Advice Regarding Payment Issue

Mookster_2

Hi all,

I hope this is the correct place for the following query.

I have a Capital One World Mastercard (the one that gives 1% payback). In line with the advice on this site, I have always paid off the full amount each month.

On Sunday, 3rd January, I made a purchase on the card for c. £850.

On Saturday, 9th January, the full amount was refunded to the card by the shop.

In the intervening week, my statement was issued for a total of c. £1350, to be paid by the 22nd January

My current balance is c. £550.

Capital One tell me that I must pay the full £1350 to avoid any charges on my account. Is this correct? It seems ludicrous that I must pay more than my total balance.

Any advice received gratefully.

Cheers,

M

td_007

This is a trap frequently used when people do not pay off the full amount and CC companies do not consider refunds as "payments". Just call them up and pay over phone to clear "outstanding balance" on your card. The automated billing system might generate a charge in your next statement, but this can easily be claimed.
The other alternative is to payment the statement balance and ask cap one to refund the excess amount on your card.

Mookster_2

Thanks for the advice.

These Romans are crazy!

Mookster_2

Okay, this gets sillier and sillier.

I tried to make the full payment and their online system refused to accept it informing me that, "The payment amount must be greater than £1 and less than your Total Current Balance."

So I telephoned.

They refused to take payment too, claiming that I couldn't pay more than my current balance.

Compare this to the message they sent me, "Please note that the refund of £863.94 has not reduced the balance on your January 2010 statement because it was received after your January 2010 statement was produced. However, I can confirm that the refund of £863.94 will reduce the balance on your February 2010 statement. Therefore, you'll need to make a payment of £1351.09 to avoid any interest being charged to your account."

So, they are demanding that I pay the full amount but will not let me.

I really don't know what to do.

CannyJock

You can make a payment from your online banking - this will "push" the payment onto them rather than them having to "pull" the payment from their side.

I'd also phone them and ask them to confirm explicitly whether or not you actually need to make a payment as they seem unwilling to accept one Take a note of the name of the person, their team number, the date and time of the call.

Mookster_2

Thanks for your response.

I shlepped into the bank this morning and paid the full amount over the counter. If only there was another CC company (non-Amex) that paid 1% cashback without a fee, I could cancel the card in disgust!