Catalogue administration charges

Sue_Hoyle

I have a couple of catalogues which I can also access online or make payments online. However, if I make a late payment they charge between £15-£20 for administration/late payment charges for sending a reminder via the post (often with advertising junk). Does anyone know whether I can do anything about these charges, which are on top of any interest charges! Ta!

kforshaw

Without sounding harsh, and this isn't meant facetiously - pay on time.

Charges; unwanted and pretty excessive in my opinion are written into their contract with you and you are liable for such fees if you are late with payment.

If this is the first time perhaps phone them apolgise profusely and pay on the phone with them then - they may well waive the fee for the first time - depends I suppose on their policies.
Charges are made by your bank or other financial institutions where late payments are made - and are an accepted fact.

If you look at it the other way, you've had their goods, you knew payment had to be made by a set date either by a postal statement or as you say you have direct access to your account online so you could have checked the date as and when you could - they've already had to pay out for the item, pay their staff to collect and pack your order and get it shipped to you, they'll be paying interest on their borrowings too.

I've done it myself - I'm not innocent in this and understand your frustration - but take it on the chin if they don't budge and know next time!

Karen

bright_side

Make your payments on time??

I learnt the hard way

Sorry, crossed posts!

Saeed

The above responders are missing the point. Yes he should have paid on time, but just because something is in the contract DOES NOT MEAN it is legal. Look at people fighting bank charges, the banks have told us in the contract that late payment is £20 but they have been ripping people off. Barclays sent me a letter advising me of a reduction in their late payment fee!!!! littlewoods are right bu**ers. I was meant to get a 25 quid first order discount. When the statement arrived 28 days later (after the right to return period was over) they had only given me £15 off. I complained and disputed the discount. They Charged me £20 for each letter sent out, even though there was a dispute. £30 item ended up costing me £60!!! Aviod these catalogue parasites. See if you can threaten them like people have done about the bank charges and see what happens, JUST BECAUSE IT IS IN THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS DOES NOT MEAN IT IS FAIR OR LEGAL.

vk2003

There is actually a website that helps people claim back excessive charges claimed by banks for similar errors. Perhaps they can help. I am so sorry but I can't remember the URL but perhaps someone else can step in?...

kforshaw

I'm not saying that I agree with them at all - however ASAIK a contract is as such a contract - if they charged you willy-nilly for things fair nuff - but they explain their reasons for the charge when you take anything on tick/credit, it's one of those things.

*!*HIBS*!*

kforshaw wrote:

I'm not saying that I agree with them at all - however ASAIK a contract is as such a contract - if they charged you willy-nilly for things fair nuff - but they explain their reasons for the charge when you take anything on tick/credit, it's one of those things.

Lets be honest, how many of us actually read the small print of the T&Cs before ticking the box? Not many I guess. :rolleyes: The charges should be in proportion to the actual cost in incurred. The OP doesn't mention how much they had to pay but even still, companies send out a letter to say that you have been x amount, when usually the actual cost incurred is no where near or is justified by the charge. Most of these companies (including banks) can afford to pay the amount off and maybe add a small charge to the customers' bill. How is it fair for a bank to charge somebody £30+ for a failed direct debit, say if they went overdrawn by 5p? I mean come on!! :eek: Would you be happy to pay this charge if this happened to you kforshaw? No, I think you would be asking the charge to be refunded. Yes try and avoid charges by paying in bills/money in on time in future so they can make less money/profit!

vk2003 wrote:

There is actually a website that helps people claim back excessive charges claimed by banks for similar errors. Perhaps they can help. I am so sorry but I can't remember the URL but perhaps someone else can step in?...

Here are some after a quick search:
Unfair Uk Bank Charges
Rip-Off
Bank Charges Hell

mountainofdebt

https://www.consumeractiongroup.com