DOUBLE Natwest Credit Card late fee - £24 for 2 seconds

digitaltoast

Natwest offered me a 9 months interest fee credit card.
They wrongly charged me an activation fee, (but refunded when they agreed that was part of the offer).
So, I transferred my balances and "took it to the limit" - well, to within £10.

I made a payment, but guess what? I forgot about the bank holiday - so, because of that, I was 2 seconds late on the payment (fines are added at the end of one day, payments appears just after midnight).
I didn't get that back, although I tried. But I suppose it WAS my fault for forgetting about the bank holiday. Even if £12 for 2 seconds was a little steep.

BUT - get this - because that £12 have pushed me JUST over my credit limit for that couple of seconds, they've now got me with ANOTHER £12 for being "overlimit" because their charges pushed me overlimit!

I've had a long conversation with a droid this morning, who wasn't giving anything. I've got a promise that a senior CSO will call me back later, but apparently all she'll explain is that these are valid charges. The droid was VERY sure that the overlimit fee wouldn't be refunded.

So, what now? Shall I record the call and send it somewhere?

sdj25

Record it for what purpose?

Your terms & conditions stated that a £12 fee would be levied for a late fee, and also that it would be levied for an overlimit charge - so not sure what you're expecting to happen.

I wouldn't be so concerned at the £24 fee as I would that they turn your Promotional Rate off, as they may well be within their rights to do so.

Astaroth

The charges are those that the OFT have said they believe are legal and valid so as you say... is your own fault for not paying in the money early enough

Merlin139

digitaltoast wrote:

But I suppose it WAS my fault for forgetting about the bank holiday. Even if £12 for a little steep.

You have said it yourself.

Always pay your bills on time. I always pay my CC Bills 5 working days before they are due by online banking.

The interest on a £100 payment that stays in an account paying 5% for 1 extra day is only 1.4p

I would put this one down to experience.

sicker

Would'nt it be nice if these ever thoughtful banks said 'as we are having a holiday we shall give you an extra day to make your payment. We think this is only fair. We know being closed is a great inconvenience to you.'

John

virgin_moneysaver

they charged you for being late by 2 seconds yet you had 3 weeks from the statement being sent to the actual payment date - FYI many 'droids' as you put it use this forum & try to help with queries etc - you won't get much response or constructive help with your derogatory attitude - if they're a 'droid' just because they won't refund charges because of your mismanagement, what does that make you for putting yourself in that position in the 1st place

virgin_moneysaver

sicker wrote:

Would'nt it be nice if these ever thoughtful banks said 'as we are having a holiday we shall give you an extra day to make your payment. We think this is only fair. We know being closed is a great inconvenience to you.'

John

but its not just banks is it, schools, council offices et all all close on these 'Public Holidays' as they are now called, & apparently we lag behind the rest of Europe in the number of PH we have a year by about 2 days - God forbid they should give the Great British Public more time off if we cant manage our time etc - as Martin has commented, people are surprised when Christmas arrives but, shock, horror, its on December 25th AGAIN this year

Its a bit like the coming of Winter , we get a few flakes of snow & you can't find bread or milk in the supermarket for love or money & it's all slush a few hours later

digitaltoast

I don't think it's the fine so much as the reason for the fine is that their payment due date was a bank holiday. Seems a bit odd to me...

mrsmortenharket

nice to be thought of as a droid :rolleyes:

The statements are sent out in plently of time. The computer stsyem that sends the statements cannot account for weekends/bank holidays or the like. That is up to YOU. YOU have the credit card. YOU spent the money. Its your responsibility to keep an eye on your limit & also allow time for payments to reach your account.

Lisa

sdj25

Well, while I do agree with you on the front of it was his mistake & all the things about 'droids' being wrong. To say a computer can't take into account weekends & bank holidays is a bit far fetched.

I can even program Excel to count the number of days skipping bank holidays & weekends - so it can't be that hard to factor in.

However, the CC T&Cs (which everyone agrees to & obviously therefore reads...) don't say anything about business days, they say "** days after the statement date"

virgin_moneysaver

sdj25 wrote:

Well, while I do agree with you on the front of it was his mistake & all the things about 'droids' being wrong. To say a computer can't take into account weekends & bank holidays is a bit far fetched.

I can even program Excel to count the number of days skipping bank holidays & weekends - so it can't be that hard to factor in.

However, the CC T&Cs (which everyone agrees to & obviously therefore reads...) don't say anything about business days, they say "** days after the statement date"

the statement payment dates are roughly 25 days after the statement date so this latest date can fall on a weekend or bank holiday - day 25 is the latest date they can receive it so if this date falls on a w/e etc you must pay it a few days earlier if you're the type that likes to pay at the very last minute, you have over 3 weeks after all

" ensure you allow time for payment to reach us by the date shown on your statement. Paying through a bank or Direct banking allow 3 working days. If posting a cheque use a 1st class stamp & allow 7 working days (EXCLUDING WEEKENDS & BANK hOLIDAYS)." taken from one of my credit card bills rec'd yesterday