Very bad experience and service with Santander - Beware!

Goldilox

About 2 years ago I opened a Debenhams credit card and all was fine until it was taken over by Santander.

In January 2010 I closed my Santander credit card on a zero balance and thought nothing more of it.....until.....

In December 2010 I recieved a statement in the post. It was a statement from my Santander credit card saying I owed £35. Understandably I was shocked since I closed the account 11 months prior on a zero balance and secondly I had not used the card which I had shredded when I closed my account.

I rang them up to try and find out what was going on...it went to an indian call centre where the guy was absolutely clueless as to what I was trying to ask him. (It was obviously not on the script in front of him!) I asked to be put through to someone in the UK and the service I recieved from them was not much better.

They told me I had to ring up the company who had put the charge on my account. Since I didn't even know who this was...not much use to me!! I asked them why the transaction was authorised when my account had been closed and inactive for over 11 months!

After more phone calls and passing about, they then agreed to remove the charge. Finally I thought...getting somewhere!

Then a few days later I had another statement in the post with an "overdue fee" added to the previous statement! Again I rang them up and told them to remove this...the indian call centre told me they would remove this and when I asked them to reclose my account, I was told they could not close the account just yet and I would have to call back in four days time! Why??? I still don't know the answer to that one!

Then a week later Debenhams called me to ask where my payment was...I think the girl on the phone could sense my frustration...I was getting rather blunt by this point and explained the who saga to her! She was apologetic and promised not to bother me again!

Then today I recieved another statement! Guess what I owed Santander 5 pence!!! I rang them up and told them to remove it and CLOSE my account for the third time. I was told my account is now closed.....but watch this space....next month I will probably owe them 3 pence!!