour grapes" stuff. What we smell here is what inevitably pops up on threads where someone dares to criticize the mouse in any way, shape or form: the "Disney can do no wrong" enforcers show up and personally attack the messenger. How dare we disrupt their private "magic".

Fear not. This post has made its way over to the rumors and news board (not sure if it started here.) So, there are plenty of folks here who share your concerns about the way Disney chooses to conduct itself lately.

It is ridiculous for anyone to believe that Disney's image isn't directly tied to this card. The word "Disney" is in triple the font as Bank One. The giant Mickey Head in the middle sure is visible. Anything and everything that occurs between the customers and Bank One has Disney's reputation riding on it.

 

[CarolA]

This is just amazing!

I would like to point out that IT IS A CREDIT CARD! You aren't marrying the thing. You all are acting like this is the worse marketing fiasco in the history of mankind. Nope, nowhere close to New Coke!

Also, the person who made the comments about the impact taking this card could have on your credit report. That is true of ANY credit card. If a customer does not understand that don't blame Disney's marketing. The word VISA should have given them a clue!

 

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by Dean
I've been known to go after issues for the principal of them but I can't hold a candle to you. I certainly wouldn't put this much effort of my personal time into something so trivial and if I were to use my work time, I'd have plenty of personal time. Let us know when you get the cards, will you use them after all of this?

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with Dean... are you seriously concerned with this? Do you really care that they left out Disney's name in the declination letter? In the overall scheme of your life is this worth the hours you've put into it? Maybe you could put those hours to better use, like sitting on a plane to go to Disney?

 

[lrodk]

Bank One seems to be pickier than most cc companies. I was initially declined because they needed to verify my identity. Once I sent copies of my ss# and utility bill they processed my application. In fact I called last night and they said that the cards were in the mail. I really didn't need this card, but decided it might be worthwhile in the event they were to offer discounted travel packages. I've since learned that they've already begun offering some sort of travel discounts. That was the real attraction for me, not so much the reward points. Time will tell if the offers will be consistant enough to satisfy former Disney Club card members.

 

[WDWalways]

I just wanted to say that I was also declined and received a declination letter that stated First USA was declining me and I was actually VERY surprised that it also said that it was a platinum Visa - I thought it was just a plain Visa so it is definitely deceiving IMO for those who may not want such a high credit limit because no where in any of the literature I've seen, or the emails I've received (tons on this even though I was already declined) does it say anything about it being platinum - anyway, my main point was that my declination letter did not mention Bank One, just First USA and did not mention Disney either and I found it very confusing.

 

[d-r]

Originally posted by CarolA
This is just amazing!

I would like to point out that IT IS A CREDIT CARD! You aren't marrying the thing. You all are acting like this is the worse marketing fiasco in the history of mankind. Nope, nowhere close to New Coke!

Also, the person who made the comments about the impact taking this card could have on your credit report. That is true of ANY credit card. If a customer does not understand that don't blame Disney's marketing. The word VISA should have given them a clue!

The problem is after making such a big deal about enhancing their relationships with their long-term customers, Disney decided to make some quick capital by replacing the disney club with a credit card. This means that Disney allows another company to decide who those loyal customers are, based upon the credit score, and that loyal customers who do not wish to change their finances to have a new credit card are left out in the cold. If you don't think there is a problem with that, I don't know what to tell you, but I think it is the hugest freaking mistake disney has made since, well, at least since Cinderella II. It is certainly not the type of relationship management that they had been promising!

DR

 

[DisneyKidds]

The problem is after making such a big deal about enhancing their relationships with their long-term customers, Disney decided to make some quick capital by replacing the disney club with a credit card. This means that Disney allows another company to decide who those loyal customers are, based upon the credit score, and that loyal customers who do not wish to change their finances to have a new credit card are left out in the cold. If you don't think there is a problem with that, I don't know what to tell you, but I think it is the hugest freaking mistake disney has made since, well, at least since Cinderella II. It is certainly not the type of relationship management that they had been promising!

I haven't had much to say about the whole Disney Visa thing. I do have to say that I agree with the good DR.

We have chosen not to apply for this card. We have worked very hard to get RID of credit cards so the last thing I want is another one. Given that the reward points are pitiful and there don't seem to be Disney Club type discounts attached to this card, I can't see getting rid of one of my long term, existing, lower interest rate credit cards for this one.

What does that mean for me as a loyal, long term, Magic Kingdon Club/Disney Club member, DVC owning, multiple trip per year, Disney Store spending, Disney video buying, Disney movie seeing, Disney stock holding consumer/fan/idiot (can't decide which I am at the moment ) . Not much, other than my business isn't all that valued.

Maybe we can start a new transportation analogy..............................because, while I am in car 2 when it comes to Disney and the vacation experience WDW provides, I barely have a grip on the bumper of car 3 when it comes to Disney's relationship management. All I can say is that it is good that I will get one more DC discount on the next round of AP's. After that it will be no more discounts on those....................................and I can only wonder if I will continue to buy them, especially considering that the very real possibility exists that I will spend as much, if not more, time at Universal on our annual, traditionally Disney, December trip.

Guess what, it's been a while since I've communicated with Disney - and I think I will put all of this in an email and shoot it off to them.

 

[dturner]

I just have to put in my two cents on this subject.

Me and DH both applied separately for the Bank One/Disney Visa online the first of March, weeks went by nothing. I called that number and got the same exact message about your application is under review, you will receive a letter within 7-10 days blah, blah, blah, weeks later nothing. Last week I got a rejection letter but still nothing on DH. I'm just assuming that we both were turned down and I've read a lot of posts on numerous Disney websites of people getting turned down when they have good credit. I was dissapointed as I am a very loyal Disney addict (own stock, numerous visits to WDW, blah, blah blah) until last Saturday when I opened my mailbox and found the Universal Visa card. Chase bank offers the Universal Visa and we were approved but not by Bank One? go figure!! I'm just wondering what credit criteria Bank One is using because we have good credit, not too many credit cards, pay ontime and can get one bank Visa but not the other.

