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Harsh fine on 'late' payment

Hi
When I joined my local golf club last year, they offered finance on the annual fee with Debit Finance Collections. This was about March last year. At the beginning of this year my wife and I realised that we had a lot of inactive DD's and SO's setup, so decided to do a bit of a spring clean. Unfortunately we removed the DD paying back this loan by mistake. The payment was due to go out on the 15th of the month - I received a letter from DFC dated the 19th that they could not collect the funds, and to contact them regarding the situation, and also charged me a £10 for late payment charge. I tried ringing to explain the situation, but they wouldn't accept it was a simple mistake, and in fact said that if I don't pay by end of the week that it would go up to £20. I am resigned to paying it (I know it's not a lot in the context of some of the fines paid out by some people) but it is the principle that it was an honest mistake, and also how quick they were to fine me (4 days after payment date) instead of simply checking with me first.
Any advice on getting this back, or what would be deemed a reasonable period and amount to be fines for late payment ?
Thanks
Neil
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Comments

  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    NeilE71 wrote: »
    Hi
    When I joined my local golf club last year, they offered finance on the annual fee with Debit Finance Collections. This was about March last year. At the beginning of this year my wife and I realised that we had a lot of inactive DD's and SO's setup, so decided to do a bit of a spring clean. Unfortunately we removed the DD paying back this loan by mistake. The payment was due to go out on the 15th of the month - I received a letter from DFC dated the 19th that they could not collect the funds, and to contact them regarding the situation, and also charged me a £10 for late payment charge. I tried ringing to explain the situation, but they wouldn't accept it was a simple mistake, and in fact said that if I don't pay by end of the week that it would go up to £20. I am resigned to paying it (I know it's not a lot in the context of some of the fines paid out by some people) but it is the principle that it was an honest mistake, and also how quick they were to fine me (4 days after payment date) instead of simply checking with me first.
    Any advice on getting this back, or what would be deemed a reasonable period and amount to be fines for late payment ?
    Thanks
    Neil
    You made a mistake.
    It cost you a tenner.
    I would not worry too much about it.
  • DomRidd
    DomRidd Posts: 42 Forumite
    I'd be more worried if it showed a 'missed payment' on my credit file than having to pay out a £10'er...
  • DomRidd wrote: »
    I'd be more worried if it showed a 'missed payment' on my credit file than having to pay out a £10'er...
    Fair point.
    I will have to pay else end up with a larger fine. The tenner fine was for a late payment of 32 quid (sorry I didn't mention that) - that's around 30% of the amount outstanding. That's my major grumble, as well as being so quick to react to the missed payment :(
  • hullight
    hullight Posts: 524 Forumite
    NeilE71 wrote: »
    Fair point.
    I will have to pay else end up with a larger fine. The tenner fine was for a late payment of 32 quid (sorry I didn't mention that) - that's around 30% of the amount outstanding. That's my major grumble, as well as being so quick to react to the missed payment :(

    You'd react the same if it were your money being stopped...

    I'd just pay it and see it as one of the many lessons in life.
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    NeilE71 wrote: »
    Fair point.
    I will have to pay else end up with a larger fine. The tenner fine was for a late payment of 32 quid (sorry I didn't mention that) - that's around 30% of the amount outstanding. That's my major grumble, as well as being so quick to react to the missed payment :(

    Comapre it to overstaying on a parking meter.
    Cost of parking say £2.00
    Overstay say £5mins
    Fine £60.00
    Makes your situation seem pretty reasonable.
  • ILW wrote: »
    Comapre it to overstaying on a parking meter.
    Cost of parking say £2.00
    Overstay say £5mins
    Fine £60.00
    Makes your situation seem pretty reasonable.
    we got fined £75 for overstaying in DFS car park by 22 mins!!
    mummy to 3 monsters!
    trying to money save, but spot too many bargains on here!!
  • ckerrd
    ckerrd Posts: 2,641 Forumite
    we got fined £75 for overstaying in DFS car park by 22 mins!!


    If that was a private car park I sincerely hope you did not pay it!
    We all evolve - get on with it
  • ckerrd wrote: »
    If that was a private car park I sincerely hope you did not pay it!

    it was /is a Retail park where other shops such as Toys R Us & JJB etc are also on the premises, no we did not pay it, we contacted DFS who contacted the parking enforcement people (apparantly they have a contact there ;)) they expained that we were at the time placing an order with DFS for quite a lot of money & the fine was cancelled thanks goodness, it gave me so many sleepless nights.
    mummy to 3 monsters!
    trying to money save, but spot too many bargains on here!!
  • DomRidd
    DomRidd Posts: 42 Forumite
    Might be worth checking if it has affected your credit history in anyway, if and when you pay up... you might find it's already been noted.
  • esuhl
    esuhl Posts: 9,409 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Personally, I wouldn't worry about it - it's only a tenner. But if you really object, I would read the terms & conditions of the contract to see if it mentions penalties for late payments. If not, you could just refuse to pay. Of course, it would be worth getting legal advice as I'm no expert... Is it worth it for a tenner?
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