These terms and conditions are available in paper form at any time on request. You can request these by calling us on 0151 489 0402, emailing us at info@vacu.org.uk or on our website www.voyageralliance.com
Retail CU is part of Voyager Alliance Credit Union and so referred to as Voyager Alliance in these Terms and Conditions of Membership. Both Retail CU and Voyager Alliance are trading names of Penny Post Credit Union Ltd and part of the Penny Post Group.
Penny Post Credit Union Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Reg No. FRN213680.
Admission to membership of the Retail CU is restricted an individual employed in retail. This is defined as working for a retailer, in retail manufacturing, retail wholesale distribution or in support services for retail. Membership is open to anyone who follows an occupation in the following ‘Minor’ Group of the Office of National Statistics’ Standard Occupational Classification:
119: Managers and Directors in Retail and Wholesale
125: Managers and Proprietors in Other Services
247: Media Professionals
321: Health Associate Professionals
412: Administration
541: Textile and garments trades
542: Printing trades
543: Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades
544: Other skilled trades
622: Hairdressing and related services
711: Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers
712: Sales Related Occupations
713: Sales Supervisors
721: Customer Service Occupations
722: Customer Service Managers and Supervisors
821: Road Transport Drivers
923: Elementary Cleaning Occupations
924: Elementary Security Occupations
925: Elementary Sales Occupations
1. Introduction
1.1 These terms and conditions relate to all Voyager Alliance savings accounts. Please read and keep them in a safe place.
1.2 In addition to these conditions, specific terms and conditions may also apply to some specific Loan Accounts and Savings Accounts. You can view these on our website www.voyageralliance.com or request by calling us on 0151 489 0402 or emailing us at info@vacu.org.uk.
1.3 If we make any changes to these terms and conditions in the future, we will advise you of what these are and the reasons for them.
2. Membership
2.1 A member must hold at least £1 in a Membership Account with the credit union. Each member has voting rights on a ‘one member, one vote’ basis, regardless of how much they hold in shares. Juvenile members are not entitled to vote.
2.2 Your membership will automatically start when you make your first payment and begin to contribute a minimum of £2 per week or £10 per month by payroll deduction if you are employed by an employer listed in our common bond, or by standing order into your account. Members must always have a minimum balance of £1 in their Membership Account.
2.3 We have the discretion to terminate your membership if regular payments into the member account are not maintained.
2.4 You can withdraw your savings at any time. However, if required, the board may request that you provide up to 60 days’ clear notice to withdraw your shareholding. This could take place in the unlikely event of the credit union being unable to meet exceptional member demand.
2.5 If you do not make any transactions on your account for a period of 12 months and you do not respond to our correspondence, your account will become dormant and an annual administration fee of £5.00 will be charged.
2.6 The rules of Voyager Alliance provide further details of membership. A free copy of the rules is available to every member on request.
2.7 Members may leave Voyager Alliance at any time, without penalty, providing no debts are outstanding. All savings accounts will be closed on cancellation of membership. Please note no dividend will be payable upon closure. Please contact us if you wish to close your account.
3. Payment of dividends/interest
3.1 If a surplus has been achieved, the Board of Directors may recommend the rate of dividend payment for agreement by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM is held during the six months following the accounting year end (30th September). There is no guaranteed rate of dividend, or indeed guarantee that a divided will be paid at all.
3.2 Any dividend shall be declared on all full shares held in eligible savings accounts during the preceding year of account. New members joining the credit union will be entitled to a proportional part of the dividend on any shares held for less than the full year of account on every full day of membership. Dividend shall be paid to those in membership of the credit union during the following working week after the date that the dividend is voted on and agreed by the membership at the AGM.
3.3 Interest bearing accounts are not eligible for a dividend and interest shall be set and credited using an agreed policy and procedure established by the Board of Directors.
4. Tax
4.1 Dividends and interest are paid gross of any tax but are not tax free. You must therefore declare your dividends and interest payments on your tax return if applicable. Voyager Alliance Credit Union is under obligation to inform HRMC of any members in receipt of dividend and/or interest above £250. The exception to this is the ISA account, which is tax free.
5. Juvenile accounts at 18
5.1 At the age of 18, we will write to advise that the juvenile account will be converted to that of a full member and that the juvenile will have full control of their account, subject to the provision of suitable identification. Juvenile accounts are not currently available at Voyager Alliance.
6. Statements
6.1 We will make available to you a statement of your savings account at least annually, although a statement can be requested at any time free of charge. Members also have access to view their statements online or via our app.
7. Transactions and payments
7.1 Transactions can be made online, by email or by telephone.
7.2 Withdrawals will be processed by faster payments to your bank account. Cash withdrawals or deposits are not permitted.
7.3 Funds that are paid into the credit union by faster payment will be placed in your Voyager Alliance Account on the same day they are received into our bank account. Funds received via payroll deduction will be credited to accounts as soon as we are in receipt of both the funds and a confirmation list from employers.
7.4 Funds that are paid into the credit union by debit card will be available for you to withdraw after 3 working days.
7.5 Cheque withdrawals or deposits are not permitted.
7.6 Any deposits are subject to money laundering verification.
8. Offset
8.1 We may use the money in your savings account towards payment of any money that you owe us (for example, under a loan) which is due for payment but has not been paid. This is known as our right to offset.
9. Financial Services Compensation Scheme
9.1 Deposits held in Voyager Alliance are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means that your savings are protected by the scheme up to £85,000 per member. For more information about the compensation scheme please visit www.fscs.org.uk.
