V A N Q U I S

sharpy2010

jasonwatkins wrote: »

it's only £100 quid limit so i wouldn't like to lose it but at the moment i don't think i've got a choice

£100 limit and you can't afford the minimum payment?

Pay that card as quickly as possible, get rid of it, and don't get yourself any more credit.

You'll thank me for this advice in the long run.

SnowTiger

sharpy2010 wrote: »

£100 limit and you can't afford the minimum payment?

I think it's minimum payment plus charges for going over limit, etc.

Can't imagine it's any more than a week's JSA in total, though.

It's frightening to think that some people here in the UK live so close to the edge.

jasonwatkins

SnowTiger wrote: »

How much over limit are you on the Vanquis card? And what are the charges?

The minimum payment showing on the account is £28 quid, but I was told by 3 of the 8 people I spoke to yesterday that the actual payment required to bring the account back within the balance is actually £55 quid. The charge was £12 quid.

To be fair, if i look at what happened with the phonecall yesterday and the sheer number of people I was bounced to, it could be entirely possible that someone has given me some duff information somewhere along the way.

custardy wrote: »

can you pay your electric by credit card?

No. I don't have another one.

mellonicoley wrote: »

When is the electricity bill due?

Within a few weeks, but as I get my ESA fortnightly, I have another week to wait to get paid again and that'll be the first installment. Two weeks after that will be the 2nd half. As well as all my other outgoings e.t.c..

I can't pay out any lump sums up front without my other outgoings taking a hit which then puts me behind with them.

sharpy2010 wrote: »

£100 limit and you can't afford the minimum payment?

If it had been the same as last month, I very likely could have afforded it.

sharpy2010 wrote: »

You'll thank me for this advice in the long run.

Highly doubtful.

SnowTiger wrote: »

It's frightening to think that some people here in the UK live so close to the edge.

It's not something I planned to have happen because I'd been managing just fine until now. This has all been piled on all at the same time and this has what has put me in this situation.

If it had been around £10 quid I could have paid it.

What makes it all the more frustrating is that in about 3 weeks I will be getting enough money to clear the £100 quid balance anyway. If they keep piling charges on until then though, the money i'll be getting would likely just pay them off and leave me back at square one again.

I'm going to ring them again tomorrow and hopefully i'll get through to someone in the UK and I'll make a point of asking to speak to someone in collections and only in collections. I can't afford to spend another 40 minutes on the phone and be bounced all over the place again.

custardy

how is the minimum payment £28 with a £12 charge?
my card is at £170,with a minimum payment of about £8

I meant pay the leccy with the Vanquis card,not another card

Simon7685

jasonwatkins wrote: »

i'm certainly not even going to entertain defaulting on an electric bill.

:eek::eek:THIS IS SCARY!:eek::eek:

If you are late paying your electric bill, then it is hardly likely that they would ruch round to cut you off. At worst, assuming it is a credit account, i.e you get a bill every 3 months, then they would likely record a late payment on your credit file. Although if you ring them I would imagine they eould be prepared to give you more time to pay.

If you default the card, it is a SIX YEAR penalty to your credit file!! Surely if you are going to not pay one of them on a temporary basis it has to be the electric bill? Or as suggested buy your self some time, clear your vanquis card and then use it to pay part of your electric bill.

SnowTiger

jasonwatkins wrote: »

The minimum payment showing on the account is £28 quid, but I was told by 3 of the 8 people I spoke to yesterday that the actual payment required to bring the account back within the balance is actually £55 quid. The charge was £12 quid.

To be fair, if i look at what happened with the phonecall yesterday and the sheer number of people I was bounced to, it could be entirely possible that someone has given me some duff information somewhere along the way.

I'd guess (and that's all it is) that you could get away with paying £28 this month and the other charges will appear on your next statement.

jasonwatkins wrote: »

I'm going to ring them again tomorrow and hopefully i'll get through to someone in the UK and I'll make a point of asking to speak to someone in collections and only in collections. I can't afford to spend another 40 minutes on the phone and be bounced all over the place again.

I thought all Vanquis' customer service reps were in the UK. There's list of free and 01 type numbers listed on the Say No To 0870 website. Just do a company search on Vanquis. I can't suggest which number to call because they keep disabling them, but I managed to get through on an 0800 number a couple of weeks ago.

SnowTiger

custardy wrote: »

how is the minimum payment £28 with a £12 charge?
my card is at £170,with a minimum payment of about £8

Not quite sure how anyone manages to rack up a high balance on a Vanquis card. Not that the OP has a high balance.

I tried to pay for my new PC using my card recently -the purchase was just under £600 but didn't go through so I used another card. Then I discovered the card was rejected everywhere I tried to use it.

I called Vanquis and was told they'd blocked it as a security measure. It's not the first time they've done this. They appear to like customers who spend little and often.

custardy

SnowTiger wrote: »

Not quite sure how anyone manages to rack up a high balance on a Vanquis card. Not that the OP has a high balance.

I tried to pay for my new PC using my card recently -the purchase was just under £600 but didn't go through so I used another card. Then I discovered the card was rejected everywhere I tried to use it.

I called Vanquis and was told they'd blocked it as a security measure. It's not the first time they've done this. They appear to like customers who spend little and often.

I just use it for odds and sods through the month,then pay it off
generally £150-£180

only_mee

Yeah i use mine in the month, amount varies, then pay it all off

jasonwatkins

custardy wrote: »

how is the minimum payment £28 with a £12 charge?
my card is at £170,with a minimum payment of about £8

This is what has confused me. Last month the minimum payment was a tenner and that was with about £12 or £13 quid available on the card to spend. From what I understand though, interest has been applied on top, which has pushed it up.

I need to clarify this tomorrow though.

Simon7685 wrote: »

If you are late paying your electric bill, then it is hardly likely that they would ruch round to cut you off

I'm aware of that.

In a perfect world, the idea about putting the money for the electric bill onto the vanquis card would actually work, and is a good idea, but as i'm paying it in two instalments, on top of my other outgoings, it wouldn't be enough.

And anyway, if any outstanding amount on the electric then gets moved on to the next bill, then that becomes more than i can afford.

SnowTiger wrote: »

I'd guess (and that's all it is) that you could get away with paying £28 this month and the other charges will appear on your next statement

In principle that could also work, but if they then piled more charges on top, i'd be forever catching up without ever getting it back below the limit.

I also can't believe I didn't think of saynoto0870 - i always bloody use that site .. DOH!

I appreciate everyone's responses very much but I think i'm going to ring them back tomorrow and see what i can do. I'm definitely getting this extra money in a few weeks, although it's not like i could provide them with any paperwork or anything to prove that, but maybe if i can assure them I'll get it, they might be willing to be a bit flexible.