Overlimit Fees

lee__48

I know we shouldn't do it, but someone I know went over their credit limit on their NatWest credit card - only by a few quid, nothing serious! The statement came with the overlimit charge which was paid off in full before the due date. Next months statement shows another overlimit charge! Strange, since no transactions occured that month!

After waiting on hold for 45, 20, 10 and 5 minutes (four separate phone calls at different times of day!) the customer service advisor said that if, when your statement comes and the balance is over the limit you will be charged twice - once for going over your limit, and again for still being over you limit when your statement was produced.

Apparently, it states this in their terms and conditions and is common amongst other credit card providers. Scary.

Managed to get one of the charges, no compensation for the £7 it would have cost to phone them if I hadn't found a "free using mobile phone minutes" number from saynoto0870.com.

Anyone else experienced this?

Lee

Rafter

Yeah - it is quite common.

Basically you get charged twice for the same offense.

If you are over your limit any time during a month, regardless of whether you are below your limit on the statement date, some card companies will charge you.

So if someone is over their limit the day before their statement is produced and still overlimit a few days after their statement is produced, they will be charged two fees - sneaky eh!

R.

Penny-Pincher!!

Hey

I never use to read the T&C's but now when I apply for anything or looking into anything I always read them to make sure what Im fully going to be taking on.

You are very lucky that they part refunded you!

Live and learn!

PP
xx

Caped_Avenger

lee__48 wrote:

no compensation for the £7 it would have cost to phone them if I hadn't found a "free using mobile phone minutes" number from saynoto0870.com.

Maybe i'm playing devil's advocate, but why should they compensate you for calling up to beg for charges back that have been incurred as a customer error?

Robert_Sterling_3

It would be OK for them to charge you if the call was completed in, for example, 5 minutes but unreasonable to charge you £7.
In my humble opinion.

Caped_Avenger

Ah, but they're not charging you, your telecom provider is.

zar

This has just happened on my husband's Natwest card. :mad: It was partly my fault, as I told him to spend on the card instead of his debit card as we have been moving money between our bank and savings accounts etc so was trying to help cash flow. He did as he was told, but unfortunately bought fuel oil on it for £200 which took a few days to show on the statement, and then 4 smaller transactions went through after this which put him over his limit (which is only £700 for some reason - HSBC increased mine to £1900 even though I hardly ever use it!).

The worst bit was the timing - right before the statement date. So even though we paid the whole card off straight away (I check the balance online every couple of days) the payment didn't clear until 2 days after the statement date (from a natwest current account - amazing how long it takes to transfer money between suposedly the same company). Was miffed about the first £18, but put it down to experience - teach us to leave a much bigger buffer to the credit limit, and also to remember its only £700 (I kept thinking it was 900 for some reason)! Its only money after all and we did make a mistake. Not :money: but there you go.

Not happy at all about the second £18 though. Being over the limit by £28 for 4 days cost £36. Think I will try writing a letter of complaint and threaten to close the card - if they gave us the second £18 as one of them goodwill gestures may keep it, otherwise either get him a new one or a second card on mine so at least we won't get anywhere near the credit limit in one month! The terms on natwest's card seem to get worse every time they bring out new t&cs, more complicated and worse for the cardholder, I've read them and still get confused by them. As far as I understand them now they can charge interest on new purchases as soon as you make them if you haven't paid your last bill in full and on time - I haven't tested this as always pay it in full/on time just in case. :rolleyes:

dchurch24

https://www.bankchargeshell.co.uk

I know it's aimed primeraly at banking charges, but the principles and case law apply to credit cards too.

I personally have had all charges from a Smile credit card returned in this way.

Stonk

Caped_Avenger wrote:

no compensation for the £7 it would have cost to phone them if I hadn't found a "free using mobile phone minutes" number from saynoto0870.com

Maybe they would have refunded it, IF YOU HAD ACTUALLY INCURRED THE EXPENSE! You make it clear that you didn't even incur the expense - you used your free minutes. Cost to you: zilcho. Why on earth should they refund you for an expense you did not pay?

It amazes me sometimes the things people seem to believe they should get compensation for.