Mis-sold a Santander 123 credit card - help please!

Cardamum4

I recently went into my local Santander branch and was offered to upgrade my account to a 123 account. The advisor went throught the benefits of the cashback part of the account - it all sounded really good, as I pay most bills by direct debit.

She then went on to explain how I could claim cashback at petrol stations, supermarkets, department stores too, using the new black card I would receive. Unfortunately I have defaulted on a previous credit card and bank account, but am paying them off monthly with an agreed arrangement, I have NO CCJs! In light of this, I had no intention of taking out another credit card, as I believe that I would be rejected anyway - I haven't had one for nearly 3 years now!

I kept saying to the lady "So it's not a credit card is it?" and she replied, "It's like a debit card as the money you spend on it comes straight out of your bank account."
She showed me the leaflet and went through everything very, very quickly, telling me to "ignore the right hand side of the leaflet" (which was about the 'credit card' side of the account).
I signed everything, without reading all of the small print, it has to be said (more fool me! ) but I said on several occasions "It's not a credit card is it??" to which she kept re-iterating "It's like a debit card as the money you spend on it comes straight out of your bank account."
So off I went, feeling quite pleased that I had an account that was going to save me some money, by giving me cashback.

4 days later, in the post, I had a 'rejection' notice for the 123 Santander credit card!!! I am livid and so upset! I NEVER WANTED A CREDIT CARD and now, because of the extremely pushy sales pitch and my own stupidity, this has now been recorded on my credit file I assume.

I don't know what to do now as I believe that it makes me look bad to my creditors, the last thing I wanted to do. If anyone can offer me any help, I would really appreciate it. Should I go into the branch and complain? I don't know what to do and it's really worrying me

dazza.mk

Cardamum4 wrote: »

I recently went into my local Santander branch and was offered to upgrade my account to a 123 account. The advisor went throught the benefits of the cashback part of the account - it all sounded really good, as I pay most bills by direct debit.

She then went on to explain how I could claim cashback at petrol stations, supermarkets, department stores too, using the new black card I would receive. Unfortunately I have defaulted on a previous credit card and bank account, but am paying them off monthly with an agreed arrangement, I have NO CCJs! In light of this, I had no intention of taking out another credit card, as I believe that I would be rejected anyway - I haven't had one for nearly 3 years now!

I kept saying to the lady "So it's not a credit card is it?" and she replied, "It's like a debit card as the money you spend on it comes straight out of your bank account."
She showed me the leaflet and went through everything very, very quickly, telling me to "ignore the right hand side of the leaflet" (which was about the 'credit card' side of the account).
I signed everything, without reading all of the small print, it has to be said (more fool me! ) but I said on several occasions "It's not a credit card is it??" to which she kept re-iterating "It's like a debit card as the money you spend on it comes straight out of your bank account."
So off I went, feeling quite pleased that I had an account that was going to save me some money, by giving me cashback.

4 days later, in the post, I had a 'rejection' notice for the 123 Santander credit card!!! I am livid and so upset! I NEVER WANTED A CREDIT CARD and now, because of the extremely pushy sales pitch and my own stupidity, this has now been recorded on my credit file I assume.

I don't know what to do now as I believe that it makes me look bad to my creditors, the last thing I wanted to do. If anyone can offer me any help, I would really appreciate it. Should I go into the branch and complain? I don't know what to do and it's really worrying me

By all means complain as you were given false information, although note a single search (as that is all a creditor will see) has a relatively limited impact on your credit history and will be wiped after 1 year (as no credit account exists)

YorkshireBoy

They may have declined the credit card based on what they already knew about you (from the monthly CRA feeds they take) so a credit search may not have been made.

Even if they did credit search you, all that is recorded is a search. The outcome, ie rejection, is not recorded on your CRA file.

If you feel you've been 'duped' (in an attempt to gain some commission/sales target etc) then you will find their complaints process on the Santander website. I'd probably avoid a branch visit and register the complaint in writing with 'Head Office'.

Cardamum4

Thank you dazza.mk and YorkshireBoy. I actually went into the branch and spoke to the assistant, making a complaint that I wasn't happy. She is looking into it for me and has said that we can appeal. I am thinking about what to do. Just want other members to be aware of this issue and keep their wits about them.
If I don't get a satisfactory response, I will take it further.

jonesMUFCforever

As long as you have not spent anything on it - just cut the card up and do not even activate it.
This will hurt them more than complaining as the staff member won't be rewarded for the sale.

RichL74

Um, she never got the card.

chattychappy

Cardamum4 wrote: »

She is looking into it for me and has said that we can appeal.

Sounds like they misunderstood your complaint - ie they think you are complaining that you were refused the card. Agree with YB - make a complaint about their selling practices. Else just don't bother.

BUT ALWAYS read what you sign. Sure it's understandable if you don't read all the small print. But the thing must have been headed agreement regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 or some such. At least understand the gist.

Whenever someone tells me "don't worry about X", I always start to worry about X even if I wasn't worried before they mentioned it!

If someone does tell you that something "doesn't apply" in your case, then cross it out with the words "doesn't apply" before you sign...

PhenoM

I believe you should lodge a formal complaint.

Financial institutions take this really seriously. And the DCH (Dedicated complaint handler) will manage it for you. If you go to the advisor, she might try and sweep it under the rug.

I work for a bank and though not an advisor (I know the kind of pressure they're under), would never resort to or condone such tactics.

skeggysteve

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

As long as you have not spent anything on it - just cut the card up and do not even activate it.
This will hurt them more than complaining as the staff member won't be rewarded for the sale.

This post reminds me why I don't listen to most posts on here!

skeggysteve

chattychappy wrote: »

Sounds like they misunderstood your complaint - ie they think you are complaining that you were refused the card. Agree with YB - make a complaint about their selling practices. Else just don't bother.

BUT ALWAYS read what you sign. Sure it's understandable if you don't read all the small print. But the thing must have been headed agreement regulated under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 or some such. At least understand the gist.

Whenever someone tells me "don't worry about X", I always start to worry about X even if I wasn't worried before they mentioned it!

If someone does tell you that something "doesn't apply" in your case, then cross it out with the words "doesn't apply" before you sign...

But this post reminds me why I do read all the posts.

Eonel

skeggysteve wrote: »

This post reminds me why I don't listen to most posts on here!

You read but don't listen to posts then make the kind of post that you wouldn't have listened to.

Good job my response won't get [STRIKE]listened to[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]heard[/STRIKE] read (?)