MBNA - an unusual dispute

chattychappy

Backbiter wrote: »

I think the best thing is to clear it and then fight for repayment of the interest they've already charged me.

Paying in the meantime won't prejudice your argument, so no worries there.

Backbiter

This dispute is still unresolved, although the hotel stay has now taken place. All I need from Thistle is a letter explaining to me why, contrary to the terms of the booking I made back in July, full payment was not taken "at time of booking". Normally I would have been more than happy about this, but in this instance it has cost me money. Despite numerous phone calls and emails to Thistle, no such letter has been forthcoming.

There is now a second, unrelated issue. As I said in post 5 above, they only charged my card for 5 of the 8 rooms- again, contrary to the terms of the booking. Having now checked my most recent statement online, they have now charged my card for the other 3 rooms. No problem with that, except.....

Earlier this week I was contacted by phone by MBNA about a 12 month 0% offer on the card, which will come in very handy. Amongst various security questions, I was asked if I had used the card in the past month, to which I replied no, as I've not used it since last July. At this point the guy on the phone fairly abruptly terminated the conversation, effectively retracting the offer. The point is, the record showed that, unbeknown to me, my card had been charged last weekend by Thistle for the other three rooms, EIGHT months after I had last used the card. I didn't show the card at check-in or use it to cover extras. Here again, therefore, Thistle are causing me problems with my card company, and potentially leaving me out of pocket if I am unable to take advantage of the BT offer that was made over the phone.

I think this warrants a letter of complaint to Thistle, and hopefully their reply will provide me with the evidence needed to get refunded the interest by MBNA.

jonesMUFCforever

Why not try to get the interest refunded by Thistle? It was THEIR fault !

dzug1

TBH many hotels that say 'payment when booking' just authorise the payment then, and actually take it a day or so before the stay. That's not at all unusual and is normally to your advantage as you hang onto your money for longer.

Why yours was done in two different ways - no idea. Maybe the multiple rooms caused confusion?

I fear you may be on a loser - the hotel can't really be expected to take account of everyone's special circumstances.

Backbiter

I don't really blame Thistle for the way they handled the transaction, as they had zero idea of the knock-on effect, which has left me out of pocket. And if I'm no longer eligible for the bank transfer it's not really their fault either - that was just pure coincidence.

I just wish they'd give me an explanation in writing which MBNA have asked for. I might then stand a chance of getting refunded the interest(but I'm not too hopeful of that after all this time).

What would cheer me up now is the 8% Quidco cashback - around £30. So far they've paid out 1p! I'm sure it's normal for them to wait till the hotel stay has actually taken place, so I'll be patient on that one.

nomoneytoday

Thistle haven't done anything "wrong" - had you not been on the offer, their later posting would have meant you wouldn't pay anything until later on.

Bearing in mind the small amount of interest (£7 a month?) couldn't your mates have bought you a few drinks to cover it?

kilasuit

actually i think they have as they have 6months to process any payments from trasaction date.

e.g.

booked on 1st jan (presumed card charged on this date)
latest possible payment processing = 1 june

where you say they have charged it 8 months after, i'd be writing to them requesting a reason on this delay and also a partial refund as it wasnt processed within the required time frames

Hth