"Beeline": "crimson" Raiffeisen Bank and the quiet demise of the project VISA-beebonus

From late November the site bonus program "Malina" suddenly blossomed advertising a new partner - from December this year, Raiffeisen offers its customers a program to get credit card bank. And vice versa: Order in the Raiffeisen credit card "Malina" automatically becomes a member of the same name of the program. Immediately arose foreboding about the fate of a joint project VISA-beebonus ("Archive" and "Rosbank"). Premonitions, unfortunately, is not deceived: widely advertised an expensive project lasted less than two and a half years. However, first things first.

For the first time enough information about the project, "Malina" was published on our website on April 7 this year. After a brilliant but brief campaign in early summer, the project continued to exist without much ado. Billboard advertisements in the streets of Moscow and brought the side effect: after 10 days after the appearance of posters sharply intensified competitive project Mnogo.ru, which in itself is not bad too.

With the parameters of Raiffeisenbank offers can be found here. Current card-banking offer very different from the "dead" VISA-beebonus Rosbank. VISA Rosbank was promised almost all subscribers of Beeline, who wish to obtain this card. True, not everyone was offered a full VISA-Classic with a credit limit, many of which are usually issued estimated VISA-Electron. Another weighty advantage Rosbankovskoy VISA-beebonus - specially designed for this card terms of service and lending. On something the bank has saved - for example, closed web-access to account management - but does not charge an annual account maintenance fee, the card was lying and asked not to eat "(900 rubles, Raiffeisenbank). "Crimson" Raiffeisenbank's credit card is issued on the general terms and not much different from other card products of the bank, the main difference - in the bonus points for every purchase (except for cash withdrawal at ATMs). The bonus account is charged 20 points for every spent full 200 rubles - a lot or a little? I had to look in "rewards" and compare the "price" on a scale with weighted average prices price.ru. The example of several DECT-phones real cost of one point was 10.09 cents, ie, taking into account the 200-ruble rounding, we can assume that the program "Malina Raiffeisenbank transfers to the bonus account 0,8-1,0% of the amount spent. Of course, only a very rough (use samples of products is small and homogeneous), but give at least a general idea of ​​the amount of remuneration. Now the phrase "20 bonus for every spent 200 rubles" no longer is fascinating and you can safely go into the interest rates, maintenance costs, and other important details.

VISA-beebonus: "Was there a boy?

Frankly, a good understanding Beeline in his quest to forget about this project as a nightmare. The official launch of the project took place July 1, 2004 (we wrote about this), after which experts still two months struggling with recalcitrant machinery, trying to get at least to accept payments. On this we also wrote. In September, seems to work, but the system of calculating and processing bonus behaved like a naughty girl. Guess what, when, and whether all were credited with unrealistic: coveted bonuses could fall to the account a few days after the transaction, could materialize in a few months or to dissolve into the wilds of the system. A couple of weeks, "sorry, the system is temporarily not working" does not count, routine. Reached anecdotal situations where the girl from the speakers with a deep sigh interested in: "And how much do you think you should have been assessed bonuses?" We are all better. " Not to mention all sorts of minor problems such as plainly and without earning a voice interface. To solidify the impression that you are an active beta tester of the crude product. All of these "irregularities" we have not written - tired, and in 2005 there was a clear trend towards improvement. Around the beginning of the year, the system behaved in general good, but ... "once the doctor said in a mortuary - it means a morgue!"

So what we have in the bottom line? Beeline to phasing of the project decided to say nothing, why do people spoil New Year party? Instead of the pages describing the project boasted a "Error 404". The only reference found to the news from December 1, 2004, but with this news page link to a description leads to emptiness. There are still dedicated to this program, a short reference number 0604423, but when I try to call we will hear a cheerful "incorrectly dialed." Could at least out of politeness to write something like "The program is closed, no longer here, and call on the site are not looking." Customer Service Department is confident that the program works and will work, but the staff point of contact for all news to hear the latest - so it is something we know well.

In the current situation very well behaved Rosbank, although about ten days ago the question was still pending. A quote from the recently published "obituary":

"We regret to inform you that the project VISA-beebonus stops and the validity of credit cards VISA-beebonus expires on 31 December 2006. (P.6.9 Rules of the issuance and use of bank cards VISA-beebonus (hereinafter the Rules)). On that date, the bonus program for clients of the network provider Beeline will not work.

Simultaneously, we inform you that all card holders VISA-beebonus, use the card within the last 6 months, and have no outstanding obligations to the Bank, will receive an offer from the Bank to issue new bank cards Visa Classic / Electron with the existing terms of credit , the list and the commission, acting before the tariff plan for bank cards VISA-beebonus. Please note that the lack of bank card holders of the Bank will be issued personal cards. "In other words, the bank decided to keep all the previous conditions, including the free service card accounts. According to the contact center, to re-register the contract on the same terms no certificates do not need to collect enough personal presence of the card holder with a passport. The full text of news reports can be found here.

Finally, we correct the past mistake. "Preserving the old credit terms" - it's good, but the "Conditions" carefully removed from the site Rosbank and Beeline. Especially for those who wish to continue the relationship with the financial institution to publish the full text of the Rules of card usage and tariffs. At the same time reminded that failure to return card VISA-beebonus to the bank during the first five working days of January may lead to fines of $ 10 USD