VISA-beebonus: look a gift horse in the mouth

Rosbank "together with VimpelCom offered free to all subscribers of Beeline credit card VISA - beebonus. By the way, we do not make a reservation: credit card really, not a debit, what has recently been 99% "credit" cards in Russia. Furthermore: servicing VISA - beebonus too absolutely free so even for the purchase of any bank pay extra bonus kartovladeltsu! With difficulty unyav a desire to escape to Rosbank for the card (yet give no change of heart), at least for the order decided to look more closely at the attraction of unprecedented generosity.

Project History

At first glance it may seem that Rosbank started a total "sighting" Beeline subscribers in the light of recent developments in the banking sector - are still alive in the memory of the many advertisements "Sodbiznesbanka, akkurat appeared shortly before ... Well, do not let the bad news. With VISA - beebonus situation is different: the project was worked and agreed to more than one month, technical and administrative problems had more than enough. For VimpelCom, the program certainly expensive, although the investments are supposed to be "repulsed" by improving customer loyalty. Plus, it is possible slight increase in ARPU due to the deceptive ease of paying bills with an empty wallet in his pocket (bank lending). It is also important that the program is creeping Beebonus (not to be confused with Beebonus -15!) Gets an extra incentive push that this program is needed ... oh, how Rosbank apparently hopes to increase its customer base, plus potential income from the mass consumer lending. Should one occur - such projects in Russia was not yet a real market reaction to forecast the impossible, one can only speculate. The current surge of public interest in consumer lending makes banks and businesses will actively seek out and work through a variety of solutions, let's see what this course will result a new project. Information about the program on the site BeeLine look here

What is offered

First of all - actually the map of international payment system VISA. You can select one of three options: VISA-beebonus Classic, VISA-beebonus Electron, VISA-beebonus Electron absence. Version of the Classic - a full nominal credit card with magnetic stripe and embossed characters, it can be used in electronic readers, and in the mechanical rolling typewriters, for hotel reservations, etc. Electron version is only for operations with the help of electronic reading devices (which are now the overwhelming majority), including cash withdrawals at ATMs. VISA-beebonus Electron "absence" does not contain the owner name (just signed), but is issued in the bank not in five days, immediately after completing the application. Credit cards are, ie allow for cost overruns in excess of the amount of money in the account (overdraft) with the subsequent return of the loan amount + interest. Each card is tied to the phone number BeeLine and upon payment of accounts (balance replenishment) of this issue by removing the money from the card account owner VISA - beebonus credited to an account in BeeLine a bonus of 3% of the payment. When making any purchases with the card VISA-beebonus (including overseas), the owner is charged 0.3% of the payment to the bonus account at Beeline.Map VISA-beebonus integrated into the existing system Beebonus when buying goods / services in commercial participants subscribers of Beeline will get a bonus of 2-5% (on average) of the purchase price. Full list of participants can be found here.

Pros and cons for subscribers

Let's start with the positive, the benefit of a lot of positive

• Free credit card VISA-beebonus and free service account. Many banks issue cards for free, but subject to the availability account at this bank, and with such a card is usually available only part of the sum in the account. The average price of registration card is $ 10-20, the cost of servicing the account - about $ 15-20 per year.
• All the benefits of international payment cards VISA in Russia and abroad
• A bonus of 3% if paid communication services BeeLine, 2-5% (on average) when paying for goods / services in commercial-program participants, 0,3% in the commission of any purchases
• Always available credit without any clearance certificates / papers (overdraft), which may be particularly the way when traveling abroad
• A small, but still benefit if you make purchases abroad: the lack of unavoidable losses in exchange rubles for foreign currency
• Ease of deposit / payment account BeeLine - directly from the phone or via the Internet (Beeoffice); application form for registration cards in the payment system BeeLine can be found here (pdf-file 125 KB)
• Program VISA - beebonus Beebonus -15 and operate simultaneously, ie making a bonus payment
• with the card subscriber receives 15 +3 = 18% bonus accruals
• Ability to make purchases on the Internet

Inconvenience and potential trouble

• Money on the card account is actually frozen, Rosbank pay ridiculous 0.1% per annum on the deposit - in twenty (!) Times smaller than that paid by the owners of the same accounts Savings and ten times less than the clients get the usual card bills itself Rosbank . Presumably, this side of the coin free service card account
• Credit is cheap: 24% within the agreed maximum loan amount and 36% - on the overdraft in excess of that amount (3% of loan amount per month). There is another non-obvious ambush: for the next billing period after lending at least 10% of the total loan must be returned, otherwise the interest rate on the unpaid amount increases to 72% per annum. In the contract it all painted, but all I have to read those boring multipage documents, and reading - remember?
• Pay for services right from your phone or via Beeoffice only for his rigidly attached to the card contract (exception - a few rooms at the general's personal account). In principle, nobody forbids to pay for other facilities through ATMs, terminals, etc., but a three-percent bonus in this case will not be. Very unpleasant: one TA contract and a few biplyushek "in the family - is a common situation. And given the fact that VimpelCom himself and abolished most of its contractual TP, this restriction does not look very nice - no matter what technical difficulties may have caused such an approach
• Cash from an ATM Rosbank - 0,8% of the amount (VISA - beebonus Electron - 0,5%), the ATM "foreign" banks - 1% in foreign currency (cash machine in another country) - 1,3%
• The system of SMS-notification of each transaction card account in Rosbank not provided
• Map VISA - beebonus issued only to subscribers of Beeline - Individuals
• Have to remember another PIN - scratching it with a pin on the card is strictly contraindicated

Prospects

On the topic of the results of running the project and plans for the next spoke with Alex Mikhailikov, head of service loyalty.And though the title sounds wildly, but to communicate with Alex was a pleasure. Program VISA - beebonus is in full "the first swallow and the pilot project of its kind, nothing like that in Russia has not yet been done. The system is fully automated, when buying goods in a shop-party programs Beebonus in principle, can anyone even nothing to prevent, enough to pay off card VISA-beebonus (although alert and take special check will not interfere). Instant impact - especially financial - of the program is not expected, but overall it's moving in the right direction. Alex agreed that the 0.3% bonus on the amount of any purchase - rather a psychological "pleasantness," but recalled the fairly long list of program partners Beebonus. For example, a network of supermarket "Paterson", more than 150 centers, "The Messenger" and many others in which the bonus accrual of up to 10% of the purchase price. What is important - the program will evaluate the changes in the behavior of customers, who get rid of worries about the availability of sufficient funds in his personal account at Beeline.

Summary

Map VISA-beebonus is certainly a useful addition to the SIM-card Beeline. More than three-percent bonus does not happen, and the possibility of rapid replenishment of the balance at any time of day can not but rejoice. As a convenience store significant amounts of money, this card - not the best choice, as would Rosbank may try to convince us otherwise. However, as a "strategic reserve" (especially when traveling abroad) is quite good and appreciated. And those of us who have not yet had a case closely acquainted with "plastic money" free gain valuable experience.

Help Mobile-Review:

To get acquainted with all parameters the card account VISA - beebonus here (site Rosbank)

The application form for this card, we take here (pdf-file 202 KB), filled in block letters the statement should be attributed to any of the 56 offices Rosbank and Bank First O.V.K. " in Moscow. A list of offices can be found at www.rosbank.ru