Halifax withdrawing 0% promotion

jamessmith99

Hi there,

I missed a payment by a couple of days on my Halifax 0% interest credit card. I managed to get the late charge removed over the phone, but the bank is withdrawing the 0% interest promotion. I checked and they said nobody has the power to reverse this, including a manager. Is it worth me going into a branch to check for sure - would staff in store be able to do more than over the phone? It was not mentioned when I signed up, but presumably it's in the T+Cs?

If I can't get the 0% back would it be worth me trying to get another 0% card (from a different bank) and transferring over the balance? My credit history was good when I checked it on Experian a while ago, and when I spoke to Halifax they said this late payment hasn't been "sent off" or "marked against me". So will it be marked against my credit at some point, and will it therefore be worth me applying sooner rather than later?

I really can't afford to pay interest on this balance, so I need to get this sorted ASAP! I had about six months remaining of the 0% interest period before this happened. Thanks very much for any advice you can give me.

latecomer

why dont you read the T+Cs that you got with the card? It will state that they reserve the right to withdraw promotional rates if you miss any payment deadlines. If they wont reverse it then the best bet is to try for another 0% card provided your credit rating is good. Its probably worth checking your credit report to make sure everything is ok before you start applying.

Robert_Sterling_3

Why did you miss a payment by a couple of days.
You should operate a Direct Debit which takes the minimum amount required each month.

Another useful tip ... Read the terms & Conditions.

jamessmith99

latecomer wrote: »

why dont you read the T+Cs that you got with the card? It will state that they reserve the right to withdraw promotional rates if you miss any payment deadlines. If they wont reverse it then the best bet is to try for another 0% card provided your credit rating is good. Its probably worth checking your credit report to make sure everything is ok before you start applying.

Thanks for your reply. Since I have previously opened an account on the free trial with Experian and closed it, would it be possible for me to check my report again?

Robert_Sterling wrote: »

Why did you miss a payment by a couple of days.
You should operate a Direct Debit which takes the minimum amount required each month.

Another useful tip ... Read the terms & Conditions.

I appreciate your comments, but my missing a payment was a mistake and that is not what I wished to discuss here. I only wish to know how to proceed and rectify the situation.

anotherpaul_2

jamessmith99 wrote: »

I missed a payment by a couple of days on my Halifax 0% interest credit card. I managed to get the late charge removed over the phone, but the bank is withdrawing the 0% interest promotion. I checked and they said nobody has the power to reverse this, including a manager. Is it worth me going into a branch to check for sure - would staff in store be able to do more than over the phone? It was not mentioned when I signed up, but presumably it's in the T+Cs?

Write a letter to their complaints address. If they can't or won't reinstate it, you've probably had it. They generally have more options than most of the people you'll get on the phone.

Unfortunately, the mistake is yours and they are within their rights to remove the offer, so it's a case of appologising, explaining and asking nicely. You might get lucky.

anotherpaul_2

jamessmith99 wrote: »

Since I have previously opened an account on the free trial with Experian and closed it, would it be possible for me to check my report again?

You can always pay £2 for a statutory report if you can't get another free access. There's a link to it on their website, though it may not be very easy to spot.