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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for a card?

UK residents aged 18 years and over and over with a UK bank or building society account. You will need to provide a landline telephone number for home or work and have a regular source of income through full-time or part-time employment of more than 16 hours per week (this can be you or your partner), or be a student, retired or on incapacity benefit. Finally, you need to have a clean credit history, ie, no arrears, defaults, County Court Judgements (CCJs), bankruptcies or Individual Volumtary Agreements (IVAs).

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Is applying online secure?

Yes. Our application process uses industry standard security protocols and 128 bit SSL encryption. This prevents your personal details from being viewed by anyone else.

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How long will it take to complete the application?

An application takes about 10 minutes to complete. It's best to have all the information you need to hand. This is listed under the "Simple to Apply" link.

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How long will it take to get a decision?

Every application is reviewed individually to ensure we approve as many applications as possible. You should expect to hear from us within 7 to 10 days after you submit your application to us.

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What happens if I partially complete an application?

We will not store any of your personal details unless you click "submit" at the end of the application process.

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Does the card have an annual fee?

The current fee is £0 (variable)

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What are the APRs for the card?

Please see the Summary Information link on Step 1 of the application process for details of the full range of APRs for the card.

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Can I have an additional cardholder on my account?

Yes. You can select the option to have an additional cardholder at Step 1 of the application process. Once you have received your credit agreement, you must ensure the additional cardholder signs it in the appropriate section before returning it to us.

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Can I use my card online?

Yes. Just look out for the MasterCard name or symbol in the payment options.

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How will I know how much I owe?

You'll be sent statements regularly through the post detailing the transactions you've made on your MasterCard and when your bill is due to be paid.

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What happens if I don't pay my account in full each month?

After making the minimum repayment on your account, it is up to you to decide on how much more to pay. Any balance that's unpaid will be carried forward and will show on next month's statement along with any interest that's accrued.

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Will I be able to use my card as soon as it arrives?

For security, you will first need to sign the back of the card and then activate it by calling us on the number shown on your card.

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Where can I use my card?

At over 24 million outlets worldwide. In fact, anywhere you see the MasterCard sign.

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Can I withdraw cash using my card?

Yes. You can withdraw cash from any ATM that displays the MasterCard sign both in the UK and abroad. Please see the terms and conditions for the charges payable.

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What do I do if I lose my card?

Call 0800 783 5881 immediately from the UK or +44 121 702 4542 from abroad.

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What is the minimum monthly payment I need to make?

Please see the Summary Information link on Step 1 of the application process for details.

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How long will it be before I am charged interest?

Depending on when you make your purchase and your statement date, you can have up to 50 days without paying interest.

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How do I make payments on my card account?

You have a number of choices. By bank giro, by cheque using the payment envelope we will send you with your statement, by Maestro (Switch) card over the telephone, and telephone or internet banking through your bank.

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Can I opt out of receiving marketing?

Yes. Simply tick the appropriate box on Step 5 of the application process when you apply. You can also write to us at any time at

Sygma Bank UK, Equipoint, Coventry Road, Yardley, Birmingham B25 8FE

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Do I need a particular internet browser to apply online?

Our online application process has been optimised to work with the most popular internet browsers - Internet Explorer version 5.5 or newer and Firefox version 1.0 or newer.

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