 

[mikeymars]

>>The problem is after making such a big deal about enhancing their relationships with their long-term customers, Disney decided to make some quick capital by replacing the disney club with a credit card. This means that Disney allows another company to decide who those loyal customers are, based upon the credit score, and that loyal customers who do not wish to change their finances to have a new credit card are left out in the cold. If you don't think there is a problem with that, I don't know what to tell you, but I think it is the hugest freaking mistake disney has made since, well, at least since Cinderella II. It is certainly not the type of relationship management that they had been promising!
<<

DR, bless you - I couldn't have stated the bottom line of this situation better, particularly your EXCELLENT, right-on-the-money point about Disney letting another company decide who the "valuable" Disney customers are, based not upon their loyalty but solely on their credit score, and just how foolish that is.

If it's O.K. with you, I'd like to share your comment with Disney Management, particularly Dinah Keefe, the VP for Relationship Management and Disney President Robert Iger.

>>but I have to agree with Dean... are you seriously concerned with this? <<

Yes, and read through this whole thread - I'm not alone.

 

[wdwguide]

"they have yet to offer any specials that allow you to earn more than 1 reward dollar/$100 spent as they promised in their sign-up plea"

---

That's true, but they are offering some nice hotel discounts right now, about 40% off.

Atrange thing is my wife got her (secondary) card a couple of weeks ago while mine (who actually applied) still hasn't gotten here yet...

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... I'm reserving my judgement of how good or bad the CC is until after the DC card expires. Look at it this way: People paid $39.00 for DC in order to cash in on the discounts. Now Disney issues it's Visa. If this Visa immediately had the same discounts as DC, wouldn't you as a DC member be upset that suddenly Visa members are getting for free what you had paid $39.00 to obtain ?

I also don't understand all the bashing of Bank 1 because they are stricter with application & approval standards. Isn't that what any responsable lender should be ? People that pay their bills suffer additional expense from deadbeats that don't. Is it in my best interest to have Bank 1 issue cards to just anyone ?

 

[DisneyKidds]

mikey.....................All of a sudden I feel the need to communicate my thoughts about things Disney, including their record on relationship management, with Disney management. It looks like you have the ear of the right group of people. If you wouldn't mind, PM me with the names and addresses of those within Disney that you have corresponded with. Thanks.

 

[DisneyKidds]

That's true, but they are offering some nice hotel discounts right now, about 40% off.

Don't get me going on that. As has been pointed out, access to these discounts is largely being determined by someone other than Disney and is not available to all Disney fans/consumers. It irks me that they are offering such limited availability discounts to those few people who earn Disney a buck by holding the new credit card while they are ignoring Disney AP holders by not offering any AP resort discounts. Disney clearly has lost sight of who is butttering their bread.

You know, we can debate the pros and cons of Disney from a theme park/movie/merchandise perspective till the cows come home and I never come away with a bad feeling about Disney. However, when it come to Disney's relationship management their record and actions make me sick.

 

[mikeymars]

>>I also don't understand all the bashing of Bank 1 because they are stricter with application & approval standards.<<

You're incorrect here. Stricter isn't the sole criteria, it's also how deep they think they can get into your wallet.

You can have excellent credit and STILL be turned down by Bank One. How so? If their proprietary model suggests you won't use their card as much as others in your wallet.

In my case, I strongly suspect I was turned down because I have one -- repeat, one -- credit card with a small line that I really don't use; people who know the Bank One say that is a killer per their formula. Having a card with better "point" benefits -- such as the Amex Rewards Plus -- also hurts your score (because they fear you will use that card more regularly than theirs).

 

[CarolA]

I have a SW rewards card and Delta Amex and I got this card. So much for the multiple reward card theory.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"You're incorrect here. Stricter isn't the sole criteria, it's also how deep they think they can get into your wallet."

I'd don't know how correct this statement is so I won't outright say it's wrong, but it makes very little sense.Wayne Gretzky had a quote that I always liked: "100% of the shots never taken don't go in". If Bank 1 won't issue a card to a person with good credit, then they will make zero profit. After going thru the entire application process,issueing the card doesn't cost that much more then rejecting one. If Bank 1 looked at customers the way you imply they do, then I never would have been issued one because they could see I have cards with lower rates and greater perks.

 

[mikeymars]

>>I have a SW rewards card and Delta Amex and I got this card. So much for the multiple reward card theory.<<

You presume. Per what I've been told by our staff who work with Bank One, the issue isn't just having a reward card, it's what particular reward card as well as how frequentlyand heavily it's used.

>>If Bank 1 won't issue a card to a person with good credit, then they will make zero profit. <<

Revolving credit profitabiity model 101: "good" credit isn't enough; the lender won't make a cent on you if you don't regularly REVOLVE the card.

Bank One (and for that matter any lender) can employ the generic Equifax/Trans Union/whatever reports to measure both level and frequency of revolving by month for the past two years. You may have "good" credit, but if their model assesses your history and senses you're not a potentially heavy revolver, you get a LOW potential profitability score, which hurts your application. This is why many people who have so-called "good" credit history are being turned down by Bank One - the model is predicting these people won't meet some profitability hurdle.

Or stated differently, this whole "relationship management" strategy has absolutely nothing to do with building client loyalty. It's all simply about raising the bottom line of the two marketing partners.