News 2000
Two of the best from People's Bank and Virgin Mobile
01/09/2000
Partnership leads to money saving deal on the latest WAP phone for new Platinum card customers
Talk is cheap - and so is spending - thanks to a new double savings deal being offered jointly by People's Bank and Virgin Mobile, which combines the latest technology with old fashioned value for money.
Customers taking out a People's Bank Platinum credit card can take advantage of an introductory rate of just 4.9% (APR) for both balance transfers and purchases, as well as an exclusive money saving deal on the latest WAP enabled phone.
New Platinum card holders qualify for £50 off Virgin Mobile's new Siemens M35i, which currently retails at £119.99. And once you are connected to Virgin Mobile, all you pay for is the calls - there are no monthly fees, no line rental, no service charges and no call vouchers that expire over time - calls cost just 15p a minute for the first 5 minutes of use each day and then 5p thereafter for standard UK calls at any time.
Virgin's WAP enabled phone features Virgin Recommends a no-hassle, easy-to-use WAP portal, with best of British content. The Virgin Recommends service lets customers gain easy access to news, information and e-commerce from six content categories: travel, entertainment, sport, shopping, finance and a personal section - 'more'.
Far from combining for a one-off promotion, the special offer marks the start of a long-term partnership between the two companies and is the first time People's Bank has joined forces with another company.
This partnership is an important step for both People's Bank and Virgin Mobile, and we are delighted to have joined forces to provide this catch-free money-saving customer incentive," said Jan Stefanowicz, Managing Director of People's Bank.
"With so many similarities between our two companies - in particular our shared commitment to providing straightforward, low-cost services - we are ideally positioned to work together in the future in order to provide real and lasting value to all our customers".
"We are very excited by this link up with People's Bank combining the offer of a great value phone service with a great credit card to consumers." Said Graeme Hutchinson Virgin Mobile's sales director.
Virgin Mobile customers also have access to the Virgin Xtras service which offers a wide range of additional services including money off travel and holidays, electrical goods and the latest CDs and videos when ordering direct from their mobile phone.
People's Bank Platinum cardholders too benefit from a number of valuable extras, including free travel accident insurance of up to £250,000 and up to 56 days' interest-free credit on purchases.
For more information call 0800 072 4143. Lines are open from 8am to 10pm seven days a week.
Notes to editors:
New Platinum card holders offers an introductory rate of 4.9% for the first five months, 16.9% thereafter. There is no annual fee, up to £250,000 free travel accident travel insurance and up to 56 days' interest-free credit on purchases.
New customers will receive a discount voucher entitling them to £50 off Virgin Mobile's Siemens M35i WAP enabled mobile phone. Currently retailing at £119.99 this phone is available at £69.99 with this exclusive discount. Alternatively, customers can opt for a discount of £30 off a standard Virgin's Philips Savvy DB mobile phone. Currently retailing at £39.99, this is available exclusively at £9.99. Customers will receive a discount voucher for their chosen phone with their new Platinum card along with full details of how to place their order.
Connection to the Virgin Mobile network costs £12.50 which includes £10 worth of airtime.
About People's Bank
Established in Connecticut, USA, in 1842, People's Bank is a highly successful consumer and commercial banking operation with assets of more than US$13 billion. People's Bank launched its UK operation in 1996 and now has more than 250,000 customers throughout the country who benefit from its range of competitive credit cards and personal loans.
People's Bank also operates a number of affinity cards for other organisations and charities including the highly successful Little Red Card for Comic Relief, which has so far raised more than £100,000 for community projects in Africa and the UK.
About Virgin MobileVirgin Mobile was established as the UK's first virtual operator in November 1999 as a 50:50 joint venture between Virgin and Deutsche Telekom's One 2 One. It is the fastest-growing mobile start-up ever seen in the UK, with in excess of 350,000 customers. Virgin Mobile phones are available direct on 0845 6000 600 on the web at www.virgin.com/mobile and also in over 300 Virgin Megastores and Our Price stores.
For more information, please contact:
People's Bank:
Shakila Ahmed or Duncan Hart
Marketing Communications Manager Lansons Communications
Tel: 01604 666062 Tel: 020 7490 8828
Virgin Mobile:
Alison Bonny
Press officer
Tel: 0207 484 4323
Mobile: 07941 371484
