Mbna

ivy2409 · 22 January 2010 at 9:29AM

Apologies if this is in the wrong place, I could do with some advise about what to do next:

I am in quite a lot of debt, £9500 of it is with MBNA about 6 months ago I started a payment plan with them for £280 a month (still more than I can afford but they threatened me with legal action if I didnt agree) As I was having trouble with my own bank for the first month I paid cash at the bank, for the next 3 I paid my mum the cash and MBNA took it from her account, In December I finally got my new bank account with Natwest so phoned MBNA to give them the details and to tell them to take the money on the last working day of the month, they said this was okay except as it was Christmas this payment would go out on the 23rd Dec but all future payments would be on the date I asked for. Yesterday I checked my online balance with Natwest and MBNA have taken the £280, this has put me £159 overdrawn. I had an agreement with natwest that if I managed my account well and never went OD up until March they would give me a loan to cover my debts. Now because of MBNA i'm really worried they wont do this, I phoned MBNA and explained all of this and they have offered to put the money back in my account but it probably wont clear until Monday and they've charged me £25 for doing it as a rush:mad: What the heck am I supposed to do until Monday with no money, i'm supposed to get the food shopping tonight:( Also Natwest have said they will charge me for going overdrawn even though its not my fault. Does anyone have any ideas what I can do? Can I claim the charges back and maybe get compensation after all because of MBNA's mistake I am now well and truely screwed as I was relying on that loan to get me out of a very bad mess and it looks like my family will be eating toast this weekend:(

squack · 22 January 2010 at 10:10AM

oh dear. well its hardly their fault you got in so much debt in the first place is it

they have been good enough to set up a payment plan which i assume means they arent getting much interest on the money they lent you

toast is delicious and nutritious and it is not the fault of mbna that your family will be eating it this weekend

some of those haitians would kill for a piece of hot buttered toast with jam or marmalade on it at this precise moment
:money:

pmduk · 22 January 2010 at 10:46AM

I'm sorry but it appears that you have made an agreement to pay on a certain date and now don't like the fact that you have paid on that date. I really can't see how this is MBNA's fault.

jackieglasgow · 22 January 2010 at 11:16AM

Am I the only person who saw that MBNA took the money about one week too early?

Spartacus_Mills · 22 January 2010 at 11:29AM

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Am I the only person who saw that MBNA took the money about one week too early?

First of all the OP is trying to clear their debts rather than running from them so the comment about them running up debt is not helpful. They are not taking the option of BR. Let's cut the OP some slack.
What I would suggest to the OP is to speak to your bank and let them know what happened, get them to send you a letter detailing the charges you incurred and forward it to MBNA with a request they pay this to you. I do not think you deserve compensation but neither do I think you deserve to be out of pocket when you are being diligent and trying to tackle the debt you have. I have had something similar happen with MBNA in the past (not with a debt but just a regular payment) and they were very fair about it.

I also meant to thank Jackieglasgow instead of Squack - d'oh !!

squack · 22 January 2010 at 12:35PM

ha ha well i just thanked you back spartacus so that makes us even lol

pmduk · 22 January 2010 at 1:55PM

I didn't pick that up, if a DD has been taken early then the OP should exercise the DD guarantee at her bank.

fluffnutter · 22 January 2010 at 2:39PM

Ivy, I assume you're referring to January's payment which was taken early, despite your agreement with MBNA to take the money on the last day of the month (which incidentally is a Sunday, so I assume the payment should have been taken on the 1st Feb).

This has made you go overdrawn, because you'd not had time to make sure there was enough money in the bank.

If this is the case, then of course MBNA should resolve this and reimburse any charges you've incurred (including their own). Do you have anything in writing confirming the expected payment date, or was this on the phone only? It's easier if you do, but all is not lost if you don't; most calls are recorded and you should be able to get a transcript of the call if need be.

Contact MBNA again, in writing, explaining the situation and list the charges you'd like them to refund. Send a copy to your own bank. I would also approach Natwest today to ask for help with your most immediate problem - money for food this weekend. If they're insistent about charging you, include these costs in your letter to MBNA. An ex gratia payment may be appropriate to compensate for your distress, but I'd concentrate in the first instance on your most pressing problems - no money in the bank and charges that appear unreasonable given the circs.

You should be commended for trying to resolve your debt problems; keep reiterating to your bank the efforts you've been making. And make sure you confirm with MBNA that payments for February and beyond will be taken on the last day of the month. Get this in writing!

If none of this works, approaching the press could help. Most weekend papers have a consumer advice column, I know of Jessica Investigates in The Telegraph and Capital Letters in The Guardian. These are usually for intractable problems that have been running on unsuccessfully for some time and I have every faith that yours will be more straightforward but it's worth a try if this drags on. Alternatively you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman. But write first to both MBNA and Natwest. Good luck.

ivy2409 · 22 January 2010 at 2:41PM

Thankyou to those who did indeed read that MBNA took the money from my account 9 days earlier than the agreed date. Fluffnutter thanks for the good advice. I will write to both MBNA and Natwest and hopfully Natwest will realise it was not my fault and honour the verbal agreement we had over the consolidation loan. It drives me mad that I'm trying so hard to get everything paid off and these banks just dont care. Lloyds managed to loose £260 pound of mine back in June and i'm still waiting for them to find that!

biscit · 22 January 2010 at 4:56PM

If the normal payment day is on a Sunday or public holiday, the payment can come forward, particularly if it's for credit. 9 days though, that's ridiculous.

fluffnutter · 22 January 2010 at 5:10PM

biscit wrote: »

If the normal payment day is on a Sunday or public holiday, the payment can come forward, particularly if it's for credit. 9 days though, that's ridiculous.

I thought payments from an individual's account were taken the next working day, and payments to an individual's account (e.g. salary) were credited the working day before but I could be wrong...

Agree with biscit though. The working/non-working day thing's not the issue. MBNA doesn't appear to have recorded the fact that it's supposed to be the last day of the month.

Get stuff in writing...

Mbna

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