MBNA misleading outstanding balance scam

qwertya

Just got off the blower with Danny from MBNA and he confirmed that I am not the first to have fallen for this fat-cat banker scam. He admitted he has warned his girl friend to check her statement very closely to avoid this trick!

For months my statement fitted onto the first page with the total at the bottom. A message always says 'Continued on next page', where a bunch of marketing guff lives about points and account summary. Turns out, for the last few months actual transactions have appeared on this page! These inflated the true amount due. However, I've been paying the amount shown on the front page and they've been quietly adding interest charges (on the second page)!

I noticed it this month as I only had a few transactions and spotted the interest charged figure on the front page! Danny was only able to refund one month (as a gesture of how lovely and helpful the bank is)!

So, check your statements carefully lest you are scammed too! My letter to:

MBNA Europe Bank Scam
PO Box 1004
Chester Business Park
Chester
CH4 9WW

is in preparation... :eek:
Dave

KiKi

The fact that your transactions don't fit on one page is not a scam; you just need to read your statement.

KiKi

qwertya

True, but when the front page looks identical either way, it's not exactly friendly and clear formatting.

A list of figures with a bold total at the bottom, usually is a, er, total!

Maybe you're too smart to hang out here? I though some people might benefit from a warning...

KiKi

If the front page says TOTAL DUE with a total, then I take it back; that would be misleading - it would be outright lying. But from what you're saying it sounds like you get 2 or 3 pages to a statement, and then just automatically discard the last two pages without even looking to see if the transactions are carried over the page! They could be sending you anything about your account, interest rises, changes to payments etc.

I wasn't trying to be smart, mate, I really wasn't - I'm simply pointing out that it *isn't* a scam (although it might be confusing), and you really should check all pages of your statement.

Also, if you think they're trying to deceive you, leave. A letter to them will make little difference; you're better off finding a card company you feel comfortable with.

Cheers
KiKi

qwertya

Ok Kiki, I know I could have read it more closely. In both cases there is a title next to the bold total saying New balance this sheet. I got complacent with checking reverse side as it normally just has guff on it. I think the statement is a double-sided, small-print nightmare cluttered up with all sorts of distractions.

If it's not a scam, then it's opportunistic at best. The fact that the call centre guy said others had fallen for it too, made me think it was worth posting. A quick google didn't turn up anyone talking about it, so I thought I'd get the information out there. Maybe I should have ranted elsewhere...

izools

qwertya wrote: »

True, but when the front page looks identical either way, it's not exactly friendly and clear formatting.

A list of figures with a bold total at the bottom, usually is a, er, total!

Maybe you're too smart to hang out here? I though some people might benefit from a warning...

Seriously you think that because a company prints a statement on both sides of a piece of paper, clearly marked continued on next page you think they're scamming you?

Oh dear god. I don't want to break the forum rules by saying what I really think, but, oh dear god. :rotfl:

qwertya

OK, I can see I'm out of my depth here. You money saving experts have out classed me. I'm not perfect! There, does that help?

The design struck me as harsh,
I'll leave you guys to get back to enjoying the small print of your T&Cs.

moonrakerz

"fat-cat banker scam"
"this trick!"
"marketing guff"
"adding interest charges".............
....................
"I got complacent"
"I know I could have read it more closely"
"If it's not a scam, then it's opportunistic at best"


I will say nothing !

KiKi

qwertya wrote: »

OK, I can see I'm out of my depth here. You money saving experts have out classed me. I'm not perfect! There, does that help?

The design stuck me as harsh,
I'll leave you guys to get back to enjoying the small print of your T&Cs.

Actually, I *do* love small print.

You're not outclassed, and no-one here is perfect. But when you title a post that a bank is scamming you when they're not, you tend to draw attention to yourself.

The reality is that their statements are confusing, and you're not reading them. Solution? Find a better credit card...and perhaps a pair of glasses. :cool:

And welcome to MSE, by the way...stick around, we're actually quite nice.

KiKi

LeeSouthEast

Barclaycard is quite simple. Even a year old can do it with the online system. Change provider !

ILW

Good grief,