Cruise.co.uk introduces direct debit plan

Cruise.co.uk introduces direct debit plan

Move follows Thomas Cook’s direct debit and zero deposit schemes Continue reading

Cruise.co.uk introduces direct debit scheme to help customers spread holiday cost

Online cruise retailer cruise.co.uk has brought in a direct debit plan to give its customers the option of spreading the cost of paying for their holidays.

The move follows high street retailer Thomas Cook’s launch of a direct debit scheme with a zero deposit earlier this year.

Retailers are looking to offset the impact of January’s ban on credit card charges that were outlawed under new EU rules prompting a significant shift to credit card payments.

Cruise.co.uk’s direct debit scheme has been created in partnership with GoCardless, a financial services firm that specialises in the collection of recurring payments.

Monthly payments are linked to a low deposit and cruise.co.uk claims to be one of the first cruise companies to offer an interest-free payment plan with zero fees for its customers.

Customers booking pay on average around £4,500 and book nine months in advance, but that can be up to two years.

When booking the cruise the cruise.co.uk customer will be given the option select the date of the month that the direct debit is taken and can match the timing of payment with convenient dates, such as payday.

Customers pay no more than they would with a debit card, no surcharges are applied, and they pay by regular instalments, covered by a direct debit guarantee.

Steve Bacon, chief financial officer of cruise.co.uk, said: “Holidays are generally the biggest spend of the year for our customers and we are always trying to think of new ways we can help them.

“By partnering with GoCardless we’re offering our customers an easy, fee-free way to spread the cost of their holiday”.

Cruise.co.uk will not charge any interest on the monthly instalments and says the scheme basically reverses the process of saving up first with a holiday savings account then paying for it at once.