Vanquis Credit Card Refunds in 2025: Could You Be Owed Money?

Imagine making a cup of tea, grabbing the post, opening a statement, and suddenly realizing you’ve been paying for something you never agreed to. The kettle’s whistling, but so is your frustration. Sound familiar? If you’ve ever held a Vanquis credit card, it just might.

For years, Vanquis has courted controversy for practices like mis-selling add-ons and giving credit to people they shouldn’t have—cue the not-so-flattering headlines and a lot of disgruntled customers. Now, fast forward to 2025, and you could be among those eligible for a refund. Yes, even years later, it’s not too late to put things right. 😌

This post will unpack everything you need to know about claiming your Vanquis credit card refund, whether you’ve been a victim of sneaky charges, irresponsible lending, or just plain old bad practices. Ready? Let’s dive in (and maybe get some of that money back where it belongs 💸).

What Went Wrong With Vanquis Credit Cards?

Let’s not sugarcoat it—Vanquis Bank has quite the reputation. They marketed themselves as champions for those with poor credit, offering a chance to rebuild financial health. Sounds noble, right? But behind the facade, things weren’t always so customer-friendly.

The big issues stemmed from two major problems: mis-sold add-ons (hello, hidden fees) and irresponsible lending (aka approving people for credit they likely couldn’t afford). And we’re not talking about a handful of cases here—this went on for years.

The Repayment Option Plan (ROP) Scandal

The star (or villain?) of the show is the Repayment Option Plan, a product Vanquis offered to customers as a way to provide some breathing room if they ran into financial difficulty. But here’s the kicker:

• Many customers claimed they were signed up without proper explanation.
• Others alleged they were pressured into buying it without understanding the cost or benefits.
• And plenty said the fees were so high that any “benefit” came at a laughable expense.

For months—sometimes years—customers were charged for this “flexible” repayment plan, all while scratching their heads when looking at their statements. It was like paying for a gym membership in January only to realize by July you’d never set foot inside the door. 😑

Irresponsible Lending: Ignoring Financial Reality

Then there’s the issue of irresponsible lending. Vanquis wasn’t just about selling repayment plans—they also approved credit cards for people who likely wouldn’t be able to repay them. How? By failing to properly assess whether applicants could afford the credit.

They were quick to approve customers with precarious financial situations—those already swimming in debt or struggling with essentials like rent—and left many people in worse financial shape. Love a comeback story? Not with these tactics.

Are You Eligible for a Vanquis Refund?

Feeling like something’s not adding up with your Vanquis account? You’re not alone, and as of 2025, there’s still time to claim a refund. First, let’s see if you check some eligibility boxes.

Scenarios That Might Apply to You

1. You Didn’t Know You Were Paying for ROP: Were you signed up for a repayment plan you never fully understood or even knew about? If so, ding ding ding—you might have a case.
2. Your Finances Were Never Fully Checked: Did Vanquis approve you without asking for important details like your income, expenses, or other debts? That’s a breach of financial responsibility.
3. You Felt Pressured Into Taking the Credit Card: Hard-to-resist offers or high-pressure sales tactics might seem harmless at face value, but they could indicate coercion.
4. You Struggled With Unclear Fees or Compensation: If there was any confusion around what you were being charged, or if costs were hidden, this could also work in your favor.

How to Claim a Refund in 2025

Claiming a Vanquis refund isn’t rocket science (thankfully 🙏), but it does take a little elbow grease. The process may feel overwhelming at first, but trust me—it’s worth it for the potential payout.

Step 1: Gather Your Evidence

Pull out any old Vanquis statements, agreements, or emails. Look for patterns of charges related to ROP or fees you don’t recall agreeing to. If you feel like Vanquis dropped the ball on affordability checks, try to pinpoint why you believe this to be the case.

Step 2: Contact Vanquis Directly

File a complaint with Vanquis Bank first. Provide as much detail as possible about why you believe you’re owed money—lay it all out. Once you submit your complaint, they have 8 weeks to respond. If they fail to do this or their response isn’t satisfactory, move on to the next step.

Step 3: Seek Help From a Claims Specialist

Yes, you can go it alone—but why would you when expert help is just a step away? Companies like Claims People specialize in handling Vanquis refund claims, making the process seamless for you. They’ll deal with the paperwork, evidence, and even correspondence on your behalf.

Step 4: Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman (If Needed)

Not happy with Vanquis’s response (or their lack thereof)? Don’t stop there. Take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). This organization exists to level the playing field, and their decisions are legally binding. It’s like bringing in the ultimate financial referee. ⚖️

Time Limits for Claims: Don’t Wait Too Long!

In most cases, you’ve got 6 years from when the issue occurred to put a claim in. But—and this is the important bit—if you’ve only recently realized that something was off (e.g., this blog post just gave you an “aha” moment), you’ve got 3 years from that discovery to act.

Moral of the story? Don’t sit on this too long. Time is money—literally. ⏳

Why Fighting Back is Important

Here’s the thing: banks and credit card companies thrive on the idea that most customers won’t raise a fuss. Refunds don’t just happen out of the goodness of their financial hearts—they happen because people demand fairness and accountability.

By filing a claim, you not only stand to recover some of your hard-earned cash, but you’re also sending a strong message that these kinds of practices won’t fly anymore.

Get the Ball Rolling Today

If you think you’ve been wronged by Vanquis Bank, there’s no shame in taking steps to rectify the situation. Whether you prefer to handle it yourself or work with a trusted service like Claims People, the key is starting now.

After all, every day you wait could mean more money staying in someone else’s pocket when it belongs in yours. And if that doesn’t inspire action, I don’t know what will. 💪

Have questions? Curious to share your own story? Drop them below—I’d love to hear how you’re navigating your financial comeback.