Cash Advance Fraud - Advice needed

Mishomeister

I have recently been to Lithuanian grocery shop in Barking. I have been there in total 4 times and have purchased a few things.
As I am aware that some small shops would charge you a fee(something like 50p) for paying with the card I have deliberately asked the cashier if they charge any card fee, I was told that unless I had any kind of special card, there is no fee payable. I said that I have a Credit card which she said is free to use.

I had therefore used it 4 times on different occasions.

This morning I had a look on my Credit card statement to be discrased to find out that I have been charged 4 times £3 Cash Advance Fee!!!

What apparently has happened that the shop is trying to avoid is to pay fees to Visa/MasterCard. They therefore assume you are paying with a debit cards so it will not make any difference to you if it is shown as a withdrawal or a debit card payment.

I am firstly not sure if what they done is legal.
Aqua has told me I have to deal with the shop directly and they will also charge me interest on a cash advances.

Now the most worrying thing for me is that I am looking to apply for a mortgage in a very near future and I now have 4 cash advances recorder on my credit history recently which can indicate to potential lenders that I am i a financial hardship.

Has anyone got any idea how I can repair that on my credit history?
Also what should my next steps be?

I am planning to contact the shop and demand the compensation for money lost and some other compensation for an inconvenience.
If they refuse, who is a regulator for grocery shops?

Many Thanks

wealdroam

Mishomeister wrote: »

...who is a regulator for grocery shops?

The small claims court.

Read about it here...

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

visidigi

Mishomeister wrote: »

Now the most worrying thing for me is that I am looking to apply for a mortgage in a very near future and I now have 4 cash advances recorder on my credit history recently which can indicate to potential lenders that I am i a financial hardship.

It does not register a cash advance on your credit history.

There is no issue if you pay off your balance in full - as they are cash advances on a credit card I would ensure you do so as soon as possible, some card charge interest from the day of withdrawal.

This is quite a common occurance, especially when buying currency from a foreign exchange with your card.

As the saying goes, cash is king.

Dr_Cuckoo3

Do you have the receipt from the shop ?

If the credit card details and items purchased are on the same receipt that would be useful

The fee was charged by the credit card company rather than the shop - so I would take the complaint up with the credit card company and let them take it up with the shop if they wish

Mishomeister

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

Do you have the receipt from the shop ?

If the credit card details and items purchased are on the same receipt that would be useful

The fee was charged by the credit card company rather than the shop - so I would take the complaint up with the credit card company and let them take it up with the shop if they wish

Unfortunately I don't have any receipts as when you buy something from a grocery shop for say £5 you don't really think of receipt.
Card company - Aqua said I have to deal with the shop

Mishomeister

visidigi wrote: »

It does not register a cash advance on your credit history.

Unfortunately IT DOES.
This is a copy from my Equifax previous report

visidigi

Mishomeister wrote: »

Unfortunately IT DOES.
This is a copy from my Equifax previous report

That's equifax, that's not necessarily the data used for a credit report for a mortgage application.

In the same way plenty of people post on here about how they have a 'perfect' credit score yet get declined.

As previously stated, cash advance is down to the way the retailer processes the transaction. I know when I have converted currency (in M&S at least) there is a sign on the counter that a charge may be levied.

It might be a requirement, I'm not sure. But have you checked to see if there is any surcharge advice shown in the grocer?

Mishomeister

visidigi wrote: »

That's equifax, that's not necessarily the data used for a credit report for a mortgage application.

In the same way plenty of people post on here about how they have a 'perfect' credit score yet get declined.

As previously stated, cash advance is down to the way the retailer processes the transaction. I know when I have converted currency (in M&S at least) there is a sign on the counter that a charge may be levied.

It might be a requirement, I'm not sure. But have you checked to see if there is any surcharge advice shown in the grocer?

I am a Mortgage Adviser and i know that our underwriters do look at all three reports from:Equifax, Experian and CallCredit.

If you've read my original post it states that I have specifically asked cashier about any charge and was advised that there is definitely no charge. Neither I've been advised that the transaction will be processed as a cash advance which is not a normal practice for a grocery store for me to assume that might even be possible.

meer53

The counter staff probably don't know how their transactions are processed, it could just be an error in the way their terminal has been set up. Speak to the owner and tell them whats happening and ask them to sort it out.

patman99

Not sure a cash advance would be seen as a problem. After all, when you pay by card for your items then ask for £10 cash-back, this will show as a cash advance.
t just means you did not get the cash from an ATM, but direct from the till instead. This kind of payment happens every day, so is not something they would consider unusual.

Mishomeister

patman99 wrote: »

Not sure a cash advance would be seen as a problem. After all, when you pay by card for your items then ask for £10 cash-back, this will show as a cash advance.
t just means you did not get the cash from an ATM, but direct from the till instead. This kind of payment happens every day, so is not something they would consider unusual.

Cashback from debit card that you are talking about is a normal and usual thing.
It is not normal thing to make a cashback from your CREDIT card.