Halifax Credit Card

annajohns

On 17 Dec I thought I paid off my CC by internet. Last week I received my statement and the amount I'd paid wasn't showing as paid and that I was being charged a late fee of £25. I called them and my bank and realised that I hadn't put in my 16 digit card number so they could allocate the money to my account, and that it had been held in a holding account by the Halifax.

My own bank tell me that they should have returned the money to my account within 7 days if they couldn't allocate it. If they had I would have known that there had been an error and I would have remedied it. Halifax tell me that they didn't return it to me because it would make them 'liable for the money' - does anyone know what that means and is it right? They tell me the onus was on me to ensure that the money had gone to my account.

They have had my money and the interest on it for 6 weeks -tell me that they don't make any interest - (I bet) and in all events I shall have to pay the late fee.

They have now located my money are returning it to my bank account - they say they are unable to put it into my credit card account(what kind of useless organisation are they???) - and then I will have to pay it again to my credit card.

I would be really really grateful if anyone knows what the law is on this. Should they have returned the money to me? Do I have any re-dress at all? What can I do other than accept the situation and pay the £25 which I really don't want to do?

Many many thanks

plokij_uhyg

Had a similar problem with another card provider where I sent a BACs payment, but with the wrong number. Payment was automatically credited back to my A/C within 4 working days, so immediately realised my mistake.

As to the Halifax, thought I would mention my recent woeful experience with them. Arranged to pay my CC bill in full when I received my statement. A week later, had to take an item back to a retailer for a credit of a massive £4.90. Statement amount left my A/C 1 day before credit arrived, so I was in credit to the tune of £4.90 with the Halifax. Not a problem I thought, get the credit balance sent back to where it came from as am planning on cancelling my Halifax CC.

You will not believe the hassles I experienced to get this through the hurdles placed by the Halifax. Spent approx 1 hour talking with a rep, then a supervisor who had to call me back 3 times, and after insisting on speaking with their finance people because they would only offer a credit by cheque and this was not acceptable to me.

This morning, I received 2 calls to confirm that as a gesture of goodwill, Halifax will bend the rules and return the credit balance back to the a/c they came from via BACs which is all I was asking for in the first place.

I estimate that they spent approx. £100 in getting this simple request actioned for £4.90. Makes you wonder!