Shell Mastercard (citibank) Review

Overall Rating

-1% Cashback on purchases and 3% on petrol
-No long queues when calling

-Website is a bit confusing
-Can't make bill payment through website
-Application takes ages to process

In general I am very happy with Shell Mastercard. I moved back to the UK after staying in Singapore for 10 years and had no bank account, credit cards or credit history in the UK for this time. This card was one of the only ones that would accept me having been back in the country for only 2 months and working for only one month since back. They offer you to enter overseas addresses for you past addresses during the application which is very good. Others didn't have this option which makes it impossible to apply if you just moved back from overseas. They also gave me a decent credit limit (unlike Barclays with their 260 quid limit) although I have applied in the middle of the sub-prime crisis. Okay the interest rate is very high but then again I just want to cash back as I don't buy things if I don't have the cash.

After my online application I received a letter asking me for a bank statement which I sent promptly. Then it took about 1.5 months until I heard from them again (too long if you ask me). Now I have the card and have been using it for the past three months and had no problems so far.

The people in the call centre are okay although I didn't really have to ask them any difficult questions yet. The queue is never very long (if you call before 8am you are served instantly). I am a bit disappointed with their website though. You can not make payments through your debit card like with other banks. They offer you to set up a direct debit but only for the minimum amount payable every month. I believe if you call the call centre though they can set it up for the full balance. In general though the website is a bit confusing. I can see my current balance, my available limit but somehow the two don't add up. Oh right, pending transactions are not displayed (not even a total amount of pending transactions). I haven't used the card for the last two weeks and still there must be pending transactions of over 500 quid.

To get back to paying your bill I found the simplest ways to be through internet banking using BACS which takes about a week though or through your debit card by calling there service hotline which is a 0870 number. Fortunately I found the geographical number which is 02071580929. Calling this number you will first need to dial four (all other enquiries) and then ask the operator to put you through to the automated payment system. Rubbish if you ask me. There should be option 5 to be connected straight to the system.

All in all though I love the card and can only recommend it. Cashback is a good thing and people should always take advantage of it.

Members' Comments onGuest's Review

• zyphery on 23rd Dec 2008

  yes! I agreed! Citibank credit card online service is awful! I can only set up direct debit by calling the customer service centre. Then I was sent a paper form for me to confirm the detail and sign then send it back to them. Is just too much paper works involved.
  Worst things is I travel outside the country for 2 months and I got to make sure I pay all remaining balance before I leave the country and don't even think about using the card when I travel. The reason why was because they don't have online payment service using debit card like other credit card company. This is absolutely terrible for 21 century! unacceptable! I got to write the cheque and post it with the envelope provided (without stamp).
  Definitely not a good credit card to use if you're always like to use online service for payment and everything.