RBS credit card repayment time

Nemonie

I recently received a £12 charge for repaying my credit card late. I knew this was incorrect as I had paid in branch, with cash before 3.30pm on the day before the amount was due. I normally pay via internet banking, usually about 5 working days before it is due but have been forgetful lately.
I have paid in this manner before for several other cards, sometimes even on the due day and never had a problem with the funds reaching the account in time, so I rang up RBS to query this charge.
The unhelpful person on the phone stated that even though I had paid in branch with cash, the money would still take two working days to get to my account. I have been unable to find my terms and conditions for the credit card, or find any mention of this on the website.

Has anyone else come across this problem before, and should I put in a claim for the money? (as I could reasonably expect the money to have reached the account in time for the due day)

Moggles_2

The time required is shown on your monthly statements. You should allow up to 4 working days (depending on your method of payment) for the funds to be credited to your RBS credit card account

I normally pay via internet banking, usually about 5 working days before it is due, but have been forgetful lately.

Might be an idea to set up a direct debit to pay the minimum amount. That way, it's RBS's responsibility, not yours, to make sure the monthly repayments get there on time

fozmcfc

As someone who deals with customers, I do hate it when you are branded unhelpful because you tell the customer something they don't want to hear, even if it is the truth and it's their fault.

I too have been late with payments in the past, but accept that yes I have paid it too late, if it happens to reach the account in time then it's a bonus, if it doesn't then I accept it's my fault.

I personally would never expect a payment to clear with a day or even less.

The only thing RBS could possibly do, is be kind and
if it's your first missed payment ever, as a gesture of goodwill, refund you.

look_after_the_pennies

Hi Nemonie,

I've had this problem before with RBS but have found that they refunded the £12 automatically without my intervention after seeing I had made a payment. If you have online banking, it is worth checking to see if they have refunded this charge.

lisyloo

The person on the phone was correct and not unhelpful.
There is a clearance time for cash however bizzarre that sounds.
It's YOUR responsibility to make sure cleared funds reach the account in time.
If you don't know the clearance time of a particualar method of payment then either allow plenty or ASK.
Don't blame the preson on the phone who gave you the correct answer albeit one you didn't like.
I must admit I find it bizzarre that cash needs clearance, but I understand it's my responsibility to get the payment there on time.

Degenerate

lisyloo wrote: »

The person on the phone was correct and not unhelpful.
There is a clearance time for cash however bizzarre that sounds.

No there isn't, not if it was paid in over the counter at an RBS branch. There may be a period of time, let's call it the "we're utter b*stards that like to rip off our customers period", which they add before crediting the cash to the account, but it isn't a clearance time.

Twister84

Looks like someone's got a chip on their shoulders...

Degenerate wrote: »

No there isn't, not if it was paid in over the counter at an RBS branch. There may be a period of time, let's call it the "we're utter b*stards that like to rip off our customers period", which they add before crediting the cash to the account, but it isn't a clearance time.

Because RBS are the only ones who charge for late payments and don't remind you on your statement every month, that you need to give cash up to 4 working days to clear.

Yeah, it's all RBS's fault, even though the customer admitted that they'd been forgetful and paid in the day before the bill was due.


Anyway, in reference to the OP, remember that there are other ways to pay aswell, such as using a switch card. Also, rather than doing a Faster Payment into the account, use the "Pay RBS Credit Card" link to pay it - as far as I know, it's much quicker.


Oh, and Degenerate, I didn't mean to "Thank you" but you can keep it seeing as though I'm a nice person.

normanmark

From my experience Cash never counts as cleared payment for some cards, usually because the branches have to write a cheque for the credit card company (same name, different company logistically).

Best way to prevent any issue like this is to set up a direct debit like someone said or to pay 7 working days ahead.

jonesMUFCforever

If you pay by cash or cheque or luncheon vouchers - if you pay using a paper statement at a bank then check BEFORE how many days in advance you need to pay the bill.
It matters not one jot if you pay by cash or cheque but a piece of paper that you pay in today goes in an overnight bag tonight to be processed tomorrow if same bank or 3-4 days if another bank.

CannyJock

The retail banking branches and the credit card departments might operate under the same brand, but they're distinctly different entities in my experience.

Although you pay the cash in at a branch, it still has to be transferred to your credit card account and time allowed to clear.

You just need to chalk it up to experience, setup the minimum payment DD to make sure it doesn't happen again, and ask them nicely for a refund of the charge - you've got a good case so long as you ask them without losing your head.

Twister84

Twister84 wrote: »

....rather than doing a Faster Payment into the account, use the "Pay RBS Credit Card" link to pay it - as far as I know, it's much quicker.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that this is assuming that you have an account with RBS, with online banking facilities.