What payment modes does the Cetelem card have?
Two: end of month, charged on the last working day of the month with no interest, or revolving credit, where you pay a monthly instalment with interest.
On revolving, the Cetelem credit card has a 21.70% TIN and a 23.99% APR (TAE), according to its page. Its transparency document gives a TIN range of 14.88% to 21.70%, and an APR range of 15.94% to 23.99%.
The minimum instalment is 3.70% of your “highest credit line drawn”, or €9 if that’s less. That line is the most you’ve ever owed since you opened the card, not what you owe today. So your minimum instalment doesn’t fall as your debt does.
Why raise the instalment?
Because the more you pay each month, the sooner you finish and the less interest you pay. Cetelem’s document on the consequences of revolving credit shows it with €1,500:
| Instalment | Months to finish | Interest |
|---|---|---|
| 3.70% (the minimum) | 38 | €583.62 |
| 5% | 26 | €383.06 |
| 7% | 17 | €254.67 |
How do I change the payment mode or the instalment?
In the app or the Espacio Cliente, from the cards menu, or by phone. Cetelem says you can change it whenever you like, as often as you like, at no cost and straight away.
- App: Tarjetas > Operativas > Cambiar modo de pago, to move from revolving to end of month or the other way.
- App: Tarjetas > Operativas > Cambiar cuota, to raise or lower the monthly instalment, always above the minimum.
- Espacio Cliente on the web: Tarjetas > Operaciones de tarjeta > Cambiar modo de pago.
- Phone: 917 909 790 or 900 505 969.
Cetelem doesn’t say by which day you have to ask for the change to apply to the next bill. It says it settles the card balance between the 25th of one month and the 25th of the next, and presents the bill for payment between the 1st and the 5th of each month.
How do I make an extra payment?
In the app: Tarjetas, Operativas, Amortizar deuda. You choose whether to pay off part or all of the debt and confirm it. Cetelem says it charges nothing for paying off debt early, in part or in full.
- Open the Cetelem app.
- Go to Tarjetas > Operativas > Amortizar deuda. In the Espacio Cliente on the web it’s Tarjetas > Operaciones de tarjeta > Amortización de deuda.
- Choose full or partial repayment, enter the amount and confirm.
Cetelem doesn’t say how it collects the extra payment or when it’s applied to the debt, so ask before you count on it.
Don’t pick the wrong option. At Cetelem, “Ingreso en cuenta” or “Enviar dinero a mi cuenta” moves money from your card to your bank account. That adds to your debt and, according to its FAQ, has a 5.5% fee with a €5 minimum.
The law gives you the right to repay early, in part or in full, at any time.
How is what I pay applied?
According to Cetelem’s FAQ, first to interest, then to what you owe and last to fees and costs.
Cetelem also lets you defer a monthly instalment, at most twice a year and not in a row, once you’ve paid four instalments on time. Bear in mind that deferring an instalment makes the debt last longer.
How do I stop using the revolving credit?
Switch to end of month so new purchases don’t earn interest, switch the card off in the app, or cancel it by calling 91 790 97 90 or in the app.
- End of month. Change it in Tarjetas > Operativas > Cambiar modo de pago.
- Switch the card off. In the app, under Tarjetas, change its status to Apagar.
- Cancel. Call 91 790 97 90 or do it in the app, under Tarjetas > Cancelar tarjeta.
Cetelem doesn’t publish whether cancelling the card closes the credit contract or how you then repay what’s left, so ask when you cancel.
What information can I ask for?
Cetelem says it sends you information on your credit every quarter, and that you can see it in the Espacio Cliente and the app. You can also ask for the information the revolving credit rules provide for, which it gives you within five working days at most, through its form or on 900 505 969.
According to Banco de España, that information includes your payment history and an amortisation table, and it’s free.
Where do I complain?
First to Cetelem’s customer service. It has a month to reply, or 15 working days for a payment service. If it doesn’t reply or you disagree, you can complain to Banco de España.
- Email: [email protected]
- Post: Banco Cetelem, S.A.U., Servicio de Atención al Cliente, Quejas y Reclamaciones, paseo de los Melancólicos 14 A, 28005 Madrid.
- Phone: 917 909 790 or 900 505 969, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 21:00 and Saturdays 9:00 to 18:00.