The Consumers' Association of Ireland
43-44 Chelmsford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: (01) 497 8600, Fax: (01) 497 8601
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| It has come to our attention that the HQGiftFlex Maestro PrePaid Gift Card, on sale in Dundrum Shopping Centre, provides in its Schedule of Fees for a monthly ‘Card Maintenance’ fee of €3.00.
The terms and conditions state that: ‘If you were not charged an issuance fee at the time of purchase of the card, then this fee is deducted from the second month after the card was purchased and until the card balance reaches zero’. IN ADDITION
Rather than continue to lose monthly ‘card maintenance fees’, if the consumer opts to transfer the balance remaining on the card then there is a ‘Closure at Your Request’ fee of ………………………….€15! “This, in the opinion of the Consumers’ Association of Ireland, represents perhaps the single worst example of blatant, unashamed fleecing of the consumer” CEO Dermott Jewell said. “Of interest is that this is not a rip-off born in Ireland or solely directed at Irish consumers but is a UK product issued through Newcastle Building Society under licence from MasterCard. However, it is of small consolation that we have fellow rip-offee’s in other jurisdictions” he added. The advice of Caveat Emptor was written for just this occasion. Buyer Beware! This is not a Choice Buy but rather reflects one of Dermott Jewell
Consumers’ Association of Ireland : 01 – 497 8600 43-44 Chelmsford Road, Ranelagh Dublin 6. |
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