Response from HBOS re: Balance Transfer Fee

Manchester_Lucy

So, my OH applied for a Harley Davidson card after reading the following in an MSE email:

"The top players are a bunch of affinity and charity cards, underwritten by Halifax Bank of Scotland. The following cards all offer 9 months 0% on balance transfers and purchases (spending on the card), with no fee during the introductory offer: Great Ormond Street, Guide Dogs, Harley Davidson, Macmillan Cancer Relief, Mencap, NSPCC, RNID, The Scout Association."

etc, etc. You'll all be familiar with this as it's on the site still.

However, we received this letter from HBOS Customer Services this morning:

"Thank you for your recent communication.

Please be advised we do not hold any literature stating that we have waived our 2% BT fee. Please contact Martin Lewis regarding this query as we have charged a 2% fee on Balance Transfers since May last year."

He'll be taking any further 'advice' on financial matters from this site with a pinch, no, a skipful, of salt from now on.

Either someone's incorrect or someone's lying. Plus that's a needless credit search on his record now for a card he doesn't want to transfer to or use.

GlennTheBaker

My OH applied for and has received a Guide Dogs card from the same stable. The T&C's that accompanied it stated that a 2% balance transfer fee would be charged on all BT's except those at a promotional rate when the account was first opened. She has done a BT and has not been charged a BT fee.

grumbler

Confirmation of fees free charity cards
Charity Cards - BTF

galileo

I'm afraid you must take ultimate responsibility for your own actions. Even if Martin is wrong, and I have never known this to be the case, the site and his advice is covered by a disclaimer.