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IC launch new Platinum card

Aug 16 2002 12:20

Charlie Brown

New affinity credit card launched as part of fundraising drive.

The new IC platinum card. 0% on balance transfer for 6 months.

Imperial College's Alumni Relations and Development Department has launched a new "Plantinum" credit card for IC alumni. The card is intended to be a revamped replacement for the old IC Affinity Card. The card is operated by HFC bank who will donate £10 to the Imperial College Hardship Fund when an account is opened - with further contributions every time the card is used.

The Imperial College Hardship Fund was set up to provide funding awards to students in financial difficulties allowing them to complete their studies. The previous affinity card scheme raised £100,000 for the Fund and it is hoped that the new scheme will be able to improve on that.

The Card is also hoped to strengthen Imperial's brand. After all, people carrying cards with a big "IC" on should improve recognition - particularly apt given the number of graduates who work in the financial sector.

While not aimed at students, your correspondent wonders whether the card will be open to them. After all, the 0% balance transfer rate could come in handy.

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Discussion about “IC launch new Platinum card”

The comments below are unmoderated submissions by Live! readers. The Editor accepts no liability for their content, nor for any offence caused by them. Any complaints should be directed to the Editor.

1. Andy Heeps

Aug 16 2002 12:39

"IC"? What is this "IC"? I only recognise "Imperial College, London".

Oh dear. This really is a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, isn't it?

Fuckwits.

2. yt

Aug 16 2002 17:56

Can current students apply for one?

3. Sunil

Aug 18 2002 01:07

Judging by the ridiculous number of applications for platinum cards I get in the post every week from all manner of banks, I am sure by extrapolation that pretty much every student would be eligible for one.

[I have a modest student loan and a credit card with a credit limit under a grand. And no bank balance to speak of.]

4. Stuart Davis

Aug 19 2002 14:09

Well, at least Imperial is keeping up its standards by enlisting the services of a company so reputable in its american homeland:

http://www.acorn.org/acorn10/household/press2002/cam.htm

5. idris

Aug 20 2002 13:11

More like the right wrist not knowing what the right hand is doing.

6. Charlie Brown

Sep 10 2002 00:31

I have received the following email from IC alumni relations:

----Original Message-----

As the contact in the Office of Alumni and Development for the Imperial College Affinity Card, I am writing in response to the article and subsequent discussion currently posted on cgcu.net website.

I feel that I must clarify that the Imperial College Platinum MasterCard is not available to students. A pre-requisite for a HFC Affinity cardholder is that the applicant must be in full time employment, and hence the card is not promoted to the student body, although its existence, as you rightly point out in your article, directly benefits students via the Imperial College Hardship Fund. I would appreciate it if you could clarify this point in the article posted.

The card is, however, available to all graduates and staff of Imperial, and there will be some presence from HFC at Commemoration Day this year to promote the card to the graduating students of 2002.

With regard to the card design, a new card, which will incorporate Imperial College London, will go into production at the end of the year, to coincide with the launch of the branding exercise. Unfortunately, the current card was designed before the full extent of the exercise had been developed.

I very much appreciate you bringing the card to the attention of your readers, and am interested to read the responses that have been posted so far. Hopefully this will pre-empt some applications from future graduates. However, I feel that it is rather important that your readers are made aware that students cannot apply!

Thanks and best wishes

Liz

Liz Gregson

Office of Alumni and Development

303 Sherfield Building

Imperial College of Science, Technology & Medicine

London

SW7 2AZ

Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 6140

Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 6128

www.alumni.ic.ac.uk

Closedd This discussion is closed.