Tesco credit card - default sum notice

theartfullodger

I too had a completely-bleedin'-meaningless-phrase "default sum notice" on my Tesco CC account and a letter telling me I'd had one. Took quite some time to work out they had charged me for Tesco allowing my account to go over the agreed credit limit. £12 charge.

I always pay the full amount off each month, Direct Debit.

So I 'phoned up, calm & polite, to enquire what/why. No complaint, no shouting. And was immediately offered a refund.

Being highly p***-ed off about this (I don't pay bank charges... ) I wrote to Benny Higging, CEO Tesco Bank. And got an email reply FROM HIM (pm me if you want his email ID..) {I promised a charity donation if I got a reply from him& yes of course I coughed up: That tactic btw very often works for me].

In my letter I noted...

Presumably those poor, long-suffering clients who get these incomprehensible letters and don't 'phone enquiring why the charge has been made end up paying the £12. Is that fair? Is that right?

&&

PS I don't have to use your credit card: I don't have to use your bank for my Tesco Bank account. I don't have to insure a property as I do with Tescos. I don't have to use Tesco Mobile for my mobile 'phone. I don't have to shop at Tescos. I don't need a Tesco Clubcard. I don't have to order white goods from Tesco Direct for the 4 properties I rent out. I don't pay bank or credit card charges on any of my many accounts with any financial institution, and have not done so for many years. I may no longer recommend Tesco to others in future.

In his reply he said I should keep track of the outstanding balance (eh?? what are all those computers for eh??) as many merchants have "floor limits" allowing transactions up to £xx to go through without checking with Tesco.


Prior to this charge, now refunded, I'd never (I am 64..) heard the expression before nor that it was MY responsibility to keep track of outstanding balances. Bleedin' bonkers


Seems to me with their attitude (and possibly similar from other CC companies) they are persuading many punters to junk their credit cards and use cash or debit cards instead.


Any other views guys???

PS Complaints dept?? Their role is to avoid doing anything about the problem & to fob you off with some guff...

exel1966

You wanted views, you have one !

You allowed yourself to exceed your limit. Tesco didn't spend your money, You did and you need to take responsibility for that. It's your responsibility to know and control your spending so as not to exceed your limit. The sooner you realise that and forget your pompous attitude of putting blame elsewhere the better off you'll be.

antrobus

theartfullodger wrote: »

...

Any other views guys???

....

Yes, it's your responsibility to keep track of the outstanding balance on your credit card. Who else could possibly be responsible?

molerat

Afraid another one in agreement with the previous 2 posters, it is your responsibility to keep track of your spending.

theartfullodger

Thank you for your views gents / ladies (??).

Extraordinary, I don't keep constant track of balances myself, credit or debit, on other accounts (CC, current, savings etc etc etc..) and find the banks/building societies quite capable of refusing transactions that exceed limits defined & agreed.. Indeed I've been the beneficiary when fraudsters have (more than once) tried various nefarious transactions and been surprised/grateful when the financial institution (including one CC ..) called me / emailed me..

Ho hum, I take it my views are in a minority (at least of this board...). So you guys know what your available credit is one any credit card at any time eh?? Blimey, I'm amazed... I expect them to tell me (you know, supplier, customer relationship.. customer-iz-always-rite...). What else do those computers do all day ??

Cheers!!!

DevilPigeon

There are plenty of apps available for smartphones that allow you to track the outstanding balance(s) of numerous credit/debit accounts quite easily... It doesn't have to be a guessing game...

It's primarily your responsibility to be within any limits, however depending on the provider they may offer a courtesy text/phone service (for example) to alert you to nearing any limits/suspicious transactions etc.

brewerdave

Slightly off topic - but reading this thread reminded me that I hadn't checked my Tesco Mastercard this week online - but I can't log in - its just hanging after inputting my user name! Anyone else??

Catslovelycats

brewerdave wrote: »

Slightly off topic - but reading this thread reminded me that I hadn't checked my Tesco Mastercard this week online - but I can't log in - its just hanging after inputting my user name! Anyone else??

Hi brewerdave
Are you using google chrome by any chance?
I've encountered several problems trying to log onto secure sites via chrome in recent months and have several accounts/cards that I can only access through explorer because the log-ins just seem to freeze on chrome.
(Don't know if this helps or not!)

daveboy

I noticed straightaway that the details on the bottom of the statement had changed as the bank giro credit looked totally different.

To add to that, if you're on here the chances must surely be that you are able to view your account online. A moment to make a debit card payment on there and you're sorted.

I never pay off my credit card with direct debit as it is open to these sorts of problems with any company. I either do it by online banking or directly through my account using my debit card. I log in at least once a week to keep an eye on the account to ensure I haven't forgotten to pay it.

I've never had any issue with any card, no charges or anything. So I don't buy any criticism from anyone being charged £12 for something.

Tesco have caused me no problems - those that come on here are usually hiding their inability to organise their finances properly. We only ever hear one side of the story and I just laugh at the dribble some people expect others to believe on here. It makes good entertainment though! :T

tomsco

theartfullodger wrote: »

Thank you for your views gents / ladies (??).

Extraordinary, I don't keep constant track of balances myself, credit or debit, on other accounts (CC, current, savings etc etc etc..) and find the banks/building societies quite capable of refusing transactions that exceed limits defined & agreed.. Indeed I've been the beneficiary when fraudsters have (more than once) tried various nefarious transactions and been surprised/grateful when the financial institution (including one CC ..) called me / emailed me..

Ho hum, I take it my views are in a minority (at least of this board...). So you guys know what your available credit is one any credit card at any time eh?? Blimey, I'm amazed... I expect them to tell me (you know, supplier, customer relationship.. customer-iz-always-rite...). What else do those computers do all day ??

Cheers!!!

They do offer SMS's if you approach your limit, but you do have to register it online. Having people sitting ready to call people who sit to close to their limit is just a waste of money. Customer is not always right.