MBNA & Santander credit cards

mampiman81

Hi.....

I was after abit of advice.

I currently have a credit card with MBNA and with Santander.... When i first got them about a year ago i was quite silly and maxed them out and missed payments and got charged a fair bit in fines.... I paid them both off and they "kindly" reduced my credit limits with them and again i stupidly maxed them out and i am now not working and cannot pay any of them at all.... I know im currently recieving fines again....

Would it be wrong of me to try and claim back all the charges and fines they have given me since i have had the cards even though i am currently oweing them money?????

your thoughts would be appreciated...

andy

simax

I think you know the answer to this already.....

electrobix99

Just because you owe them money now does not mean you should not try and claim back previous charges. It might be enough of a refund to get back under the limits and save on some more charges.

Have you told them you can not pay them back or are you ignoring the debt?

thenudeone

It was ruled several years ago that charges for exceeding limits, missing payments etc, were fair up to a maximum of £12, because this amount was a reasonable reflection of the extra work that is created in re-assessing the risk that the card company is taking and administering any changes required (eg: reducing the limit or cancelling the card.

You agreed to those charges when you took the card out.

When you use a credit card you are borrowing someone else's money
If a friend agreed that you could borrow a tenner out of his wallet but you took twenty, how do you think your friend would feel? Do you think that would be okay?

Accept responsibility for your actions and take steps to pay off what you owe.

scottishblondie

AFAIK you can only claim back "unfair" charges, which I think the OFT said was any single charge of more than £12. So unless they were charging you more than £12 for each individual transgression, I don't think you will get anywhere.

You need to contact them and set up a repayment plan ASAP. Explain your current situation, and ask for help. At the moment if you honestly cannot afford any more offer to give each creditor £1 a month, and try to get them to stop applying interest and charges. Go over to the Debt Free Wannabe board to get some constructive advice on how to negotiate with them.

Rosco1112

what's the easiest way to go about claiming back unfair charges? What information do you need to have

many thanks

Ross