Amazon Mastercard problems

littlesaint

Get this - I could be charged a late fee for paying too early!

I have just finished my six months at 0% on this card. At the start of this month I still had about £400 on the card so transfered most of this to another card. The transfer took place on 4th July, so I sat back safe in the knowledge I had sorted my July payment and that I'd simply pay the few pounds of oustanding balance and I'd be sorted. I had planned to pay this off before the end of the month and forgot about it, but I thought the BT would count for July anyway.

Two days before the deadline I looked at my statement (which had been sent late!) and found out that I still needed to pay the minimum before the deadline, regardless of the July 4th BT. When I queried this, they said that my statement had gone out on the same day and they had included the payment, so I had to make a second payment in July or risk a £25 fine! I then paid off my balance, but if it doesn't go through in time I get a charge (There is also the fact that I made a last ditch attempt to pay on time in cash at a Halifax branch - as advised by a phone advisor - but they did not recognise their own credit card).

I have asked Amazon mastercard for a refund before, when they messed around with payment dates and my standing order payment was late. On that occasion, then offered to half the fee, which I accepted. Do you think I have got a good case for a full refund this time, and any advice on how to go about it?

Sorry to ramble

Astaroth

The "problem" is that you have agreed to make payment against each statement when you signed the credit agreement. My monthly payments are approximately £50 a month but I cannot pay £600 in January and have this cover the next 12 months payment - it would count as a single over payment in Jan and they would be expecting another payment in Feb.

You havent been charged a late fee for paying too early but have been charged a late fee because you over paid in one month and then failed to pay the next. You can always ask them to reduce/ waive the fee on the basis that you miscalculated the dates but if they have modified previous fees they will be less likely to do it this time

littlesaint

Thanks for your reply Astaroth. I get what you are saying, but lets look at it this way:

Scenario A
Due date: 27 January
Payment of £40 receive 27 january
No fee.
Payment £600 4th Feb
Statement 4th Feb

Scenario B
Compare with
No payment received £27 January
Payment of £600 received 4th Feb
Statment 4th Feb
fee £25

So, if you don't pay January off until the 4th Feb, it's counted as a late payment and you get a £25 under Scenario B. If you pay on time and then pay more of you balance off on the 4th, you get no credit for it in Scenario A. How can a payment be counted as late for January in Scenario B, and yet not count towards February's in scenario B? That mean's there is a grey area where payments can both be too late or early depending on whether you've payed the previous month and ultimately mean nothing. Sorry if this is confusing...

Voyager2002

littlesaint wrote:

Get this - I could be charged a late fee for paying too early!
(There is also the fact that I made a last ditch attempt to pay on time in cash at a Halifax branch - as advised by a phone advisor - but they did not recognise their own credit card).

I had a similar problem. When they failed to accept my cash payment, they agreed to freeze interest from the date when I attempted this payment, because obviously it was the mistake of their telephone adviser. So I think that this is your strongest card: let them know that THEY told you that you could pay in cash in a Halifax branch, and that if the payment had been accepted then you would not have incurred the late fee. This mistake on their part should be sufficient reason for them to waive the charge.

Anyway, good luck.

littlesaint

Hi Voyager,

Thanks for this advice - will definitely give it a go. I suppose what might go in my favour is that I reported this problem to Amazon after I attempted to pay it at a branch and they have put a note on my account saying I was in the process of paying.

I also had problems paying online from Barclays that day - I used the same payment details that I had on stading order for the past 6 month and they wouldn't recognise them. It's the first time that's happened. That meant I had to set up the payment from scratch. Makes you wonder if there has been a breakdown in communication between Halifax and Amazon mastercard.

Astaroth

In the 'A' the credit you get will be lower interest on your next statement - certainly call them and admit your error and hope that they write it off but I would have to say that it is one of those things that you have to put down to personal error if they dont