Vanquis direct debit screw up since switching to Santander

Bart_Simpson_2

[FONT=&quot]I had the Vanquis card for just under 2 years now which I used to pay off every time in full. I was tempted by the £100.00 offer to switch my current ac to Santander and I thought everything went fine. All my direct debits went through with out a hitch except for the one concerning Vanquis. This dispite my receiving a confirmation from Santander that all direct debits have now been successfully set-up.

This is how I deal with my payments to Vanquis: 1. Direct debit is set to take the minimum amount every month. 2. Then I pay by debit card the difference between the minimum and the statement balance(usually this is the payment which shows up first on the vanquis ac as I make this payment a few days before it is due unlike the 1st direct debit payment which is taken on the day it is due).

My last statement had a balance of £725.00 with a minimum payment due last week for £32.63. As usual I made a payment for £692.38 thinking that once Vanquis collects my minimum via direct debit I'm all set. But then I noticed that they have not taken my direct debit payment on the day it was due and not even after a few days it was due.

First I called up Santander asking why the direct debit did not go through and they said every thing looks fine - direct debit was set-up , enough balance in Santander ac to cover the payment. The only reason, they said, why it was not paid was because Vanquis did not request for the direct debit payment.
So I called Vanquis to enquire why the direct debit payment was not taken. They told me that since Santander sent a request for change in direct debit details within less than 10 working days before it was due they will not be able to take the payment by direct debit this month.
This has now caused me to incur an interest charge of £90.00. (even though I paid 95% of the balance).
Is there a way for me to avoid the interest charge. I've read around how this kind of cases can be taken to the Financial ombudsman etc(if Vanquis does not give a damn)... but anyone here have the experience of having this sort of thing cleared in your favour.

I've also gone through the credit agreement and there is no mention of how changes to direct debit can affect when they take the payment. [/FONT]

Any advice please on how to avoid the interest??

YorkshireBoy

Bart_Simpson wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]I've also gone through the credit agreement and there is no mention of how changes to direct debit can affect when they take the payment. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]It won't be in the T&Cs/credit agreement. More likely it'll be in the DDI confirmation letter Vanquis originally sent you.[/FONT]

Under the terms of the DD guarantee (designed for your own protection) the originator must give you 10 (working?) days notice of the amount & date to be collected. Generally speaking, and unless you ring them to make alternative arrangements, the only mechanism for this notification is the monthly statement they send you.

You were unlucky in that the DDI switch took place (very?) shortly after your statement was produced.

You can try and claim the interest back (from either Santander or Vanquis), but to be honest due to the amount involved (it's not just a £12 DD returned fee!) I don't think either will want to play ball. I suspect you'll end up chalking this one down to experience. At least you'll know for the next time you change bank accounts.

Bart_Simpson_2

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

[FONT=&quot]It won't be in the T&Cs/credit agreement. More likely it'll be in the DDI confirmation letter Vanquis originally sent you.[/FONT]

Under the terms of the DD guarantee (designed for your own protection) the originator must give you 10 (working?) days notice of the amount & date to be collected. Generally speaking, and unless you ring them to make alternative arrangements, the only mechanism for this notification is the monthly statement they send you.

You were unlucky in that the DDI switch took place (very?) shortly after your statement was produced.

You can try and claim the interest back (from either Santander or Vanquis), but to be honest due to the amount involved (it's not just a £12 DD returned fee!) I don't think either will want to play ball. I suspect you'll end up chalking this one down to experience. At least you'll know for the next time you change bank accounts.

But isn't the "Originator" which you mention above the dd mandate holder ie. the cc company.

YorkshireBoy

Bart_Simpson wrote: »

But isn't the "Originator" which you mention above the dd mandate holder ie. the cc company.

Yes, why?...