Advice please - MBNA

jwil

Hi all,

I've had a really tight month this month, and when I received my MBNA credit card statement, I only had enough to pay half the minimum amount. So I paid this (knowing that I would get charged the £12 late fee and a mark on my credit file) but also knowing that I would have enough to pay the rest later this month.

I received one call from them, which I wasn't available to speak to them, and at the weekend, sent a cheque for the outstanding amount, plus a little extra.

Anyway, yesterday, I got home to a message on the answerphone from RMA, who I had no idea who they were, or what they wanted. But then when I opened my post, there was a letter from them saying that they were a collections department working on behalf of MBNA and they were looking to recover the outstanding amount.

I am really angry about this, as I thought I was supposed to be informed if MBNA were passing my account on to a collections company? Am I right in thinking that?

I phoned RMA, and told them I had made the payment, and complained to them that I hadn't been informed, and the adviser did agree that I should have been told about this.

I know I have broken the contract on my account, and probably should have informed them, but this seems a little extreme to me!

I've never missed a payment with them before (though I do have a late payment from several months ago), and I always pay over the minimum. My payment was due on the 4th, so I am nearly 3 weeks late, and the letter from RMA was dated 14th, which was my new statement date. There was a note on my statement that I must pay the outstanding amount immediately or they may take legal action, but no other mention that it was passed to someone else.

I would just like to know really, do I have grounds for a complaint to MBNA on this basis? Or should I just accept it, because I did do wrong?

Thanks in advance for any advice
Jwil

Nessa56

jwil wrote: »

Hi all,

I've had a really tight month this month, and when I received my MBNA credit card statement, I only had enough to pay half the minimum amount. So I paid this (knowing that I would get charged the £12 late fee and a mark on my credit file) but also knowing that I would have enough to pay the rest later this month.

I received one call from them, which I wasn't available to speak to them, and at the weekend, sent a cheque for the outstanding amount, plus a little extra.

Anyway, yesterday, I got home to a message on the answerphone from RMA, who I had no idea who they were, or what they wanted. But then when I opened my post, there was a letter from them saying that they were a collections department working on behalf of MBNA and they were looking to recover the outstanding amount.

I am really angry about this, as I thought I was supposed to be informed if MBNA were passing my account on to a collections company? Am I right in thinking that?

I phoned RMA, and told them I had made the payment, and complained to them that I hadn't been informed, and the adviser did agree that I should have been told about this.

I know I have broken the contract on my account, and probably should have informed them, but this seems a little extreme to me!

I've never missed a payment with them before (though I do have a late payment from several months ago), and I always pay over the minimum. My payment was due on the 4th, so I am nearly 3 weeks late, and the letter from RMA was dated 14th, which was my new statement date. There was a note on my statement that I must pay the outstanding amount immediately or they may take legal action, but no other mention that it was passed to someone else.

I would just like to know really, do I have grounds for a complaint to MBNA on this basis? Or should I just accept it, because I did do wrong?

Thanks in advance for any advice
Jwil

Just bumping this up, I unfortunately am not sure if you do have a basis for complaint, but I am sure somebody here will be able to help

good luck

v

x

beginner52

Nessa56 wrote: »

Just bumping this up, I unfortunately am not sure if you do have a basis for complaint, but I am sure somebody here will be able to help

good luck

v

x

I too have had the same experience but only missed a payment of £25!! I received a card from RMA saying they would be contacting me on a certain date. They phoned the day before and I must admit they were quite polite and helpful :rotfl:when I told them I had written to Virgin explaining my circumstances and a possible repayment plan then referred me back to MBNA, haven't heard anything since.

jwil

beginner52 wrote: »

I too have had the same experience but only missed a payment of £25!! I received a card from RMA saying they would be contacting me on a certain date. They phoned the day before and I must admit they were quite polite and helpful :rotfl:when I told them I had written to Virgin explaining my circumstances and a possible repayment plan then referred me back to MBNA, haven't heard anything since.

Thanks both for your replies :beer:

They were quite polite to me too considering I was ranting at them :rolleyes:, though I was trying to establish whether they were actually part of MBNA or not, and that took a long time as they were quite cagey about it.

I've checked my credit report and it is showing as clear up until the 13th of September, so I'll see what it says next month, and then I guess I'll decide.

GeorgeUK

They should definately not be passing you on to a debt collector after 1 late payment - it wasn't even a missed payment, just late.

I would write a letter of complaint asking why you were not notified that you account had been passed to a 3rd party and what the official company policy is on late payments.

jwil

GeorgeUK wrote: »

They should definately not be passing you on to a debt collector after 1 late payment - it wasn't even a missed payment, just late.

I would write a letter of complaint asking why you were not notified that you account had been passed to a 3rd party and what the official company policy is on late payments.

Thanks GeorgeUK, I think I will write to them. It made me so angry. I know I have a lot of debt, but touch wood so far, apart from the couple of late payments, I've been managing it and keeping my credit reports reasonably clear, with the biggest problem being the amount of credit I have, not how I've managed it. I hope to try and keep it this way, and fingers crossed, things will be a bit better after this month, so I shouldn't be in the same position again.

I mainly wasn't sure if they'd laugh in my face for trying to make a complaint (though I'm sure they will probably try to!)

Jwil