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This page contains answers to many common questions about your Post Office Credit Card, as well as questions about credit generally.
Common credit card questions
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About credit
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About our credit card
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Security, lost cards and forgotten PINs
About credit
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Well, to put it simply, credit is an arrangement where you buy goods or services now but you agree to pay later. Credit comes in many different shapes and sizes including mortgages, loans, overdrafts and credit cards. In most cases, you'll have to pay an agreed amount back every month with interest. Whatever credit you choose, it's important to keep up with your monthly repayments.
Our credit card could help you build your credit score. As long as you always make your monthly payments on time and stay within your credit limit your credit score will improve. Not doing so could harm it.
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A credit limit is the maximum amount that you can owe on a credit card. Your spending (including balance transfers and cash withdrawals) and any charges, interest or fees that are added must not exceed this credit limit. If it does, you may be charged an overlimit fee.
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QuickCheck is a free and easy-to-use tool to check your eligibility for a credit card before you apply. You answer a few questions and then, within 60 seconds, you’ll get a guaranteed "yes" or "no" before you apply. This is a great way to find out whether you can get credit without impacting your credit rating, as it uses what’s known as a "soft search check" and can’t be seen on your credit report by anyone other than you and the credit reference agency who provide your score. So it won’t be visible to any other lenders or anyone else you’re applying to.
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In order to apply for a Post Office Credit Card, you need to be at least 18 years old and live in the UK. You will also need to have a few bits of information to hand. This will include your addresses for the previous two years, details about your employment and income, and any other credit cards you have if you want to transfer your balance. Find out more about applying for a credit card.
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Yes, you can access your credit file through these credit reference agencies. They are responsible for collecting and looking after the data in your credit history.
Be aware that credit agencies charge for this service.
Credit agencies to contact:
Experian
TransUnion
EquifaxIf any information in your credit file is wrong, you should contact the credit reference agencies directly.
About our credit card
Getting started
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You can use your credit card anywhere that accepts Mastercard® (providing you’ve got an eligible card).
You can also withdraw cash but be aware that there are fees associated with doing so – be sure you understand these before going to a cash point. -
If you’ve been accepted straight away then we’ll tell you that. The same goes if you’ve been declined. But some applications take longer to consider and, in those cases, we’ll be in touch within 7-10 business days with details.
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From the date you are accepted it will take between 7-10 working days before you will have your credit card.
Your PIN will arrive first and separately from your credit card.
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A balance transfer credit card lets you move an existing balance from one credit card to another. They usually come with lower interest rates than regular credit cards, and can offer 0% interest for a fixed number of months when you first get the card.
Our credit card can be a way to make a balance transfer and can help you save money and pay your balance off sooner, because a lower interest rate means you’ll pay back more of what you actually owe. Especially if you can pay off your balance before the 0% interest offer ends.
Just make sure to always pay at least the minimum payment each month to keep your account up to date. And if you can pay more than the minimum, that’s even better as it’ll help you clear your balance quicker. But lenders need to know that you’ll repay what you owe in a way that you can afford.
Card features and management
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You can register to view your card and your Credit Card status online. Once you’ve got your credit card, you can set up your online servicing very simply.
You can also access and manage your credit card account with the Capital One mobile app for iPhone or Android devices.
You can do the following both online and with the app:
- See your balance and how much you have available to spend
- See your latest transactions
- Check how much you need to pay and when
- Make a payment to your credit card
- View your PIN(app only)
- Freeze and unfreeze your card (app only)
- Request a replacement card(app only)
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You won’t be able to cancel your card using your online servicing account or the Capital One app as we need to run through a few details.
So if you want to close your account, please give us a call and we’ll take you through all the steps.
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When you take a cash out of a hole in the wall, there’s a fee of £3 or 3% of the value of the withdrawal (whichever is the larger sum). Once the withdrawal appears on your account, we’ll charge you interest at your cash rate.
Cash advance fees are not limited to cash withdrawals at cashpoints. Cash advance fees also apply to other transactions such as gambling websites, buying foreign currency at a bureau de change and cash withdrawals when abroad.
Credit cards and cash can seem a little complex, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions of your credit agreement very closely.
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An extra cardholder is someone you allow to use a second card on your account. Usually they'll be your partner or a member of your family. But you still have sole responsibility for all spending and payments on your account. This includes those made by all your extra cardholders.
Security, lost cards and forgotten PINs
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A one-time password is a security measure to ensure it’s definitely you who’s making a transaction. We’ll send you a text or give you an automated call to give you a unique code to use.
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If you’ve got the credit card app, you can get a reminder of your PIN. You’ll need to enter the CVV code from the back of your card – so it’s a good idea to memorise this too!
If you don’t have the app or want to contact us directly, you can send us a secure message on your online servicing and we’ll send a reminder by post. This will take 3-5 business days – so if you need your PIN in a hurry, the quickest way of getting a reminder is to install the app.
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You’ll want to act as soon as you discover that your card has been lost or stolen, and the quickest way to report this is by using the Capital One app. Once you’ve opened it, the ‘My Card’ area will show you the link to follow.
You can also call us. This is also a quick way to report your missing card.
Don’t use the secure messaging service on the app or online portal as it can take our customer service representatives as long as 2 working days to respond.
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Some purchases are protected. Credit cards can offer financial protection for the things you buy, under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Purchases on your credit card from £100 to £30,000 are protected. If something goes wrong, you may be able to make a claim to either your supplier or your credit card provider.
Mastercard® offers extra protection. This means you may be asked for more information when using your card online. You're automatically registered for these services when you receive your credit card.
- Other sections:
- About credit
- About our credit card
- Security, lost cards and forgotten PINs
Manage your account online
Log in online
You can perform a range of tasks using the online service such as checking your balance and transactions and talking to us.
Call about your Post Office Credit Card
The team at our partner, Capital One, are ready to help.
Call on: 0344 481 0902
Monday to Friday: 7am – 9pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 8am – 5pm
Lines operate as normal on bank holidays
Call charges: calls to 03 numbers will cost no more than calling a standard geographic number starting with 01 or 02 from your fixed line or mobile and may be included in your call package dependent on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes.
