Beware - Santander Card Direct Debit Scam

bazster

frugal wrote: »

I find this whole DD thing outrageous - it's like they are determined to catch out the unwary by adding these STEALTH charges without informing the customer of very unusual T&C's which they obviously don't want to advertise.

I agree. I've recently complained to two different card issuers over DD procedures that they never informed me about and which resulted in me being charged interest when I believed I was paying the account in full. They both refunded the interest.

bazster

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Their reply will only tell you what their policy is as at February 2010. What about next month?...July?...next January?

Far better, if this issue is becoming more prevalent, is to check your monthly statement for the message "your payment will be collected from your nominated account on xx/xx/xx". If it doesn't say that then it won't be!

Even if it does say that, it still might not be collected. Really.

YorkshireBoy

bazster wrote: »

Even if it does say that, it still might not be collected. Really.

Really? Only if there are insufficient funds in the nominated account surely?

In any case, if there were sufficient funds available then it's purely the fault of the credit card provider's systems and any penalties should be swiftly refunded and adverse credit report information corrected.

choc_mouse

Does anyone have link to this "3 month DD dormancy" claim? It certainly wasn't in my T&C's or DD mandate as I read every single word in the small print - it only mentioned about the 6 month dormancy fee, which I was fine with.

If it turns out to be true, I'm closing my Zero account straight away as Santander have used up all their life lines as far as I'm concerned - hasn't been a problem free relationship since the day I applied.

---lee---

choc_mouse wrote: »

hasn't been a problem free relationship since the day I applied.

Shabbey offer ledgendary poor service - however you've got to draw the line somewhere so I don't see how you can blame them for your relationship problems

I will be watching my statement with interest (pun intended) to see what happens with the DD having just used my Zero card for the first time in months.

MoodyBlues

Thats weird. When I applied it didn't even mention a dormancy fee. I have a copy of the thing here and there is no mention of it.

choc_mouse

MoodyBlues wrote: »

Thats weird. When I applied it didn't even mention a dormancy fee. I have a copy of the thing here and there is no mention of it.

Looking at my credit agreement, (version ACS1 0058 JUN 09), signed on 02/11/2009:

Key Information
6. CHARGES
...
6.2 We also charge the following:
...
£10 dormancy fee.
See conditions 2 and 3 of the Terms and Conditions for more information.

T&C that came with the agreement:

2. YOUR ACCOUNT
...
2.6 (a) We may close your Account or cancel or suspend your right to use your Account if it has been dormant meaning there have been no transactions or a zero balance for a period of 6 months. Before we do this we will contact you to determine whether you intent to make any further transactions on your card. Due to the cost of servicing an account, we may at our discretion charge a dormancy fee of £10 if your Account has been dormant

MoodyBlues

Yeah its weird. I wonder if there's a difference that I tried to open it at the A&L. Besides it's all moot since I was refused.

I am still gonna try and appeal.

choc_mouse

It's a possibility it was a difference with A&L but both websites are showing the dormancy fee in the Summary Box now.

To Lee: Took me two months to be able to get online access to my credit card! Don't get me started..

td_007

MoodyBlues wrote: »

Thats weird. When I applied it didn't even mention a dormancy fee. I have a copy of the thing here and there is no mention of it.

The Zero card had dormancy fee at least from the middle of last year. The wording was ambiguous stating that it may levy a dormancy fee of £10 if there are no transactions for a continuous period of 6 months.