10. Proof of Identity
10.1 We are required by law to verify the identity and address of all new members who wish to open an account with us and existing members when required. We will usually do this via an electronic identification search however if we are unable to do this for any reason, we will ask you for alternative identification.
11. How we will use your information
11.1 For identity verification we may share personal data with and obtain personal data from TransUnion. More information about TransUnion’s activities can be found in their Privacy Notice https://www.transunion.co.uk/legal/privacy-centre/pc-bureau.
11.2 We may share your information with credit reference agencies for use in credit decisions, for fraud prevention and to pursue debtors.
11.3 Under the data protection legislation you can make a written request for a copy of the records we hold about you, known as a Subject Data Access Request. Please contact us for further details.
11.4 We will ask you when you join the credit union whether you are happy for us to send you information about our own products and services by post, SMS and email. If you change your mind at any time, please let us know.
12. Cancellation
12.1 Under the Distance Marketing Directive, you have the right to cancel your savings account within 14 days of opening without financial or other penalty.
13. Making a complaint
13.1 We aim to resolve any complaints quickly and fairly. If you wish to make a complaint you can contact us by telephone on 0151 489 0402, email info@vacu.org.uk, or in writing to Voyager Alliance, Hyde Road Depot, Ardwick, Manchester M12 6JS. We will always do everything we possibly can to sort out the problem. Should you feel we have not resolved your complaint satisfactory and need to contact the Financial Ombudsman about your complaint please contact them on 0800 023 4567 or on their website www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
14. Language
14.1 All communications between you and us will be in English. If English is not your first language, we will work with using an online translation platform, where possible.
15. Free Life Cover
15.1 Thanks to our Bereavement Fund, all members are automatically provided with Free Life Cover at no extra cost.
15.2 In the event of a member’s death, the fund may be used to increase the balance of savings and clear any outstanding loan balance you may have with us, subject to the terms and conditions which can be found in our Free Life Cover or at www.voyageralliance.com/about/bereavement-fund/.
16. Law
16.1 These terms and conditions are governed by the law of England and Wales.
Loans Terms and Conditions
17. General
17.1 Membership of Voyager Alliance, or completion of a loan application, does not guarantee a loan will be granted.
17.2 Voyager Alliance staff may require additional information to support your application.
17.3 Loan Agreements are subject to approval by our Underwriters.
17.4 Our Underwriters will not enter into discussions about their decisions; their decisions are final and binding.
18. Disclosure of Information
18.1 The information that you provide may be disclosed to a licenced credit agency who will retain a record of the search. This record may be used by other lenders in assessing applications from you and other members of your household, for debt tracing and fraud prevention.
18.2 Information may be shared with other credit unions.
19. Country Court Judgements (CCJs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) Bankruptcy Orders, Trust Deeds, Debt Management Plans and Debt Relief Orders
19.1 Failure to declare any of the above may result in an application being denied on the grounds of non-declaration. Where a member has an IVA, DRO, Debt Management Plan or a Bankruptcy Order, the application will be declined.
20. Declined Loans
20.1 The Underwriters will decline a loan application if, in their opinion, granting the loan would be against the interest of the credit union or the member. They take into consideration; length of membership, savings and loan record, amount requested, a credit reference agency credit report, affordability, current credit union rules and policies and any other information they consider relevant.
20.2 We are not permitted to reveal details of a credit report but will give details of the credit reference agency used.
20.3 The Underwriters will not enter into discussions about their decisions and credit union employees cannot overturn such decisions.
21. Distance Marketing Directive
21.1 Under the distance marketing directive members have the right to cancel a loan agreement within 14 days of signing their contract by calling us on 0151 489 0402 or emailing us at info@vacu.org.uk and returning the money lent.
22. Free Life Cover
22.1 In the event of a member’s death, the fund may be used to increase the balance of savings and clear any outstanding loan balance you may have with us, subject to the terms and conditions which can be found in our Free Life Cover at www.voyageralliance.com/about/bereavement-fund/.
23. Loan Conditions
23.1 Members can only have one loan at any time.
24. Loan Interest
24.1 The Interest on all loans is charged on a daily basis.
25. Early Loan Repayment
25.1 Loans can be partially, or fully repaid, at any time. There are no extra costs or penalties.
26. Loan Repayments
26.1 Loan repayments can be increased if you request to do so.
26.2 In the event of missed loan repayments, savings may be transferred to cover the missing repayment.
26.3 If the credit union is advised of an impending bankruptcy, or suchlike, savings may be used to reduce the outstanding loan balance.
27. Leaving Employment
27.1 If a member is about to leave one of our Payroll Partners it is important that contact is made with Voyager Alliance as soon as possible. This is to prevent any misunderstanding or any resulting recovery action. Arrangements can be made to repay the outstanding loan balance by direct debit.
27.2 Leavers are welcome to remain a member of Voyager Alliance. You can save regularly and borrow by direct debit.
28. Financial Difficulties
28.1 If you find yourself in financial difficulties and have a loan with us, it is important you contact Voyager Alliance as soon as possible. We will do our best to help and support if we can. Further help can also be sought from Citizens Advice.
29. Delinquent Loans
29.1 When loan repayments are missed, a loan becomes delinquent. Every effort will be made to come to a mutual agreement with a member if their loan becomes delinquent.
29.2 Voyager Alliance is obliged to recover delinquent loans. Savings can be used to recover loan repayments.
29.3 If our efforts to come to a mutual agreement fail, further action may be taken. We do take legal action, including applying for County Court Judgements. We will use debt collection companies and solicitors. Costs are added to outstanding loans.
30. Formal Declaration
30.1 When applying for a Voyager Alliance loan, members will be asked to sign a Formal Declaration.